Here's the how-to:
I made a simple newspaper template as below and cut out 2 of the large pieces and 4 of the circles.
I sewed two pairs of circles together, leaving a gap for turning. I then zigzagged around all edges of the two large pieces. I snipped the edges of the two circles (ears) and turned them inside out.
I cut a piece of freezer paper big enough to accommodate a face for my puppet and ironed it to one of the large pieces. I drew the face. [Note: I used freezer paper because it's difficult to transfer a design onto towel with all those nubblees hanging about.] Now, using a running stitch and embroidery needle and thread, I outlined my design directly through the freezer paper. I then carefully, very very carefully, removed the freezer paper. Finally, I went over the entire outline with a back stitch. Oh yes, and I used satin stitch for the tiny myopic eyes.
To put the puppet together, I placed the circles (ears) onto the face as shown below, and then put the other large piece on top and pinned the layers together. I machine-stitched around the perimeter just inside the zigzagged edge, leaving the bottom open. I stitched one last zigzag around that bottom edge to finish it off neatly. Finally, I flipped the whole thing inside out and...
That Terry... He's hilarious.
♥M
The rest of the Old Towel New series: mop pad, washcloths, soft watchband, car sponge, oven mitt.
Super !!!
ReplyDeleteTrès bonne idée !!!
Nadia
Merci Nadia!
DeleteSo cute! I really want to try this. Thanks for sharing. All our bath towels are really old!
ReplyDeleteOh I hear ya! It's pretty amazing how long-living those things are.
DeleteHow Nice! Thanks for sharing the tutorial dear!
ReplyDeletesorry I have missed your previous posts of this series because of some studies burden but now I am back...I will check archives now!!
Hi Khadija! Perfectly understandable and no problem. It's difficult to keep track of each of every project from each and every blogger on our lists. It's impossible actually! So no worries!
DeleteOh wow I just love Terry. I may just have to design and make a few of those little characters for my Grandbabies :-)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
A x
Thanks Annie. They are super-easy and you can totally customize them right? Have fun Annie. :)
DeleteHe is hilarious with an absolutely adorable face.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've said this yet. Because I don't have a dedicated craft area and because I often craft on top of good surface (at least fifty percent of the time standing at my washing machine) I use my towels for drop cloths (even when painting the house). What I love about using them as drop cloths is that they are easy to bundle up and throw in the laundry. I use them until they are literally falling into shreds.
Oh see, that's a good way to keep using them even when they're done being used in the bathroom. Good idea Melissa!
DeleteSo cute! I made a polar bear bath puppet from a white towel for my son.
ReplyDeleteYour puppet bear sounds adorable! :)
DeleteLove it.... I just have such fun seeing what the next bit of magic you perform is...
ReplyDeleteHugz
You are so funny, Michele!! your puppet is great and I love his face a lot!
ReplyDeletexxx Alessandra
You make me laugh. I actually need to make some of these for the kids soon as I believe our old ones are starting to get mold on them. Eeeeeewww.
ReplyDeleteYou and Terry make a great team! Both hilarious!
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, but when I saw the post title (but not the photo) I was expecting something, oh, more conventional. Like an animal or a cute alien or something. Then I clicked and gasped. This is so original! This is Michele to the last stitch!
ReplyDeleteLove the tip about sewing thru the freezer paper - that is going to help me a lot.
Beautiful!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete!!i love terry!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
like melissa, we have a bin of old towels reserved for:
a rainy day to put down inside the front door,
when someone might barf,
drying the dog.
since the bin is overflowing i think it might be time to try some of your awesome ideas.
one other useful purpose is to donate any extras to an animal shelter.
they always need soft, absorbent, albeit ugly, towels.
terry could not be cuter, michele!
maybe his last name should be wishy-washy ♥
Michele, I actually giggled out loud when the first picture popped into view in my blog reader. : ) Lovely work as usual!
ReplyDeleteAwwww .. so cute!
ReplyDeleteHa ha Terry - I love it! this would be a great baby shower gift, actually.
ReplyDeletehe's adorable, thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeletea wonderful way to recycle an old towel. Cute and clever! xo
ReplyDelete