estimated reading time: 8 min

Sew a wash mitt with the free pattern VASK

07.11.2023 by Evelyn

Waschhandschuh nähen mit kostenlosem Schnittmuster VASK

What do I need for that?

VASK wash mitt

Freebook · PDF
To the sewing pattern →

Materials & Details

Fabric scissors^*

Terry towelling fabrics^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H200

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Terry towelling is a soft, absorbent fabric with small loops on the surface. It is exactly these loops that make it so cosy and functional.

It is usually made of cotton or cotton blends and absorbs moisture really well – which is why it is best known from towels.

The fabric feels fluffy and pleasant, yet it is sturdy and durable.

Terry towelling is usually easy to sew but can shed a bit of “fluff” and be thick – in return it is super cosy.

It is perfect for towels, bathrobes, baby items or snuggly loungewear.

In short: soft, absorbent and perfect for anything that should be cosy and practical.

Waffle piqué^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchBackstitch functionStraight stitch

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Waffle piqué is a fabric with a typical waffle-like texture – small, even “diamonds” that give it its name. This texture makes the fabric nice and airy and absorbent at the same time.

It is usually made of cotton, feels pleasantly soft and has a slightly lofty feel. Thanks to the texture, it looks cosy and a little refined at the same time.

Waffle piqué is usually easy to sew but can have a bit more volume – in return it is easy to work with and frays little.

It is perfect for towels, bathrobes, baby blankets, light throws or home decor.

In short: textured, absorbent and perfect for anything that should look cosy and natural.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Sew a bath mitt: With this guide and a free pattern, you can sew a cute bath mitt for kids.

The most important things at a glance

In this post, I will show you how to sew a bath mitt
You can sew the bath mitt with or without a face
It's a great upcycling project where you can use old towels
You can download the free pattern in this post
Sewing level: easy
Sewing time: 1 afternoon

Yay! Here is a wonderful sewing idea for children and babies – a tutorial for a cute and practical bath mitt. It makes splashing around in the tub twice as much fun. :)

In the free pattern that you can download here on the blog, you will also find a template for a sweet face. You can embroider or apply it to the bath mitt. And the best part is, the VASK bath mitt is the perfect bathing partner for the TOLNE hooded towel. Together, the bath mitt and baby towel make an enchanting gift set for kids and babies.

To the tutorial: Sew a hooded towel

For moms or dads, the cute bath mitts help to wash their little ones in a playful, fun, and joyful way. You can also invent adventurous stories that can be experienced in the bathtub.

Bath mitts are usually one-size-fits-all and offer enough room for an adult hand. They are usually made of terry cloth, the standard towel fabric. But they can definitely also be sewn from waffle piqué. A bath mitt is always a fun and colorful eye-catcher in the bathroom.

What is a bath mitt?

A bath mitt is a special washcloth made of terry cloth or waffle piqué into which you can insert your hand. Simply a glove. It comes in more classic shapes for adults and especially in colorful and cute shapes for children. Mostly as little animals like bears, cats, or even frogs.

YouTube tutorial: How to sew a bath mitt

Can beginners sew a bath mitt?

While you might still be wondering if your skills are sufficient to sew a bath mitt, let me tell you that with this guide, it's no problem at all.

For the simplest version, you can leave out the decorations. Furthermore, you only need the straight stitch and zigzag stitch of your sewing machine if you don't have a serger. Otherwise, you just need a little patience when binding with bias tape if you don't have any experience yet.

I recommend my post on sewing on bias tape to read up on it again.

Which fabrics are suitable for a bath mitt?

All absorbent, soft fabrics, preferably made of pure cotton, are suitable for a bath mitt. Most of the time they consist of cotton terry cloth. Although cotton is not as durable as polyester, it is a natural fiber that absorbs most of the water. And it feels good on the skin. Waffle piqué is also suitable for a bath mitt. Decide for yourself what is best for you.

Terry cloth^*
Waffle piqué^*

My tip: I sewed the bath mitt out of the same soft bamboo terry as the TOLNE hooded towel. However, I used the soft side facing inward and the slightly firmer side as the outside, as it is more suitable for washing. You can find a selection of terry fabrics at Stoffe.de

Important: Pre-wash the fabrics before working with them. Select the wash temperature that you will also use later.

What do I need to sew a bath mitt?

You primarily need a non-stretch fabric. The classic fabric for washcloths is terry cloth. But you can also use waffle piqué. You can choose the width of the bias tape flexibly.

My tip: If you are not quite as experienced yet, you should choose a wider bias tape, because working with it is easier.

Furthermore, you need:

Cotton bias tape^* approx. 50cm
Decoration for the face (face made from jersey scraps, plotter face, iron-on faces, embroidery face...) as desired
matching sewing th read^*
matching sewing needle
Pins^* or fabric clips^*
Fabric marker^* or tailor's chalk^*
Fabric scissors^*
Thread snips^*
Sewing machine

How much fabric do I need for a bath mitt?

For one bath mitt, 30cm from the fabric bolt is enough. The full width of a fabric is usually 1.40m. So you have enough fabric to sew a second bath mitt as well.

Tip: Use old towels, or towels that have a hole, or are simply no longer in use. You need about 2 pieces of 30x30cm each for a bath mitt including ears.

Where can I find the free pattern?

You can download the template for the bath mitt here. The seam allowance is already included. Here is the link to the PDF pattern VASK bath mitt:

You will find two suggestions for a cute face here. A cat and a little bear including the ear shape. Whether you want to use them is up to your creativity. You can also embroider flowers on it as you like, or sew the bath mitt completely without decorations.

What must my sewing machine be able to do to sew a bath mitt?

Primarily you need a normal household sewing machine with a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch to finish the edges of the bath mitt. Here, however, you can also use a serger.
Use a universal needle. I prefer an 80 size.

Let's get started!

Conclusion

Sewing a bath mitt is not that hard at all. When it comes to design, you can let your imagination run wild. Try other colors, other embroidery motifs, or other little animals. For a bunny, you just need longer ears. For a cat, simply embroider a few whiskers.

You can even leave out the arms and ears and get a classic bath mitt for adults. Here, too, you can of course embroider, plot, and apply the bath mitt however you like.

And in combination with the TOLNE hooded towel, it's a super cute gift idea. The perfect bath fun combination. And also a great gift for any season and for any occasion, for children's birthdays or for a baby shower party when a new family member is on the way. We wish you lots of fun creating and giving! :)

Happy simple sewing, Eve & Sabine

Sewing a bath mitt - Bath fun combination - TOLNE and VASK

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Sew a washcloth mitt

Step

Print the pattern at actual size without page scaling, tape it together and cut it out.
Step

Cut pieces and materials needed

Cut the mitt 2x as mirror images. You will also need the ears 4x.
Overview
2x wash mitt, mirror images
4x ears
approx. 50cm bias binding
1x nose
2x eyes
Step

Prepare the face

Take one wash mitt piece and decorate it with the motif of your choice. You can use vinyl, embroidery or iron-on transfers.
Step

I've prepared two eyes and a nose from crochet yarn and will now sew them onto the wash mitt.
Transfer the position of the individual pieces onto the fabric with a marker pen.
Tip: You can also make the face from black jersey fabric that you've reinforced with Vliesofix beforehand. Then sew on the appliqués with a short straight stitch or a zigzag stitch.
Step

Pin the eyes and nose to the front of the wash mitt and sew them on. Finally, embroider the mouth.
Tip: Start in the middle with the nose and only then fix the eyes. It doesn't need to be accurate to the millimetre. The overall look should be harmonious and appealing.
Note: Terry cloth has a soft side and a slightly rougher side. I decided to put the rougher side on the outside, as it's better for washing.
Step

Take the cut ear pieces and always place two pieces right sides together as mirror images. Decide for yourself which side should face outwards.
Pin them with fabric clips or pins.
Step

Sew the curve together with a straight stitch.
Alternatively, you can also do this with the overlock.
Step

Turn the ears and shape them.
Step

Sew the loop

You will need approx. 10cm of the bias binding.
Step

Fold the bias binding lengthwise and pin it along the long side.
Step

Edgestitch along the long sides.
Step

Place the ears right sides together on the front piece and pin them. You can find the position on the pattern.
Fold the loop and pin it, open end facing outwards, anywhere in the lower part of the wash mitt.
Fix everything within the seam allowance with a straight stitch. That way nothing can shift afterwards.
Step

Place the second wash mitt piece right sides together on the first piece and pin it securely.
Step

Sew the wash mitt together with a straight stitch. The bottom edge stays open.
Step

Trim the seam allowance a little and remove any protruding parts of the ears and loop.
Step

Finish the seam allowance with a zigzag stitch.
Step

Turn the wash mitt right side out and shape it well.
Step

Pin the bias binding right sides together to the open bottom edge.
Leave the ends hanging loose towards the side seam.
Step

Start approx. 3cm from the side seam and sew the bias binding on in the first fold with a straight stitch.
Step

Overlap the bias binding at the side seam and mark the spot that meets the seam.
Make the mark on both ends of the bias binding.
Step

Place the bias binding ends right sides together and join them at the marking with a straight stitch.
Step

Trim the excess bias binding and pin it right sides together to the still open edge of the wash mitt.
Step

Sew on the remaining unsewn section with a straight stitch in the first fold.
Step

Fold the bias binding over the edge of the mitt and secure it with fabric clips or pins.
Tip: Instead of finishing the edge with bias binding, you can also allow for a 3 cm wide hem. In that case, finish the edge of the mitt, fold it over by 3 cm and topstitch it to the main fabric.
Step

Edgestitch the bias binding onto the wash mitt with a straight stitch.
Step

Give the wash mitt a good press once more.
Done.
Let the bath-time fun begin.

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About the author

Eve

Moin, I'm Eve. As a communication designer I love developing simple solutions for complicated challenges — with sewing patterns and instructions just as much as with technical questions.

For SewSimple I develop sewing instructions and patterns, shoot videos, test sewing ideas and support Sabine with many topics around the website.