Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Craft

The new $3 Kmart hack that will revolutionise your home

You will never look at a tea towel the same way again. - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
  • 06 Feb 2019
The new $3 Kmart hack that will revolutionise your home
Kmart/Katie Matheson

Think drying dishes is the only use for a tea towel? Think again.

Australian women have been flocking to Facebook Kmart groups to share photos of their genius craft creations using $3 tea towels from the retail giant.

From wall art and cushions to reupholstered chairs and dresses, the tea towels have been hacked into all manner of homewares, clothes and accessories.

Adelaide mum Tam Mee-Sims used the highland cow tea towel to create a wall hanging.

Highland cow wall hanging

Before and after

Kmart/Tam Mee-Sims

“The hack cost $3, not including the jute rope I already had at home.”

“It only took about 10 minutes to make and was super easy,” she said.

The highland cow tea towel was also a big drawcard for Crib Point mum Emma Hopkins, who used it to create a padded pin board.

Highland cow tea towel

Before and after

Kmart/Emma Hopkins

“Having grown up in the country, cows are my favourite animal. Especially the highland cow. I purchased the tea towel ‘just because’ and never had intentions of drying dishes with it,” she said.

Bundaberg mum Jersey Hall love the designs of the tea towels so much that she thought they’d make good sturdy tote bags.

Tote bags

From tea towels to totes

“It took about 45 minutes to make each bag,” she said. “with a total cost of $6, which was two tea towels at $3 each.”

Bendigo mother of two Kate Grange transformed two floral tea towels into framed statement art works.

Floral prints

The floral tea towels - before

Kmart
Frame floral prints

The framed artworks - after

Kate Grange

“I just wanted a nice floral print for our spare room but didn't want to spend a fortune.

“I ended up spending $4 on the two tea towels and $12 on the frames. It took me about 10 minutes!” she said.

The banana palm print, meanwhile, triggered a “lightbulb moment” for Gold Coast woman Katie Matheson, who used the tea-towel to re-upholster her dining room chairs.

Reupholstered chairs

Tea towel before and the chairs, after

Kmart/Katie Matheson

“It really tied in with the theme of my apartment,” she explained.

“I spent $15 on the tea towels at $3 each. At Bunnings I spent around $65 on paint, sand paper and a staple gun. I chose to use chalkboard paint which seems to be the easiest paint for painting furniture and it gave the matte finish that I was after.”

“I just washed the tea towels and ironed them, unscrewed the seats and covered them with the tea towels before stapling them to secure them underneath,” she said.

Camden mother of two Estienne Carla Meyer was inspired to make a dress for her three-year-old daughter when she spotted the $3 ice cream tea towels in store.

Tea towel and children's dress

The tea towel before, and the dress after.

Kmart/Estienne Carla Meyer
Little girl wearing black dress with colourful wall

Estienne Carla's daughter wearing the converted tea-towel dress

Estienne Carla Meyer

“I thought the fabric was really cute and could probably turn it into a dress. I used Little Lizard King’s Malibu pattern.”

“I used four tea towels for the skirt and one for the top and lined it with a soft cotton," she explained.

When Rockingham mother Melinda Wolhuter spotted the $3 Christmas tea-towels, she “thought they would look super cute as shorts” for her son and niece.

Christmas shorts

From Christmas tea-towels to shorts in 15 minutes.

Melinda Wolhuter

“Each pair would have taken about 15-20 minutes to make and we used elastic and cotton that we already have at home. So I would say we spent about $6 in total to make the two pairs of shorts.”

The tea towel hacks caused a stir on Facebook, with one user exclaiming, “I think I may have to steal this idea”.

“Now that’s talent,” said another.

“Omg I love them, pity I can’t sew. Are you taking orders?” asked another reader.

You might also like:

This Kmart suitcase hack will change your life

Ice your cake like a professional with this clever hack

This is the $4.40 Coles cake hack that is breaking the internet

  • Decorating
  • Craft
  • Kmart
  • Hacks
Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
Rebecca is the Digital Managing Editor of Better Homes and Gardens.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

See why this Kmart clock hack went viral

See why this Kmart clock hack went viral

Reader project: A gorgeous succulent garden in a $7.50 Kmart tray

Reader project: A gorgeous succulent garden in a $7.50 Kmart tray

This ultra-chic Kmart hack will add instant style to your home

This ultra-chic Kmart hack will add instant style to your home

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

How to make a stunning mirror wall for under $50

{headline}

{headline}

Mum's amazing DIY Kmart hack transforms her backyard

Mum's amazing DIY Kmart hack transforms her backyard

The Kmart cubby hack that's breaking the internet

The Kmart cubby hack that's breaking the internet

Kmart's new DIY range has landed

Kmart's new DIY range has landed

{headline}

{headline}

This blogger's pantry is next level amazing

This blogger's pantry is next level amazing

How to dye wooden beads

How to dye wooden beads

This $8.50 Kmart item makes basic kitchen look more expensive

This $8.50 Kmart item makes basic kitchen look more expensive

One woman has turned Kmart tea towels into a stunning dress

One woman has turned Kmart tea towels into a stunning dress

How one mum made her son a cubby house bed for under $400

How one mum made her son a cubby house bed for under $400

How to make air dry clay flowers

How to make air dry clay flowers

How to make an envelope

How to make an envelope

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription