A dish drying pad is a great way to protect your countertops from scratches and water damage. Plus, it’s a great way to save space in your kitchen. If you’re looking for a quick and easy project to make with items you already have around the house, this DIY dish-drying pad is for you!
For anyone who has ever used a dish drying rack, you know how frustrating it can be when water drips all over your counter. Dish drying pads are the solution to this problem. The pads are absorbent, soaking up all the water from your dishes and leaving your counter dry. Dish drying pads are also super easy to clean – just throw them in the washing machine! They can become an essential kitchen gadget for anyone who wants to keep their countertops clean and dry. But if you’re tired of the dull colors of dish-drying pads, why not make your own? It’s easy to do, and you can customize the design to match your kitchen.
Secret Supply
But before we start, let’s talk about the secret supply we will use for this project! If you’ve ever used a car drying towel, you know how absorbent they are. But have you ever thought about how they’re made? Car drying towels are made to absorb water, so why not use them as a layer in your next dish drying pad?
Car drying towels are usually made from a quick-drying material like microfiber. This makes them perfect for absorbing water from wet dishes. So let’s add a car drying towel to our project. You’ll be amazed at how well it works!
Plus, using a car drying towel as a dish drying mat has another advantage: it’s reusable! Pop it in the washing machine when your drying towel gets wet, and then use it again. So next time you’re at the store, pick up an extra car drying towel and make a few drying towels for gifts. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need for your Dish Drying Towel
- 1 car drying towel
- 1/2 Yard of Fabric
- Rotary Cutter
- Clover Turning Tool
- Cutting Mat
- Sewing Machine
- Thread
- Iron
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Excited to get started on this project? Check out the video tutorial below or follow the step-by-step instructions! You choose how you want to learn to do this project! The video tutorial is excellent for those who want to see the project come together, and the step-by-step instructions are perfect for those who want a more detailed look at each component. Either way, you’ll be able to create this project with ease! So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Instructions for Dish Drying Towel:
Step #1 – Cut Fabric
Cut the fabric the same size as the car drying towel. My towel was 16 inches by 24 inches.
Step #2 – Clip Fabric
Lay the car drying towel and fabric right sides together and clip them in place.
Step #3 – Sew around the perimeter
Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew around all four sides of the towel. Leave a 3-4” opening along one side so you can turn it right side out.
Step #4 – Turn the right side out
Turn the towel right side out through the opening you left, then use a Clover Point 2 Point Turner or a pointy object to push out the corners. Before I go to the next step I press the pad on my pressing pad. I get lots of comments about my pressing pad. I turned to Pinterest for some inspiration and found a great idea for a portable pressing pad/board. Here is a link if you want to check it out my Portable Pressing Pad/Board DIY post.
Step #5 – Close the Opening and TopStitch
Topstitch around the entire perimeter of the towel. I like to increase my stitch length to 4.0mm. This will give a professional finish to the towel.
Your dish-drying pad is now ready to use! Place it on your countertop to dry dishes, or use it as a trivet for hot pots and pans. Enjoy!
And there you have it! Your very own DIY dish drying pad. This project is quick, easy and affordable – a great way to protect your countertops while also saving money by not having granite or other expensive material for kitchen work surfaces anymore (and the best part? The towel can be reused so no need go buy new ones each time).
If this project inspired you, check out some of my other projects for more inspiration!
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