I am so excited about my latest project…Wisteria knock-off linen hand towels! I love the way they turned out! And they were easy and inexpensive, too!
Here’s my inspiration…and I have been in love ever since my friend Kathysue showed them on her blog Good Life of Design! Then I clicked on Wisteria’s web site…$34 for a set of two, not including shipping! Sooo…I made a trip to Jo-Ann armed with a 40% off coupon and left the store with one yard of linen for only $9.00! A short while later…
…here is the result! What do you think? I was able to make two towels, just like those at Wisteria, for about one-fourth the price! Woo hoo! Not bad, huh? I just cut two 24 x 24 inch squares from the fabric, hemmed them on three sides and edged one side of each with one of the two 56 x 6 inch lengths that I cut from the remnant and then gathered. That’s it! 
I love linen! It has such a wonderful crisp, natural feel! And since these are sort of shabby chic, it won’t matter if they wrinkle a little. You may notice a couple of differences…my ruffles are a little longer because I like them better that way. And...I staged mine with fresh apricots instead of Clementines! You’ll see why later!
The project did have one tedious part…unraveling the ends. I admit that it took some patience and a few episodes of House Hunters to accomplish. But, I think they will be useful…not only as hand towels…
…but also as generous napkins! I love the way they look with my $10 Goodwill find...a service for four of Chris Madden Felice dinnerware! I just added some mismatched silverplate flatware and voilà!
Doesn’t it have a rustic French country look? I love the layers of texture and ruffles…a drop cloth tablecloth, my ruffled faux grain sack table runner and my Wisteria knock-off napkins! Love it!
Now, just in case you are wondering about the where-abouts of our handsome co-host Baby Kitty…he is busy grooming with plans of calling on the lovely ladies who attended his big birthday bash this weekend! And just in case you missed the Kitty Cat Linky Party in honor of his big day, the link is still up and we are receiving guests through Thursday! Once the link closes, we will choose a few of our guests at random to receive a kitty goodie bag! Sooo…head on over and join us!
Here’s one final look…theirs on the left and mine on the right…what do you think? Not bad for $9 instead of $34, huh?
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to…er…put away my props! Yum! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my project! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures on Mondays
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!
Debbie, they are gorgeous! Smart call making your own.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday Debbie! We always enjoy your latest projects.
ReplyDeleteKitty is still talking about his visit with Baby Kitty. He loved the food, the salmon mouse in particular, and like BK, he enjoyed meeting the ladies!
xoxo, Bonnie
Debbie, they turned out fabulous and I so love your new dishes also. You are so clever at this knock-off stuff. Fantastic. Thanks tons for joining the party. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteDebbie you are amazing, I love when you do one of your fab DIY projects and it looks as good as the orignal, I am totally impressed, again!!! I am so glad I did that post, just so you could make these wonderful linen tea towel/napkins. I really like them used as a napkin. You just need to learn how to monogram now!!! xo Kathysue
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart and creative, I love these!! they look perfect with your runner, tablecloth, and the tablesetting! Thanks for the inspiration, xoxo Debra
ReplyDeleteDebbie, they turned out beautifully! Love the look as napkins - classy! Linda
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I'd say your "knock off" is a "knock out"!!
ReplyDeleteI actually like yours better including photographing them with apricots. So French!
I love your new Chris Madden dinnerware too and the way you used the towels as napkins. Great project and great post.
Hugs,
Babs
Terrific knock-off! You do have a special way of coming up with the less expensive and the better looking than the original!
ReplyDeleteHope you will please drop by and enter my $50 Overstock.com Gift Card Giveaway!!
Love them! You are so talented! I love how you layered it with those amazing dishes from GW and your table runner! Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteCharlie had a great time at the party and says thank you for the invite.
hugs, Linda
Love the table setting Debbie and your knock offs are better looking than the originals and the price certainly was right!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration, now I've got one more project to add to my list of summer projects. Love it.
They are great! I like yours better!
ReplyDeleteLove the look, great job. I like yours better too. The dishes are the bomb as well. Very French
ReplyDeleteBecause I have sooo much time on my hands, now you have put me in the mood to sew. LOL
ReplyDeleteI was cleaning and putzing around in my kitchen and decided that while I loved my panels at the breakfast window, I want something more simple. I might look into doing some linen panels. I think I also have a Hancock Fabrics coupon.
But first, my nursemaid duties call. :) LOVE your project.
Debbie, These turned out wonderful! Your table setting is beautiful and I love the dishes. Thanks for joining my party and have a great week.
ReplyDeletexo,
Sherry
Wow! They turned out great. I wonder how burlap linen work. hmmm Now you've got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great frugal knock-off, Debbie! I love the ruffle and the fringing. :-) The towels/napkins look so good with your dinnerware.
ReplyDeletehugs, Sue
These look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI wish you would make them to sell... I would be your first customer!
Love the kitty and I think your props looked even better.
:)
Fabulous job on these knock-offs! Love them and thanks for sharing how to create our own.
ReplyDeleteThe Chris Madden dish set is a steal! They look super with your new towels/napkins and of course the apricots. Beautiful!
These look great with your table runner. One of these days I'm going to copy-cat that table runner - just need to order the fabric. Thanks for the inspiration. Sally
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I love them. You do such good work. I like yours better. I am going to have to try to do some sometime after I figure out this darn machine I have.
ReplyDeleteBravo! You are so talented, Debbie. I love the look of linen, especially in tandem with your grain sack runner and the drop cloth tablecloth. Your Goodwill purchase is yet another terrific find. No doubt you have an eye for gracious French style. Kudos on this charming post!
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
I just love the linen hand towels!! They make a perfect match with your dishes for a lovely place setting.
ReplyDeleteLuv the new dishes and the linen towels..
ReplyDeleteI'm inviting you to add this to our linking party at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/07/american-pickers-with-linking-party.html
Have a great weekend,
Maggie
Awesome cloth napkins! Absolutely love them! --Great find of the dishes! :)
ReplyDeleteWow Debbie, I'm so impressed! And inspired too. I am heading to JoAnn's next week because I especially love these the way you staged them as napkins. And the grain sack runner is just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you mentioned the kitty party. I thought I missed it. Will have to join late after I write a post on Butter-the kitty I inherited from Number two daughter!
~Delores
NICE JOB!! They are absolutely gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteTHose are gorgeous Debbie and I would use them as napkins too. Great find .
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous Debbie! I love the staging and the photography, also!!
ReplyDeleteI love it - using your savvy sewing skills and creating these. I often see things, and say to myself "I could sew this for so much less"...lol
ReplyDeleteYou must have a very nice Goodwill...sadly mine looks like a garage sale gone bad. Love all your great thrifty finds.
Debbie, your so smart and creative. The linen hand towels are gorgeous. I love linen too, but I purchase mine when I find it on sale, nothing as pretty as these hand towels. Great tutorial on how to make them too.
ReplyDeleteGlad Baby Kitty is resting up, and hope he's a gentleman when he calls on his new lady feline friends.
~Emily
The French Hutch
They are so pretty for the table. Love the colour. I noticed the plates too. Hugs, Deb=^..^=x4
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop by and tell you how much I enjoyed Baby Kitty's party. It was great fun and I enjoyed reading all of the other blog posts:). It was really a fun idea.
Blessings,
Kim
Absolutely gorgeous! Would love to have a set of my own! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer yours, Debbie...and, I feel a trip to Joann will be occuring in the very near future with my 40% off coupon in hand!
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't tell which was yours and which was theirs!!! Excellent, my dear!!! Those Chris Madden dishes are so exquisite! Aw~w~ Baby kitty certainly looks handsome lying in the sunshine!
Fondly,
Pat
Oh so pretty, Debbie. You did a good job!..Christine
ReplyDeleteI think you did an amazing job!
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely! The fringed edge on the ruffle is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThey turned out so beautifully Debbie!
ReplyDeleteYou clever gal you! And I have wanted those dishes for the longest time! Why can't I find any at our GW!
Lily says she is pooped but had a fantabulous party!
Hugs,
Cindy
Don't you just love doing the same thing for the fraction of the cost?! Your towels turned out beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThey are so gorgeous! Fantastic job! It is always my pleasure to visit your super chic, creative space:)
ReplyDeleteFriend, I would love to see you on my blog:)
Great project! I love Wisteria, but they can be really expensive on things.....
ReplyDelete~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com
These are just so dreamy! Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteJeanine
looks wonderful, but its the kitty that stole my heart~
ReplyDeleteHonestly I like yours even better than the inspiration ones. Great job. Thanks for sharing at my Sizzle into Summer party.
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteThese are sooooo NIFTY THRIFTY...they would make awesome gifts!!! Thanks so much for sharing them at my party.
Blessings,
Linda
Oh how very pretty! I want some!:)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to make some for myself! I also really like the toweling table runner as well! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous! Love them.
ReplyDeletelove your linens. they're every bit as pretty and stylish as the originals, and you can't beat the price. awesome job!
ReplyDeletei love yours so much better!!!
ReplyDeletethese are STUNNINGLY gorgeous! I love love LOVE them!
ReplyDeleteYou did a fab job on the towels! I am inspired:)
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! I also love your styling and your table runner! I have to go check out that post.
ReplyDeleteSherry
Hi Debbie,these are fabulous!!.....such patience you have to fringe them but worth the time....they are perfect....love the color of the linen.....did you do the ruffling on the machine first before attaching to the towel.....
ReplyDeleteAs for House Hunters......They actually "Dissed" us after we were suppose to be one the show with our new home.....I'm thinking because we were too old....My next post will address this and I will do my own version before showing the house we bought.....Looking forward to having all the bloggers over for the party in the near future.....
They are more gorgeous than Wisterias. Your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. They go so well with your runner also!
ReplyDeleteI like yours so much better. They are beautiful! And those dishes, wow! Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea and yours look better!! Well done! Oh, and what delicious looking apricots!
ReplyDeleteRobin
I am visiting via Romantic Homes.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful napkins!
Have a happy weekend!
Hi, I just wanted to stop by and tell you thank you for sharing your linen towels on my link party, Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage this week! I've featured it this week on "My Top Ten Fav Picks". I hope you have a great weekend, Mary :O)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful knock-off! You did a beautiful job! I love them. And those CM dishes are stunning! Great thrifting! thank you for joining TTF and have a fun weekend!
ReplyDeleteDebbie these turned out great! I love that linen. I have some it and it is one of my favorite tablecloths. I always want more of it, but we live a ways from Joann's and when I get over there it is always sold out. Thanks for linking it up at Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteSherry
I love them Debbie! I had to go back and look twice because I thought they were ALL your pictures! Didn't even notice that it said "Wisteria" I think you could do ads for them! *winks* Vanna
ReplyDeleteI have seriously considered doing this for towels and maybe napkins! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThese are really gorgeous! Feels funny saying that about hand towels but these truly are. Thanks so much for sharing and I will definitely have to try some.
ReplyDeleteWow! These are beautiful and look the same {if not better!} than the originals! If you get a chance, I would love it if you could link up to my party, The Creative Spark, tonight. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJenn :)
These are SOO gorgeous...Hi, I'm Keandra and I'm addicted to linen!!! I'm definitely pinning these to make later!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie dear ~
ReplyDeleteJust when I think I can sit
back from "must projects",
you come up with another of
your BRILLIANT ideas and send me off to Jo-ann's....
You are a force to be
reckoned with. Many thanks
for a great tutorial...
Mary
Yours are prettier! Thank you for the idea! Will do!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful AND practical--a winning combination!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Do you need to do anything to stop the unraveling at the bottom? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh my I will have to try to get some fabric ... Love the napkins
ReplyDeleteThere are two kinds of people in this world, those that don’t like something unless it costs a fortune (no matter what it looks like) and then there are those that lovethings that look like they cost a fortune but were able to get them for much less either second hand, homemade or on sale. I had to keep going back and forth through the pictures to figure out which towels were your!
ReplyDelete