Towel Topper-Christmas in July with Accuquilt

 Accuquilt sent me a new die to try out, it's the Towel Topper die. How fun and quick is this...really quick and fun! This die debuted on the Accuquilt live video yesterday and is for Pre-Order now on their website.

They also sent me the June Tailor Towel Topper kit which includes the towel, batting and instructions. I will be using my gingerbread cookie die for the applique along with my scallop die for the towel trim. I am all set for a little tutorial for you to see how easy this is! 

In addition to the dies/mats you will need your fabrics (I used three different ones). Cut two main fabrics 12” x 8” and two 7” x 3” of accent fabric. 

Let's take a look at the Towel Topper die... it's a little different than other Accuquilt dies as this one has a fold line on it.

 Fold the 12”x 8” fabrics in half to 12”x 4”, press. If you are using the June Tailor kit the batting is preprinted, I folded it in half lining up the preprinted lines. Lay the fold of your fabrics on the fold line of the die, add the 6"x10" mat and run through your cutter.

 Fold the 7”x 3” accent fabrics in half to 7”x 1 ½ ”, press. Lay the 7”x 1 ½ ” accent fabrics on top of the towel topper right sides together with raw edges together and stitch ¼" seam. Press one to the accent fabric and one to the towel topper fabric.

Lay the above pieces right side together and batting on top. Use pins or clips to hold it together while you sew. Sew around with ¼" seam leaving the accent fabric open. Clip the corners and turn right side out, press. Set aside.

Preparing the towel: After washing, it’s time to add a trim to the bottom. You can use ric-rac, ribbon or such in place of fabric. I chose to use my scallop Accuquilt die and appliqued it on the bottom of the towel. Trim and hem towel to desired length, I trimmed to 20”x 14”. 

Applique the gingerbread cookie onto the towel. Did you know that Accuquilt has free embroidery designs to go with the applique dies? Or you can just applique with your sewing machine like I did.

It’s time to pleat your towel to 7” wide and insert into the topper at the accent fabric opening. Topstitch in place.

Add a button closure. And you are ready to hang your towel. What about making several for gifts or selling at a craft show! Think of all the different fabrics and appliques you could use for it!

And here is my finished towel! Wasn't that easy?

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you make one please tag me @vickiscraftsandquilting and @AccuQuilt on Instagram. And use #AccuQuiltBuilt so we get to see your creation!

If you are interested in pre-ordering this die I would love it if you used my affiliate links. There is no extra charge for you but I will receive a small commission. 

Thank you Accuquilt for this die!

Linking with Wednesday Wait Loss, Midweek Makers, NTT, Finished or Not Friday, TGIFF, Off The Wall Friday and Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd

Happy Holidays!!

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas!  And thank you for all the visits and comments you have left not only this past year but for all the years I have been blogging. 

Here is one last holiday project I squeezed in yesterday.  Ever since I did this tutorial on the Accuquilt blog I have wanted to turn the design into a table runner. 

I began with ironing fusible web onto the back of brown fabric for the gingerbread man(accuquilt die 55682). Layering four pieces over the die I ran it through my GO!Me.  And instantly you have 4 sweet gingerbread men. 

Next up is making the rick rack using Accuquilt die rick rack 55056.  I wanted a long strip to go the length of my table runner. So I cut red striped fabric the width of fabric and wide enough for the die and applied fusible web to the fabric.  In the photo below(sorry for the blurry) you can see I folded the fabric in order to get the long piece of rick rack.  I love that the die doesn't cut across the ends of the rick rack so you can do this. 

Next I applied the fusible web to the letters(alphabet 2 inch die), be sure to cut them with the fabric up, not the fusible web so you get them facing correctly!  At this point I fused the rick rack onto my runner background, light cream fabric cut 16" x width of fabric.  Using a zigzag stitch I appliqued the rick rack on. 

That is when I chose to quilt it before adding any more of the appliques.   After binding it, I machine appliqued the letters and gingerbread men on.  Notice I snuck in a little piece of purchased rick rack while appliqueing the gingerbread men to decorate them a bit. 

It sure dresses up my coffee table.  Yes you don't have to use a table runner on just your dining room table! 

Does this remind you of the story... Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I am the gingerbread man!

Linking with: Mid week Makers and December UFO & WIP

Merry Christmas!