How to Fold a Towel Elephant

Easily put together from one bath and one hand towel, this towel elephant is a cute addition to your bathroom and an incredible way to impress your guests! Cruise lines and “bed and breakfast” motels use these quite often. If you want to give your bathroom an original touch, have “Eddie the Towel Elephant” greet your unsuspecting guests and tickle their sense of humor.

Steps

1. 

   Lay out a bath towel on a flat surface.

   Lay your bath towel out flat. If it’s not reasonably flat, you may need to iron it.

2. 

   Fold in the ends.

   Fold the ends in by 6 or so inches (15 centimeters).

3. 

   Second fold of the ends.

   Fold the folded ends in again the same distance.

4. 

   Roll from left.
   

   Rolled scroll shape.

   Roll your hem edges toward the middle of the towel, forming a double “scroll” look.

5. 

   Fold smooth side in, rolled side out.

   Fold the “scroll” so that the rolls are facing “out”. (This forms the body and legs of the elephant.)

6. Stand the legs up and set aside.
7. 

   Lay hand towel on a flat surface.

   Lay the hand towel flat.

8. 

   Pin the center of a long side down so that it will not move. (Author used the leg of a chair)

   Pin or clip the center of a long side to something (such as the leg of a chair).

9. 

   Starting the left roll.
   

   Almost done…

   Place your hands on the towel edge near the fastened point and begin to roll the edge away from that point, sliding your hands away from the point as you roll, forming a long, pointed, double roll. The trick is to pull the towel taut as you roll it.

10. 

    Finished Hand Towel roll.

    Continue to the center till you can’t roll it anymore.

11. 

    Flat side up.

    Turn the roll over so that the flat, non rolled side faces up, toward you.

12. 

    Roll and squeeze the tip.

    Roll the narrow pointed end (where you fastened the middle point) up in a tight roll to form the trunk. Squeeze slightly to help the towel keep a curl in it once it’s released.

13. 

    Pull flap toward you and down.
    

    Tuck in the sides of the “face”.

    Grasp the flat area of towel between your two towel points at the side that’s facing down and unroll it away from the center. This will spread the “wide end” points out into “ears” and form the “forehead” of the elephant.

14. 

    Head on top of the legs.

    Place the head on top of the legs, positioning for most natural look.

15. 

    Side view of completed Elephant

    Display proudly- Enjoy your elephant!

Tips

• Change the color of your elephant by rolling different colored towels up.
• Add eyes (googly eyes from the dollar store work well).
• Sunglasses are also a great touch. Just set them on the head!

How to Fold a Towel Swan

Folding a towel swan for your guest bathroom is sure going to impress! These towel animals are often used by cruise lines and B&B Hotels to make your stay memorable.

Steps

1. 

   Flat bath towel.

   Lay a bath towel flat.

2. 

   Corners to center line.

   Fold the edge and corners down and to the center.

3. 

   Roll toward center.
   

   Somewhat triangular “scroll” result.

   Roll the folded edges firmly to meet at the center

4. 

   Low angle view of “Z” fold.

   Fold the resulting “scroll” shape in to a “Z”

5. 

   Arrange in smooth curves.

   Squeeze at the corners to set the curves.

6. 

   Heart Swans

   Repeat for a swan companion whose neck can complete a heart shape.

Tips

• If you’re making a pair of swans, be sure your bath towels are of equal thickness and size for best results.
• You can add tails to your swans too. A simple “paper fan” type fold with a hand towel works well or you can make the triangular scroll shape (like you used for the body) with a hand towel and fold the two corners that you rolled back under the towel. Roll the side down a little so it goes around the part you tucked under. This resembles wings when you place it on the swan’s back with the point toward the back and helps the swan stay standing if your body tends to fall backwards.
• This makes a great “7 Swans A Swimming” substitute if you are doing The 12 Days of Christmas for someone. You can give 7 white bath towels, fold them like swans and place the wash cloths as suggested above in a fan shape at the rear. Add the hand towels as the water underneath in a light blue color.
• You can make swan babies with hand towels. Try for a towel swan family!