Anthropologie's "Anniversary Kitchen Towel"

Anthropologie continues to be a great place to find inspiration for a project.  As I was looking through the kitchen section I saw this unusual cotton dish towel.  I wanted to find a few things to make for a dear friend in Texas since I'll be visiting her at the end of the week.  This was just the thing!  This would be a perfect project for a group gathering - it's easy and quick, and by pooling together everyone's paints and stencils, you could make all kinds of different towels!

Here is the towel as shown at Anthropologie:

       

The dish towel is made of 100% cotton, has a stenciled floral design, and a list of anniversaries and the appropriate gift traditionally given for each one.  Notice the little loop-tag on the left picture.  It's hard to see clearly in this picture, but it's kind of a black and white polka-dot cotton.  It sells for $18.00 - kind of steep for a dish towel!

So, I found some good medium weight, 100% cotton, turquoise fabric paint, a flower stencil from Joann Fabrics, a fabric marker, and a little bit of turquoise and white striped fabric for the loop. 

First I tore the fabric into rectangles about 18" x 24".  

Then I taped off an area on the top half about 14" square.

After putting some newspaper underneath the "towel",  I randomly started stenciling on the flowers.  Use a stiff round flat-topped brush or a stencil brush.  I think a foam "brush" would pick up too much paint for this project.

 Once you've filled in the square with as many flowers as you like, pull off the tape.  Make sure you put some of the flowers halfway over the tape so you get some partial flowers - it helps achieve a nice line for the flower square.

 This is the fabric marker I used.  It's a fine tip which is good for writing words on fabric.

 Then I wrote out all the anniversaries on the lower half of the towel and machine hemmed all four sides - I rolled the edge over 1/4 inch and then 1/4 inch again, stitching close to the edge.  You heat set the fabric pen part by just using a hot, dry iron.  The stenciling will be ready to wash in 72 hours.

  A lot like Anthropologie's towel - right down to the little loop!  (Although I think I like mine better!)

The stenciling supplies and fabric came to about $12.00  That's enough paint, marker, and fabric to make about 6 towels!

Wrapped up with the appropriate gift for the year being celebrated, I think it would make a fun anniversary present for a friend.  

Can't wait to decide what we'll be making on my visit this time . . . and  to feel that warm Texas sunshine!

Sharing at:
Freckled Laundry's "Air Your Laundry Friday"
Shabby Nest's "Frugal Friday"
Feathered Nest Friday
Time Travel Thursday