The Towel Vest {Tutorial}

I don't know about you, but we are squeezing every ounce of summer out of this month because I refuse to admit that the end is near.  We are going to the splash pad, swimming pool, beach - you name it - as often as we can before the school year sets in and it's back to the old routine.  (boo hoo).  Consequently, we are using our swimming suits and beach towels to the max!

And you know what makes my life easier?  The Towel Vest.  If you can believe it, the one that my younger daughter is wearing, on the right, was made for me by my grandma when I was a little kid!!
When I found it a couple of weeks ago I was so happy.  It even has my initials on the front!
And once we started using it, I knew I wanted to make more.  These things are so convenient!!

I mean, I can't be the only one who is watching their child's towel drag on the ground at the pool, am I right??

So take one of those hammered towels, and make your child an awesome towel vest!  Keeps the hands free, doesn't fall off, doesn't drag on the ground.  Seriously - YOU NEED ONE!!!  And they are easy to make!  Here's how:



Take your towel and fold it in half so the short ends meet.  If your towel has a right side, you'll want the right sides together.

Measure 7 inches down on each side and place a pin.  Continue pinning all the way down the side. Those seven inches will become the arm holes.  Sew up each side from the bottom up to the pin at the 7" mark.
LEAVE the top 7 inches UNSEWN.  Make sure you backstitch well at the beginning and end of your stitch to give the end of the seam strength.

Next, make a line down the middle (where the arrow is below).  This doesn't have to be absolutely perfect or anything - just measure the best you can.
Then, use a bowl to mark a neck hole, centered on that middle line, at the folded end.  I used less than half the bowl to mark my circle.  I simply used a pen, and I only marked the front side.

Cut down the middle, and cut that little (less than) half circle.  See below, the back is not cut at all.

Use double fold bias tape, and pin it around each of the cut middle edges (see below).  I made my own bias tape, but you can certainly get pre-made at the fabric store.  Fold the bottom edge of the bias tape in before you pin, so that there is no raw edge.  The top edge can be raw.  Sew along the edge to secure the bias tape to the towel.  (Both the front and back of your bias tape (plus the towel) should be caught in the seam as you sew).

Use another piece to pin around the neck.  Again, at the ends, fold your ends in before folding it around the towel edge to keep any raw edges from showing.  Sew around the bias tape to secure.

At this point you can turn your vest right side out (just so that the seams are on the inside).  Really, these are pretty much reversible.

Cut 4 strips of bias tape, each about 8 inches long.  Sew the bias tape closed, and fold over and sew the edges to remove raw edges.  I used 4 ties - two at the top and two in the middle.  I simple pinned them where I wanted them and sewed back and forth across the tie a few times to keep them securely in place.

Doesn't that look great?!  And that's all there is to it!

I LOVE having the girls use these towel vests - and they are so easy to make!  You can adjust these for any size towel - and you could even personalize them with some initials (like my grandma did for me!).  

So be sure to embrace the remaining summer and make a few of these for your kids!  They will love them!

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