spice up your kitchen

dishmats

I love practical things, I admit it.  I especially love them when they’re beautiful as well.  Form follows function, right?  Not so fast, maybe Frank Lloyd Wright might have said it best.

Well these don’t quite compare to any Frank LLoyd Wright design, but I do love my new dishmats.  I saw a couple people making these earlier this year and have had them on my list ever since. 

I cut up a scuzzie old towel with rust stains on it and no one knows the difference.  Fly Through Our Window has a great little tutorial (it’s a downloadable pdf) on how to make one (or two).  I didn’t follow her tutorial, but just wanted to use up some scraps.  I made these to fit next to my sink when I hand wash all those big pots and pans and cutting boards.  I used it the other night and couldn’t stop staring at the pretty fabric.  Now if that doesn’t encourage a little dish washing, I don’t know what will!

41 thoughts on “dishmats

  1. Delia says:

    I love, love this idea! I like using a dish towel to air dry my hand washed dishes as well. That way I can wash the towel after and not grow mold and weird things like I did with a dish drainer. I never thought to make a thicker, prettier mat for it!

  2. szkornelia says:

    What a great idea! I should also try it. 🙂

  3. Sharon says:

    Great Tutorials. I’d like to share mine, too. Click the link and let me know what you think 😉

    Mother can make something

  4. alissa says:

    First of all – that is a great FLW quote!
    I love your dish mats. They turned out so cute. Love your fabric combinations! I made one this winter and I love it!

  5. Leslie says:

    these look so pretty

  6. Vanessa says:

    I love the idea. Must add this to my ever growing list of things to make! Love your fabric choices.

  7. These are so nice, you have very pretty “scraps”!

  8. They are very pretty! I need to make me some now 🙂

  9. V and Co. says:

    hey! have you recovered from the whirlwind day you had with d and i? 🙂 i’ll be hoping to post pics soon! it was SO NICE to meet you in person! hope to get to meet up with you some day again! 😉

  10. I love this, but I think my grandma may love it more! It’s the perfect project for some left over AMH scraps from her Christmas present…

  11. sewtakeahike says:

    I need to make a couple of these now Anna! You’re totally keeping my todo list full! I hand wash my latte cups every morning from the previous morning (or two or three….), so this would be perfect instead of the dish towel I’ve been putting them on! Thanks for the great idea!

  12. Care says:

    Ooooooh, GREAT idea!! I’m always washing large items by hand and leaving them to drip dry all over my counter… and one very pathetic dish towel. This is a genius idea!!

  13. Jeannie says:

    Super idea and now I have to make a few of these too.heh.eh.e.e…I can’t keep up this week!!

  14. Sarah Boyd says:

    Beautiful! I will have to make some for my kitchen as well as the roman shades and the menu board…It’s going to be a busy summer:)

  15. your blog is seriously filled w/ the BEST tutorials and fabrics! omg i LOVE all of the fabrics you use, soo pretty!!

  16. Bree says:

    What fabrics did you use on the bottom mat (with the striped border)? They would look great in my kitchen!

    Bree
    bdoody11@yahoo.com

  17. Jessica says:

    Um, beyond cuteness. I might have to do this . . .

  18. Katie says:

    So smart! We do the same thing with all of our big pots and pans etc. and the little dish towel we currently have there doesn’t soak up a think. It’s like having a piece of cardboard fabric. Meh. Anyway, I’ve seriously got to make one of these. Thanks!

  19. Simsalabim says:

    So lovely! What a good idea!

  20. r0ssie says:

    I love these!

  21. Angie says:

    These also make excellent gifts for new mothers. Using soft flannel and nice towels these mats are perfect for working on a changing table with a new baby or using at bath time.

  22. DJ Rose says:

    You are a genius. The mat I use is nasty, but now I know just what to do. Thanks for sharing.

  23. Wild Sparrow says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  24. Wild Sparrow says:

    I love what you’ve done! These are so much cuter than the rags we lay down for air-drying. I’ve posted a link on my newbie blog: http://wildsparrowstudio.blogspot.com/2010/05/noodlehead-dishmats.html

  25. genius! simply genius. next time i go to town i’m totally going to fabric shop for fabrics for my kitchen. i’m loving your kitchen theme.

  26. Jess says:

    These are great! I’m a hand-washer so I could definitely use these. Thanks for the inspiration!

    http://www.urban-patchwork.com

  27. bettyp says:

    OH!! I need to make some too!! Great idea!!

  28. Sojo says:

    I love these! Being practical CAN be cute, too! 🙂

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  30. Anonymous says:

    I’ve been putting them on! Thanks for the great idea! console vs pc egoraptor

  31. Anonymous says:

    This video is not so good, I can easily make this by using a spoon. But here things are so tough. brown hair with highlights

  32. Anonymous says:

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  39. Lu Anne Scott says:

    How perfect for drying cut- glass and crystal! Or any glassware that wasn’t annealed and tends to chip at the least little thing.

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