I make each of my kids their own bath towel hoodie when they’re born, starting with my son 6 years ago. I make them one with their name on it and one with a fun appliqued shape on the back. These towels are super easy to make, needing only limited sewing know-how. And they make for great birthday or baby shower presents for others.
Supplies for Bath Towel Hoodies:
- one large bath towel – any color
- one hand towel – any color
- fabric for letters – can be anything. I use fleece and it does pill, but I don’t mind as it doesn’t fray.
- scissors, pins, sewing machine
- extras: ric-rac, double bias tape
First, cut your hand towel in half horizontally. Then lay out your large bath towel on the floor and center one of the cut pieces of hand towel on top of the towel. Put the cut side up, so that the sewn end in the one being sewn to the large bath towel, then you don’t have to fold over the edge.
Updated: You only need one half of the hand towel to make one hooded bath towel. I usually buy 1 hand towel and 2 bath towels, and it gives me two hooded bath towels. 
Pin the cut hand towel to the large towel and sew in place. It doesn’t really matter how you sew them together, I actually like to sew them on top of each other, not right sides together. But either is fine.
Fold your hood together in half, pairing the cut side together. Sew this together. I don’t mind that the seams show and will fray a little after washing, this is the part that is on the inside and their heads cover that.
You could be done here, but I like to add a few extras, a name or a shape to the back that I applique to the towel. I’m no expert and not a perfectionist, so most times the applique comes out a little wonky! I cut out letters/shape from fabric, pin them on, sew around each with a zig-zag stitch and call it good!
I’ve also added some double-bias tape to my newest baby’s towel, down the sides and on the hood.
Have fun making your kids some new towels. I’m actually thinking I should make one for me!!
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I LOVE this idea! You did a fantastic job with the tutorial. I’m going to try this for my kids.
Thanks!
I do not have a sewing machine, and do not know much about sewing, but am very keen to try. About 2 weeks ago I went out a bought the bath and hand towels and now just tonight have found your great tutitorial. My girls are still using the newborn hooded towel they recieved at birth and are commenting it is getting to short.. (they are nearly 4 and 3)… this should be perfect! Can you describe to me what kind of stitch to use (in detail) as I am doing by hand and if its neccessary to wash the towels before I make. Also your photo shows you cutting the hand towel in half.. Do you use the other half or is it saved for some other time. I so appreciate your response. Thanks !
This is great. It so coincidental that ran I ran across this while surfing
last night. I was at my step-daughters house last week and she had a couple hanging in her bathroom for her 4 month old. I thought, gosh these should be easy to make. Your instructions are wonderful. Thank you for sharing. I have three baby showers I am going to in May. These would be perfect!
I found this post through Thrify Craft Mama. What a great idea! I’m going to have a go at making these. Thanks :)
Thanks for the tutorial!! I am such a visual learner! I just made a couple of these for my kiddos and I know they will love them. Thanks!
Thank you for the great tute! thank you for taking the time to write it ! I really appreciate the descriptions .
Thank you soooooo much!
I am so thankful to have found this web site..I saw the hooded bath towel at a baby shower & thought if I had a pattern I could easily make it..I have two Great-Grandbabies due this summer..I am anxious to get started..
I really like the idea, it is easy to do, creative and very useful. I will also try one for my son. By the way your children are very cute, especially the little one.
How awfully creative….a friend sent me you blog link…so glad she did…great place here!
Do you have to sew them? I’ve never sewed and would love to make one for my daughter. Can I just use that adhesive tape stuff that you iron on? I hope so, this looks so cute but I have a major fear of sewing since I don’t know how.
Samantha –
I’m sure there’s other ways to make these. I’ve never used adhesive tape before, but if it can go through the washer and dryer, go for it! But it is really simple to sew, a good first time project to start with. I’ve even had a lady ask about sewing it by hand, as she doesn’t own a sewing machine. She just used a needle and thread and said they turned out great.
Let me know if you did use something else to make this with. Anything is worth a try!
Thanks for the help! I think I’ll definitely have to give it a try! I’ll let you know how it comes out! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for posting the directions for making hooded towels. It was so easy to make! My older kids (7 and 9) still like hooded towels, especially after swimming, and it is all but impossible to buy them in larger sizes. I especially like the idea of appliqueing on them – I just finished a lizard one for my son.
Thanks for this post! It seems so easy! I don’t know why I never thought of making one myself! Now I’m going to go make one for my son! I love using the hooded towels! It is so much easier to wrap him up and dry him head to toe! :)
The tutorial is amazing, the pictures are too.
Thanks for your easy tutorial. It made making my first one “sew” easy. :)
Thank you so much and yes loved the tutorial…now if you would do the same for that little red jacket you made ….lol. Iam going to try to make it for my granddaughter, the towel is a great idea, since we have a pool, and she comes to swim here every week.
My 8 year old granddaughther and I just made the towel as her first sewing project. It was agreat success!.The pictures made it easy for her to follow the instuctions.Thanks for helping make a special memory
from a greatful grandmother
Sharon – Oh I’m so glad! It is a great first-time project! Thanks for sharing your experience!
I make these too! I often use polka dot or patterned towels, and sometimes I add ears with the scraps. My daughter has a pink pig. My son has a brown bear, and I got really crafty with my oldest son and did a shark. I used a white washcloth and added teeth around the edge of the hood, and I used stiff heavy interfacing and made a fin that sticks up from the top of the hood too. Two black buttons for eyes. Cute idea!
Another easy one! Made 2 for my son. Didn’t add any embellishments, but the towels had stripes on them already, so I figured that was enough. Thanks!
I will be linking. I love this your tutorial and it is a great simple gift idea.
thanks!
Thanks for the great idea! I will be linking this!
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