Appliqué Dish Towels

Harvest season is around the corner, and these appliqué dish towels are a perfect project. Create them to display in your own kitchen, or make some to gift to friends, teachers, neighbors, and more.

Image contains two photos of decorative dish towels, along with the post title. It is intended for Pinterest.

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How to Make Appliqué Dish Towels

These appliqué dish towels are quick and easy to create; all you need is the Harvest Home Template Set, some scrap fabric, and fusible adhesive. Grab your materials, and let’s get started.

Image contains a blue and white checkered dish towel with a red apple applique. An apple template sits nearby on a wooden table top.

Materials

woven cotton dish towel
5” fabric scraps (I used the Harvest Home collection)
Harvest Home template set
fusible adhesive
scissors
pencil

Image contains a blue and white striped dish towel with large and small pumpkins appliqued on the front. Pumpkin templates sit on top of the towel, as does a faux plant, all on a wooden desk.

Instructions

Iron fusible adhesive to the back side of your fabric.
Trace the template shapes onto the adhesive’s paper backing.
Cut out your shapes.
Peel off the backing and place your fabric pieces on the towel and layer as desired.
Iron to fuse the shapes in place (use the fusible adhesive manufacturer’s instructions as a guide).
Machine or hand stitch around the shapes, close to the edge of the fabric.

Image contains two fall themed applique dish towels on a wooden desk with a faux plant.

Crafting Tips

If you’re using directional fabric, make sure to pay attention to the way you’re tracing your shapes. Learn from my mistakes – I ended up with a small pumpkin that has upside down words…not the end of the world, but it could have been even better.
In addition to stitching around the shapes, you can stitch details, like the lines on the pumpkins or a vein in a leaf.
These templates are designed to work on 5” fabric squares, so pieces from a charm pack are perfect for this project.

Image contains the six templates in the Harvest Home set: two pumpkins, three leaves, and an apple. They sit on a wooden desk with a quilt top made of Harvest Home fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I purchase the Harvest Home template set?

I designed these templates by hand to coordinate with my Harvest Home fabric collection! You can find them for sale individually and as a set of six in my online shop. You’ll also get a free mini-quilt pattern with your purchase of the set.

Where can I purchase Harvest Home fabric?

Check out the list here, organized by state, to find a store near you or an online retailer!

Can I use these templates with different fabric?

Of course! In fact the apple in my sample is made with red fabric from my Oh Say Can You Sew collection.

What templates are in the set?

The Harvest Home Template Set contains a large pumpkin, a small pumpkin, an apple, and three distinct leaf shapes.

Image contains two fall themed applique dish towels on a wooden desk with a faux plant for accent.

More Project Ideas

If you enjoyed this project, check out these other fall crafting ideas.

If you try any of these projects, I’d love to see how they turn out! Make sure you’re part of the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group so you can share your latest project photos and we can all inspire each other. See you there!