How to Sew Un-Paper Towels to Wash and Re-use!

Learn how to sew paper towels that are fabric instead of paper! This earth-friendly sewing project is so easy, my 7 year old daughter helped me with it. You’ll need an inexpensive bath towel and a 1/2 yard of flannel fabric to get started.

We had a lazy Saturday morning last week and Chloe convinced me to let her sew. She’s helping me demonstrate this sewing tutorial!

Cutting:

Use a rotary cutter or scissors to cut 12-14’’ squares from the terrycloth bath towel.

Tip: Calculate the best size squares to cut the most squares out of your towel. If an older child is helping you, you can mark the squares on the towel with a marker and let them cut with scissors instead of a rotary cutter.

Then cut squares of flannel fabric that are the same size.

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Sewing:

Place a terrycloth towel square and a flannel square right sides together.

Pin around all of the edges.

Tips:

We marked a 4’’ spot on the side of each square for her not to pin – that’s where we would leave an opening.
If you have a walking foot for your sewing machine, it will help keep those thick layers together.

Sew around all of the towels with a 1/2’’ seam allowance. Pivot at the corners with your needle down and leave an opening of about 4’’ for turning the towel right side out.

Clip the corners.

Turn the towel right side out through the opening and press. Turn the edges of the opening to the inside and topstitch 1/4’’ away from the edges all the way around each towel. This will close the opening at the same time.

If you wish, you can quilt straight lines or a different design to help keep the layers together.

Enjoy your un-paper towels!

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