Thinkwedding's

How to Make a Towel Wedding Cake

by

Marilyn Woodman

www.thinkwedding.com

 

 

 

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    Wedding cakes made of towels are popular and inexpensive gifts for both bridal and wedding showers, and offer a wide variety of options for those of you who are creative.

 

    Towel wedding cakes are not hard to do and don't take a long time to make, but to be successful, you need to be careful in folding the towels during the assembly process.

 

     You might also be interested in making a diaper cake--now or in the future.  For that information, please see our sister site at www.wrappersandmore.com.

 

Materials you will need:

 

2 white regular size bath towels

3 white hand towels

3 white wash cloths

Large Safety pins

Long straight pins; pins with decorative heads are nice to add.

Ribbon - Satin or Organza.  Organza is easier to handle and can be hot glued.

Options:  Real or silk flowers; small gifts, small appliqués.

1 can chloroform for children, husband and pets (OK, just kidding--lighten up!)

 

Let's Begin!

 

Please click on each picture for a larger image

When you fold your towels, please keep the proportions of your "cake" in mind.  Length and width should be "roughly" the same--that is, if the base measures 10", the height should be 10" to 12" tall.

 

You can enhance the stability of your "cake" by buying cardboard rounds in the cake section of your local crafts store.

 

If you click on each picture, you can see a larger picture of the same thing

Step 1

 

Wedding Towel Cake - View 1  Wedding Towel Cake - View 2

Start with the two bath towels.

Lay out one towel lengthwise, and fold the towel into thirds along its length.  Make sure the folds are even throughout the length of the towel.  Make sure the ends are even as well.

Step 2

 

Wedding Towel Cake - View 3  Wedding Towel Cake - View 4

Fold the towel that is now in thirds in half, again along its length, right over the previous folds.  Make sure that the ends are even throughout the length of the towel; the neater the folds, the better your wedding cake will look.

Step 3

 

Wedding Towel Cake - View 5

Repeat the same folds with the second bath towel.  If you have folded carefully, the ends should be the same.  Pin one end of each of the folded bath towels together with two safety pins.  Your two towels should now be end to end.

Step 4

 

Wedding Towel Cake - View 6

Joining edges of the bath towels

Starting at one end, carefully roll the towels in one long roll as shown on the left.  Try to roll as tightly as possible.

Step 5

 

Wedding Towel Cake - View 7 Wedding Towel Cake - View 8

Top of the rolled bath towel

Notice that the top of your finished roll has a right and a wrong side.  The edges of the towel show on the wrong side; the edges don't show on the right side.  Place the finished roll so that the right side is up as shown in the left picture.  Make sure that the top of the roll is relatively flat.  If it is not flat, the next layer won't lay nicely on the top, and you have not taken enough care in folding and rolling your towel.

Step 6 Wedding Towel Cake - View 9

Rolled bath towel

To fasten, either tie a satin or organza ribbon closely around the roll, or use regular or decorative straight pins to fasten the ends.  If you are using straight pins, make sure to use at least three long pins, and put them firmly in place.

Step 7 Wedding Towel Cake - View 10

Unrolled hand towel--

fold differently than bath towel

Repeat with the hand towels and the washcloths, except use three hand towels, and only fold to between 1/2 way and 3/4 to the opposite edge as shown.  You are roughly trying to match the height of your base--the bath towels.

 

Place the roll of hand towels on top of the roll with the bath towels, again remembering that there is a right side and a wrong side, and place the roll with the washcloths at the very top.  You're almost done!

Step 8 Wedding Towel Cake - View 11

Finished towel wedding cake!

Here comes the fun part!  Take your ribbon and wrap all three layers to keep them together.  Tie a decorative bow at the top.  You can also use straight pins to fasten appliqués, other bows, and even "tuck" things in the top and sides of your "cake."  Kitchen utensils and small baby items for baby showers fit beautifully!

 

The ribbons featured in the pictures are organza, which we prefer, because we feel it's easier to handle than satin.  Thinkwedding sells a wide range of widths and colors of organza ribbons, as well as Organza/Organdy Circles and Organza Fabric Rolls, can be used to wrap around the rolled towels to finish off your cake.  Even if you're all thumbs like us, a little ribbon and fabric helps to create wonderful effects!   Decorations can be both pinned and tucked into the folds of your finished towel cake!

 

We would very much appreciate any other pictures of finished cakes made as a result of these instructions.  Please send them to photos@thinkwedding.com, and we'll be sure to give you credit and our thanks!

 

please click on each picture to see a larger picture

 

Towel Wedding Cake by Joanna of Brooklyn Birthday Towel Cake by Laynes
This lovely and well-proportioned "cake" was made by Gwen Ackland, of Stoney Creek, Ontario who surprised herself, because she had a talent for this kind of thing.  It was made for her future daughter-in-law.  She felt it was more fun to make and decorate than a traditional cake.
 
This "cake" was made by Madiha Anas from Lahore, Pakistan for her sister's wedding.  She made a pink one for the bride and a blue for her future husband.  She used safety pins to keep it together.  It's still an unusual sight there, and she says it really impressed!  She placed marbles on the towers and  fancy toiletries on the sides.

 

Maryann Coudriet made this "cake" as a centerpiece for the engagement party, and it was quite a hit!  She has started a personal business producing these "cakes" for all occasions as a result.


 

This lovely proportioned towel cake was a first attempt by Sue Hagerman for her future daughter-in-law's bridal shower.  Way to go, Sue!

 

Towel Wedding Cake by Sharrow
This lovely cake was made by Donna Renda for her best friend's bridal shower, and she loved it.  She says it was a great hit with all the guests at the shower as well.

 
 

Roni made this lovely towel cake for her daughter's bridal shower, using the little shower umbrella to keep the bridal shower theme (how clever!)  While buying the towels, she interested the bridal registry department of the store, and they now have their own towel cake on display--using our instructions!  Thanks, Roni!

 

Debbie Ross from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada made this "cake" for her daughter's wedding on April 24, 2008.

 

 It was made in about 3 hours after an 8 hour workday, and was decorated to reflect a tropical theme--her daughter is to be married in Mexico.

Tracy Kessler of New York City bought many more towels that our instructions called for, so she doubled the bottom two layers.  This "cake" is for her little sister's bridal shower, and she is the maid of honor.  She used a nice color variation on the layers too--good work Tracy!

 

Towel Cake by Richelle Egan Towel Cake by Etta Lofink Towel Cakes by
This "cake" was created by Jacquelyn, who found it a breeze to make with our instructions.  She used towels to match the bride's bath ensemble, and put a matching soap pump on the top!  Good work, Jacqueline!

 

 

This towel cake was made by Richelle Egan for her best friend's birthday, and was her first!  On the top is a headband, mobile phone pouch and a body puff, all in turquoise green, her favorite color!  She sent thanks for such easy to follow instructions!  Very gracious of you, Richelle--and good work!
 
Etta Lofink of Saratoga Springs, NY made these two cakes for birthday parties. The white cake has sixty one dollar bills twisted with pipe cleaners into flowers and tucked into the towels. The cream color towel cake is made with 120 one dollar bills for a couple both turning 60 years old. Chargers were used to hold the cakes, and safety pins and decorated pins held them together.
 
Pam Volkmann wrote to thank us for the instructions, and has made three so far.  These are pictures of two of them, and from the pictures, we get the impression that she has definitely mastered it!

 

Towel Cake contributed by Carol DeArmond Towel Cake by Tina Harris Towel Cake made by Jackie Hall
This autumn themed cake by Carol DeArmond was done with ivory towels and will be used at both of the bride's showers.  She used a gift-wrap tube in the center, and rubber bands and straight pins. Tina Harris made this towel cake for her co-worker for her wedding shower. All of the teachers who saw it  Her guests thought she paid quite a bit for it, and many thought it was real! This towel cake by Jackie Hall was made for practice, with the intention of giving it to her friend, who has two small toddlers.  She rolled two monkey hats inside the middle tier for them!

 

 

 

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