A snowman, a candy cane and a mug of cocoa. This little tea towel is pure winter cheer, and it makes the sweetest gift tucked into a basket with a bag of cocoa mix. We made it with our Hot Cocoa Season stencil and permanent ink, so it’s washable once it’s heat set.
What You’ll Need
- Our Hot Cocoa Season stencil
- Our White Tea Towels (they come in a 2-pack, so make one to keep and one to give)
- Permanent ink in brown and red, plus a few accent colors for the little details
- A mini squeegee and a small detail brush
- An iron for heat setting
How to Make a Hot Cocoa Season Tea Towel
Peel the stencil off its backing top to bottom, never corner to corner, so it doesn’t stretch.
Lay the stencil sticky side down on your tea towel and smooth it from the middle out. On fabric, press it down really well so the ink can’t sneak underneath.
We dabbed the little details first with a small brush (red for the mug, plus a few pops of color), then pulled brown permanent ink across the rest of the design with the squeegee in a thin, even layer.
Peel the stencil off slowly, starting at one edge. Rinse it right away so the ink doesn’t dry in it.
Heat Set It
Once the ink is dry, heat set it with a dry iron before washing. That’s what makes the design wash-safe, so your tea towel can actually be used, not just looked at.
And that’s it! A cozy winter tea towel that’s ready for the kitchen or a gift basket.
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Caring for Your Stencil
- Rinse it right away under cool water. Don’t let paste or ink dry on it.
- Wipe both sides gently with a sanitizing wipe (never baby wipes, they break down the sticky back).
- Dry it sticky side up, then put it back on the shiny side of its backing.
- Store it flat, and it’s ready for your next project.
FAQs
Is the design washable?
Yes, once it’s heat set. Let the permanent ink dry, then heat set it with a dry iron before washing.
Chalk paste or permanent ink for a tea towel?
Permanent ink. It’s made for fabric, and heat setting makes it washing-machine safe. Chalk paste is for hard surfaces like wood and chalkboards.
Can I reuse the stencil?
Yes. Our stencils are reusable, so rinse it right after you peel and you can make a whole stack of towels for gifting.
Shop the Hot Cocoa Season Stencil
Grab the stencil, a 2-pack of our tea towels and your ink colors, and make a cozy gift in an afternoon.
