I count myself lucky to have had a crafty grandma. I may not have had an opportunity to learn her many skills growing up, but I do remember watching her use yarn, thread, beads, and even eggs and cardboard to create amazing things. I like to think that this early exposure to creativity spurred my own crafty lifestyle.
One of the many and various crafts that I still have from grandma are her embroidered dish and tea towels. I will admit, they are well used. My grandma was a practical crafter, and I know she would have appreciated her gifts being well loved and used. And I do still think of her often when I use one of her hand embroidered dish towels in my own kitchen.
I am at a point, however, where the towels are becoming a bit too well loved; the edges are beginning to tear and fray, a few holes have developed. So I decided to go ahead and retire and store my old embroidered towels from grandma, and go ahead and hand embroider my own.
I have plenty of embroidery supplies at home already, all I needed were some new towels to decorate. I headed over to my trusty Amazon Prime account and did some shopping. I didn’t necessarily need new iron on transfers as I have many, but I bought a few new sets anyway!
You can find flour sack towels and the Aunt Martha’s iron on transfer sets I’ve chosen for myself on Amazon at these affliate links (I make a small commission if you purchase through these links):
Aunt Martha’s European Delights Embroidery Transfer Pattern Book, Over 25 Iron On Patterns
I have quite enjoyed the change of pace from my usual knitting. I have quite a bit of knitting for others to do, and it feels good to make something that’s for me. Side projects like this hand embroidery are great for those moments when you feel like your knitting mojo is in slump. Of course, I also love the thought that I’m doing the sort of kitchen DIY that grandma would have done.
If you have the time and the crafty inclination, I do recommend embroidering some tea towels for your own home. It may not make dishes and clean up fun, necessarily. But it does give you a bit of a happy tingly feeling to know you prettied them up yourself.
If you need some supplies for general embroidery, you can certainly pick those up at your local craft stores. Or, if you are already going the Amazon Prime route, I have some other links here to hoops and embroidery floss that I myself have used (also affiliate links).
Caydo 4 Pieces Embroidery Hoop Set Bamboo Circle Cross Stitch Hoop Ring
DMC 117F25-HDC Embroidery Home Decor Floss Pack, Assorted Color, 8.7-Yard, 36/Pack
I hope you have enjoyed this entry into the HalesBee Handmade diary! And if you make a purchase through my affiliate links, that means you are supporting my content, and for that I thank you!
Love from HalesBee!
Sisteresque Fibers 
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