I’m jumping right into the brand new week with the quick and easy dish mat project I’ve been meaning to show you!
If you sew at all, you’ll find these super easy and really useful.
You simply cut fabric into 2 to 3 inch strips (or use a jelly roll of fabric) and sew them together to make a square.
After sewing the strips to make a square, iron it and then reinforce the seams by sewing on the right side of the fabric all the way down each strip…
With right sides together sew a square of terry cloth to the square of strips, leaving two inch’s open so you can turn the dish pad right side out.
Then turn under the raw edges of your two inch’s and iron the whole dish pad.
To finish: sew on right side of fabric around the outside of the dish pad.
I made a couple of small rectangle pads to go under the pup’s water bowl…
And I have one under my mixer so I can easily slide it all over the counter top when I’m baking…
I’ve given these as gifts and have several that I rotate out in my own kitchen…
~Hoping your week is full of creativity my friends~
Lisa~A Cottage To Me says
April 9, 2012 at 7:14 amThese would be much prettier to use then a plain old towel. Very pretty and a great idea too!
Terri says
April 9, 2012 at 7:50 amThanks for this great tutorial Robin. I will definitely be making a few of these. Will use up some of my quilt scraps 🙂
Julie Garmon says
April 9, 2012 at 8:35 amLovely! What’s a “jelly roll” of fabric?
Julie says
May 15, 2014 at 10:04 amjelly roll is a very long lenth of precut fabric, in about a 2 inch wide strip, that is all rolled up. All you have to do is sew the cut peices together for a quilt. Find in any sewing shop.
Miriam Haley says
February 26, 2017 at 10:09 amA Jelly Roll is a commercial name for a particular precut. Usually 40 strips of fabric 21/2″ wide cut from selvage to selvage. These are cut from a Line of fabric which means all the strips are color and design coordinated. there are LOTS of patterns now specifically designed to use precuts. SOmetimes quilters cut their strips from our own stash.
Angela Commino says
April 9, 2012 at 10:18 amgood idea for the camper. going to make a few
Joyce Sanders says
March 3, 2015 at 9:07 pmMy mind was working along the same line. However, I think I will put a layer of batting in mine so they will absorb more water.
Vicky says
April 9, 2012 at 11:35 amOhhh the mats are genius and really not too much to sew! Love them- and those cute dishes are adorable 🙂 Hugs sweetie!
Melody?? says
April 9, 2012 at 2:00 pmyes, yes! I want your dishes! They sure are cute.
Do you use a batt between the toweling & the mini-quilt?
This such a lovely way to “cheerful-ize” my monochromatic kitchen. Thanks!
Pinky says
April 9, 2012 at 4:25 pmCUTE! Wish I could sew:):) Hope your Easter was PERFECT! XO
Kathy says
April 9, 2012 at 6:15 pmSo cute! What a great way to soften up the kitchen counters! Love it.
Eileen says
April 9, 2012 at 11:43 pmThese are so cute Robin! I too would like to know what a “jelly roll” of fabric is. I like sewing easy projects, so I might just give this a try! I like your idea for putting it under the mixer. Perfect! xxoo
Denise says
April 10, 2012 at 5:22 pmHi Robin,
Thanks so much for sharing this. Much cuter/and more absorbent than the dishtowel I always use. Will definitely be making some. Just so you know, I love your blog. You are so inspirational. Have a nice evening! Denise
Jen says
April 15, 2012 at 7:15 pmRobin,
This will be so cute for my little Diva Dog. I hope the move will go well for you. I know for me a move is fun to think about all the things I can do but hard as it takes time to do it all. Best of luck. Keep us posted.
amy says
September 3, 2012 at 7:54 amI’ll definitely be doing the project for myself and two as gifts, but what I really want to know is where you got the bowl. I must have that bowl!!! So glad I got to your site today from a Pin of snow globes!
susie says
August 10, 2013 at 8:00 pmWay too cute… just added to top of my list for Christmas projects!!! THANKS 🙂
Robin says
August 11, 2013 at 6:38 pmSusie, thank you my friend, they would be a great Christmas present! xo
Star says
December 21, 2013 at 11:28 amI really can’t stand the feel of the microfiber towels but they might work instead of the terry cloth so it will dry faster!! This year I have sewn many gifts… guess I still have time for one more!! This is a easy quick one….
Julie says
May 15, 2014 at 10:01 ami love the idea of using microfiber as well, and I too cannot stand the feel of it, but for drying purposes, would be great! Thx for the great idea!!!
Robin says
May 15, 2014 at 3:46 pmJulie, I’m happy to meet you! Look forward to connecting again soon and would love to know if you make the dish mat! (would love to see a picture! ox)
Julie says
May 15, 2014 at 5:48 pmI will definitely make MANY of these! Thx Robin.
Kate says
May 17, 2014 at 1:54 pmDid you use terry cloth on the other side?
Robin says
May 18, 2014 at 4:54 pmKate, Yes! I used terry cloth on the back side! xo
Brenda says
August 29, 2014 at 8:44 pmI made two of these and love them!!! They are so cute and cheery and make me smile when I see them on my counter.
I used an old towel for the back of it. Made a huge mess when you cut it so microfiber towels may be the way to go. Also, my towel had been washed many times but the fabric had not so it shrank when washed, so I would wash your fabrics before sewing it up. Otherwise i9t curls up on the edges. That kind of bugs me so will wash the fabric next time.
Robin says
August 30, 2014 at 6:38 amI’m so glad yours turned out great Brenda! I love the idea of using towels and washing the fabric is a big help! Have a wonderful holiday weekend my friend xo
Brenda says
August 30, 2014 at 1:27 pmI do love them!
Where do you buy the terry you used? It looks like it doesn’t fray like my towel did.
Have a great weekend!
Robin says
August 31, 2014 at 2:00 pmI got it at JoAnn’s Brenda….from a bolt! It didn’t fray too much and was easy to work with! ox
Brenda says
August 31, 2014 at 3:15 pmThanks so much! I need to make soem of these for gifts. They are seeeewww cute!
Sylvia says
December 31, 2014 at 1:42 pmHi: I am working on this project right now. Can you tell me how to make it not appear so bulky on the ends after you turn it right side out. It just appears thick, I suppose from the towel and the towel is not overly thick.
I would like to make it, but am wondering I am doing something incorrectly.
Thank you!
Sylvia
Robin says
January 4, 2015 at 7:31 pmHi Sylvia…I’m sorry, I just saw this…I trimmed the seam allowance before turning it right side out…you could try trimming them in 3 widths so they lay down flatter…closest to the seam-trim close—then the next layer a little wider than the first…
Pattie says
January 30, 2015 at 2:12 pmI just found your post today and am so glad. I will be making these for the dogs bowls, and for under my mixer. I hate pulling out my mixer but this will make it so much easier. Thank you.
Robin says
January 31, 2015 at 1:17 pmPattie, I really love this project too…I’ve made it over and over for gifts and for myself! I’m so happy you like it xo
Dot says
March 1, 2015 at 8:04 pmI loved this project ! Just whipped one up but I see more in my future !
Robin says
March 2, 2015 at 8:25 pmDot…aren’t they so much fun to make!? xo
Denise says
May 14, 2015 at 1:01 pmYou can also do it by flip and sew method but that would then require you do apply binding, I know some do not like to do top stitching so that would eliminate that fear.
Sandy says
December 20, 2015 at 8:41 pmwhat is the best fabric to use on top? Terry Cloth for bottom, but what about top – cotton, flannel or fleece?
Robin says
December 21, 2015 at 9:40 amSandy, I used cotton quilting type fabric … hope this helps! ox
Kathy says
January 1, 2016 at 6:06 pmQuestion. Are you sandwiching two squares with towel in the middle or is the towel backing? Or does it matter? Thanks. Great idea.
Robin says
January 4, 2016 at 4:31 pmKathy, It’s the towel (terry cloth) backing! It worked well but I imagine the other way would work great too! Happy New Year! ox
Gretchen says
March 4, 2016 at 4:38 pmFantastic ideas!!! I’m doing all tonite. Cut & ready to roll. Pun intended !