April 2026

How to Make a DIY Towel Scarf / Easy Beginner Sewing Tutorial

If you’re constantly losing your kitchen towel, having it slip off your shoulder, or grabbing for it only to find… nothing—this simple sewing project is going to fix that for good.

This DIY towel scarf keeps your towel right where you need it—hands-free, comfortable, and ready for whatever kitchen mess comes your way.

No slipping. No searching. No frustration.

And the best part? It’s quick, beginner-friendly, and a great way to use up fabric scraps.

Why You’ll Love This Towel Scarf

Keeps your towel right at your fingertips
Comfortable to wear around your neck
Great for drying hands, wiping counters, and cooking cleanup
Uses scrap fabric
Makes a fantastic gift
Once you make one… you’ll probably end up making a stack.

Supplies You’ll Need

1 kitchen towel
Cotton fabric (quilting cotton works great)
Rotary cutter + mat + ruler (or scissors)
Pins or clips
Sewing machine
Iron + ironing board
Label (optional)

A Note About Towel Size

Kitchen towels vary quite a bit, but most fall in this range:

Width: 15″–18″
Length: 25″–28″

The sample shown uses a 16″ x 26″ towel.

You can use:

Terry cloth
Linen
Any towel you like

Remove any tags before starting.

Step 1: Cut and Prep the Towel

Fold the towel in half lengthwise
Cut along the fold to create two pieces
Trim edges to clean up uneven or fuzzy sides

Step 2: Create the Towel Pleats

This is what helps the towel sit nicely inside the neck band.

Fold the towel in half and mark the center
Open it up (right side facing up)
Bring the side edge to the center point, press fold.
Fold it again onto itself so the hemmed edge is lined up with the folded towel underneath, to create a ayered pleat.
Flip the towel over and fold again to line up with the center point. Pin in place

Repeat on the other side.

👉 Pin everything in place.

Helpful tip:
Do a quick basting stitch about 1″ from the raw edge to hold everything together. It’s optional—but honestly, it saves headaches later. Stitch length 4-5

Step 3: Measure and Cut the Neck Piece

To get the measurement of the fabric for the neck piece, measure the width of your folded towel.

Width

Example:

Folded towel width = 4″

Now calculate:

Double it → 4″ x 2 = 8″
Add 1¼” for bulk (or 1½” for thicker towels)

👉 Final cut width: 9¼” wide.

Length:

You can make the scarf as long as you want. The average length is about 43 inches. I like mine a little longer and cut it to 44 inches.

Cut your fabric 42″–44″ long (standard fabric width on a bolt works perfectly)

Trim off selvage edges before cutting.

The neck piece measures 44 x 9 1/4 inches.

Step 4: Sew the Neck Band Tube

Place the fabric right sides together horizontally.
Fold the bottom edge to meet the top edge. (There should be 4 layers of fabric).
Measure 3″ from the top left folded edges to mark the tube opening in the center. MAKE A SMALL CLIP AT THIS POINT THROUGH ALL LAYERS.
Unfold and fold in half horizontally again, matching up clipped points.
Pin in place. (Use different colored pins to mark the opening)
Sew along the long edge with a ½” seam allowance
- Backstitch at start and end
- Skip the 3″ opening

Press the seam open.

I LOVE this little mini iron for things like this!

Step 5: Insert the Towel (Magic Step ✨)

This is the fun/awkward-but-brilliant part.

Fold the bottom edge of the towel up a bit, then attach a safety pin to the end of the towel.
Feed the towel through the fabric tube.
Use a turning tool or stick to push it in.
Flatten the towel, bringing its folds against the fabric tube’s fold. Align center points carefully.
Pin in place

Repeat for both ends.

Step 6: Stitch the Ends

Sew each end with a ½” seam allowance
Backstitch at the beginning and end of seams.
Trim seam allowance slightly

Then turn everything right side out by pulling the towel through the opening you left unsewn.

👉 You’ll end up with a super clean finish—no bulky overlaps.

Step 7: Close the Opening + Shape the Neck

Flatten out the neck piece with the opening edge at the bottom.
Press the edges.
Fold the neck piece in half, lining up the opening and folded edges. (Open edge on top).
Press and place pins on the opening edges.
Clip in place.
Topstitch from pin to pin close to the edge (about ⅛”). Backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam.
This also helps narrow the neck for a more comfortable fit

Step 8: Topstitch

For a polished look, topstitch the edge of the neck piece where the towel meets the fabric.

Stitch ⅛” from the edge
Add a second row 1/4 from the previous stitching.

It gives it that “store-bought but better” finish.

Step 9: Add a Label (Optional)

If you love adding personality to your projects:

Place a label at the center back of the neck

It’s a small detail—but it makes a big difference.

Final Thoughts

That’s it!

A quick, practical, and actually useful sewing project you’ll use every single day.

Great Gift Idea 🎁

These make perfect:

Mother’s Day gifts
Housewarming gifts
Handmade kitchen sets

Pair one with:

A cute dish towel
Homemade treats
Or a matching apron

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Sewing Sewing tutorial towel scarf

How to Make Zipper Tabs the Easy Way | Simple Tips and Tricks

If your zipper tabs always come out bulky, awkward, or just plain messy, you are not alone. Zipper tabs can make a zipper pouch look polished and professional—but they can also be one of the most frustrating parts of the whole project.

Corners get bulky, tabs get twisted, seams end up too thick, and suddenly your “cute little zipper pouch” is fighting back. The good news? There’s a much easier way.

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you my favorite method for making clean, flat zipper tabs that look neat and professional without adding extra bulk. I’ll also share several time-saving sewing tips that make the zipper pouch process easier and less stressful.

If you love making zipper pouches, bags, or small sewing projects, this is one technique worth keeping in your back pocket.

Why Use Zipper Tabs?

Zipper tabs may seem like a small detail, but they make a big difference in how your pouch turns out.

Benefits of zipper tabs:

Give your zipper pouch a clean, finished look
Help reduce zipper bulk at the ends
Make it easier to sew the zipper into the pouch
Prevent awkward gaps at the zipper ends
Add a more professional-looking finish
And when done the right way, they really don’t take much extra time.

What You’ll Need

Here are the basic supplies I used for this zipper tab tutorial:

Materials:

2 outer zipper pouch panels
2 lining panels
1 zipper
Interfacing (optional, but recommended for outer fabric)
Zipper tab fabric piece (Cut 2 inches x 5 inches)

Tools:

Sewing machine
Regular presser foot or zipper foot
Fabric clips
Straight pins
Fabric scissors
Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
Seam gauge or ruler
Fabric marking pen
Turning stick
Seam ripper
Painter’s tape or masking tape
Glue stick or fabric glue-basting glue
Iron

For this sample pouch, the fabric panels were cut 9 inches x 7 inches, and the zipper was trimmed to 8 inches.

Best Zipper Length for Zipper Pouches

A good general rule is:

Cut your zipper 1 inch shorter than the width of your pouch panel.

So if your pouch panel is 9 inches wide, cut your zipper to 8 inches.

My favorite tip:

I actually like to cut the zipper just a tiny bit shorter than that measurement.
That tiny adjustment gives your zipper tabs a little more room and helps them fit more neatly without crowding the side seams.

It’s one of those little sewing tricks that makes a big difference.

How to Prep the Pouch Panels

Before attaching your zipper tabs, take a minute to prep your zipper properly.

Step 1: Mark your pouch panels

Measure and mark ½ inch in from each side edge on:

your outer fabric panels
your lining panels

These marks help you line up the zipper correctly later.

How to Make Zipper Tabs the Easy Way

This is the method that gives a really clean finish without extra fuss.

Step 1: Position the zipper on the tab fabric

Take your 2″ x 5″ zipper tab fabric piece and place it:
• Right side facing up
• Lay the zipper right side facing down
• Fold the other end of the zipper around to create a loop
• Line up both zipper ends with the edges of the fabric
Clip in place.

Step 2: Sew across the zipper tab

Sew across the fabric using a ½ inch seam allowance.
Backstitch at the beginning and end.

Helpful tip:

If it’s hard to see your seam allowance line, place a piece of painter’s tape on your sewing machine bed to mark your guide.

That little trick makes sewing straighter so much easier.

Step 3: Cut the tab in half

Once sewn, cut the tab piece in half, leaving one tab on each end of the zipper.

Step 4: Fold and press the tabs
Now:

• Fold the tab fabric back
• Press well
• Fold the raw edge inward toward the zipper
• Fold again over the zipper edge

The goal is for the folded edge to sit just shy of the stitching line—not past it.

That helps keep things flatter and neater.

Step 5: Use glue instead of extra stitching

Rather than sewing across the tabs again and adding more bulk, add a few small dabs of:
• glue-basting pen
• or a regular glue stick
Then press with an iron to hold everything in place.

This is one of my favorite shortcuts because it keeps the tabs secure without adding unnecessary thickness.

How to Sew the Zipper Into the Pouch

Once your tabs are attached, it’s time to sandwich the zipper between your outer and lining pieces.

Layer order:

1. Outer fabric – right side up
2. Zipper – right side down
3. Lining – right side down
Line up the zipper with your ½-inch side marks and clip or pin it in place.

Sew with a ¼ inch seam allowance

Take it to the sewing machine and sew along the zipper edge using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Do You Need a Zipper Foot?
Short answer?

Nope. Not necessarily.
You can use a zipper foot, but I actually find that using a regular presser foot with the needle moved to the left is often easier and more stable.

Why this works well:

• Better fabric support
• Easier to guide straight
• Less shifting around zipper teeth
• No constant swapping of presser feet

To do this:

• Move your needle position to the left
• Lower your presser foot, so the edge of the foot runs along the zipper teeth
• Test a few stitches by hand-turning the wheel first to check placement

This is one of those “why did nobody tell me this sooner?” sewing tricks.

Tip for sewing past the zipper pull:

When you get to the zipper pull:
• Stop with your needle down
• Lift the presser foot
• Move the zipper pull out of the way
• Lower the foot and keep sewing
Simple, but very important if you want clean stitching.

Topstitching Tip for a Professional Finish

After sewing the zipper in on both sides, press the fabric away from the zipper and topstitch around it.

For neater topstitching:

• Increase stitch length to 3.0
• Hold your top thread when starting
• Use the edge of your presser foot as a visual guide
• Skip stitching across the folded zipper tab area

That topstitching really helps the zipper lay flat and gives the pouch a more finished, polished look.

The Most Important Tip for Flat, Non-Bulky Zipper Tabs

Okay—this is the big one.
If your zipper tabs always end up bulky or bunched up, this is probably why:

Don’t sew the pouch together with a ½ inch seam allowance.

A lot of pouch tutorials and patterns use a ½ inch seam allowance, but when you do that, you often end up sewing into the zipper tab itself.
That creates:
• extra bulk
• bunching
• weird corners
• thick seams that don’t turn nicely

Instead, use a ⅜ inch seam allowance

That gives you enough room so your side seams don’t hit the folded zipper tabs—and your pouch will still look great and function perfectly.

Honestly, this one adjustment alone can completely change how your zipper pouches turn out.

Extra Tip: Glue the Seam Allowance Down

Before sewing your pouch together, fold the zipper seam allowance toward the outer fabric and lightly glue it down.

This keeps everything flat and prevents those seam allowances from shifting and causing problems while you sew.

It’s a small step, but it makes sewing around the zipper area much easier.

Assemble the Pouch

Now bring your pouch together:

Step 1:

Place:
• outer fabrics right sides together
• lining fabrics right sides together

Step 2:

At the zipper tab area:
• push the zipper tab, bend toward the lining
• pinch and line everything up carefully
• pin well

This part needs to be lined up precisely, so I definitely recommend pins over clips here. Clips are great… until they betray you. 😏

Step 3:

Sew around the pouch using your ⅜ inch seam allowance, leaving an opening in the lining for turning.
If your pouch has:
• box corners
• a flat bottom
• another base style
You can sew that using your preferred method.

Sewing Over Bulky Zipper Areas

When sewing over the zipper tab area, your presser foot may tilt upward because of the thickness.

Easy fix:

Use a hump jumper (or a folded scrap of fabric) behind the presser foot to level it out.

That helps the presser foot and feed dogs move evenly across the bulky area without skipping or getting stuck.

Finish the Pouch

Once the pouch is sewn:

Step 1:

Trim the seam allowance down to about ¼ inch, especially around the zipper area.

Step 2:

Turn the pouch right side out through the lining opening.

Use a turning stick to poke out the tabs and corners of the zipper pouch.

Step 3:

Close the lining opening by:
• machine stitching
• or hand stitching for a cleaner finish

And that’s it—you should now have flat, neat, professional-looking zipper tabs without the bulky mess.

Add a cute label or tag to your pouch.

You can create and customize your own labels. LEARN HOW HERE.

Final Thoughts

If zipper tabs have been driving you a little bonkers, hopefully, this method helps simplify the process.
The biggest takeaways are:

Quick zipper tab success tips:

• Cut your zipper just a tiny bit shorter than usual
• Use glue instead of extra stitching when possible
• Try using your regular presser foot with the needle shifted left
• Topstitch for a flatter finish
• Use a ⅜ inch seam allowance when sewing the pouch together

That last tip, especially, can make a huge difference in how clean your pouch looks.
Once you try this method a couple of times, zipper tabs become a lot less intimidating—and a lot more satisfying.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you’d like to see this process step by step, be sure to watch the full video tutorial on YouTube.

Connect:

Jan Howell

Why You’ll Love This Towel Scarf

Supplies You’ll Need

A Note About Towel Size

Step 1: Cut and Prep the Towel

Step 2: Create the Towel Pleats

Step 3: Measure and Cut the Neck Piece

Width

Length:

Step 4: Sew the Neck Band Tube

Step 5: Insert the Towel (Magic Step ✨)

Step 6: Stitch the Ends

Step 7: Close the Opening + Shape the Neck

Step 8: Topstitch

Step 9: Add a Label (Optional)

Final Thoughts

Great Gift Idea 🎁

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL

Jan Howell

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts

Why Use Zipper Tabs?

Benefits of zipper tabs:

What You’ll Need

Materials:

Tools:

Best Zipper Length for Zipper Pouches

Cut your zipper 1 inch shorter than the width of your pouch panel.

My favorite tip:

How to Prep the Pouch Panels

Step 1: Mark your pouch panels

How to Make Zipper Tabs the Easy Way

Step 1: Position the zipper on the tab fabric

Step 2: Sew across the zipper tab

Helpful tip:

Step 3: Cut the tab in half

Step 4: Fold and press the tabsNow:

Step 5: Use glue instead of extra stitching

How to Sew the Zipper Into the Pouch

Layer order:

Sew with a ¼ inch seam allowance

Do You Need a Zipper Foot?Short answer?

Why this works well:

To do this:

Tip for sewing past the zipper pull:

Topstitching Tip for a Professional Finish

For neater topstitching:

The Most Important Tip for Flat, Non-Bulky Zipper Tabs

Don’t sew the pouch together with a ½ inch seam allowance.

Instead, use a ⅜ inch seam allowance

Extra Tip: Glue the Seam Allowance Down

Assemble the Pouch

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Sewing Over Bulky Zipper Areas

Easy fix:

Finish the Pouch

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Add a cute label or tag to your pouch.

You can create and customize your own labels. LEARN HOW HERE.

Final Thoughts

Quick zipper tab success tips:

Watch the Video Tutorial

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL

Jan Howell

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Related Posts

Step 4: Fold and press the tabs
Now:

Do You Need a Zipper Foot?
Short answer?