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.
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.
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.
Sew an organizer covered with pockets that you can hang in your closet! This easy sewing project is great for organizing sewing and craft supplies, fashion accessories, bathroom necessities, gift wrappings, and more. There are pockets on both sides plus a big interior pocket so every bit of space is used. I’ll show you easy step by step instructions for sewing this organizer and putting it to use in your home. Get sew organized today.
Are you sewing a Closet Organizer with me? I hope so! This is Part 2 of our free sewing tutorial for an amazing organizer with a coat hanger inside so you can hang it anywhere.
If you are getting started, make sure you start at Part 1 of the free pattern.
Be a basketmaker! Sure, you can sew, but did you know that you can make amazing baskets too using your sewing machine, some fabric and the same materials that you use for your other projects?
Have you fallen in love with Quilt as You Go yet? It’s a fun technique for quilts, of course, but I’m having lots of fun using it for pouches and tote bags too.
I’m so excited to share with you the pattern for our first mini quilt of 2018… Flora! This beautiful little quilt was designed by the very talented Lauren of Molly & Mama…
At my daughter Chloe’s high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! She’s always starving by the time she gets home because she doesn’t want to carry a big lunch bag as well as her heavy backpack – poor girl!
Looking for free table runner patterns? I gathered up all my favorites in one place – here are free quilt patterns for table runners for fall, winter, spring and summer!
I am so in love with the beautiful look of simple patchwork quilts with lots of squares. This is the perfect way to use up fabric scraps like I did, or you can make a beautifully coordinated quilt with pre-cut 2 1/2’’ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
I’m also in love with the process. If you feel like quilt making is your escape from the world and sitting down to sew for a few hours makes your troubles fade away… this is the quilt for you!
Sew an easy beautiful apron with this free sewing pattern that only uses one yard of fabric! Whether you are sewing for yourself or for a friend, an apron always comes in handy and makes a great gift. This blog post includes a link to a free template that I digitized for you.
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
Get dreamy, designer inspired pillowcases that will look amazing in your bedroom! This DIY sewing tutorial takes just a yard and a half of fabric per pillowcase and works great with cotton, linen, satin, or another light to medium weight fabric.
I've been feeling so bogged down and harried lately with a million things to do at once and nothing getting finished until the last minute that I decided it was time to take a breath and change something. The thing that needed to be changed was the gigantic pile of fabric, paper, patterns, books, notions, tools, and lots and lots of scraps that was stifling any creativity I might have felt.
Sew a bean bag chair that doubles as toy storage! This fun bean bag chair sewing pattern is easy to make and is HUGE – I measured 40” across and it fits at least 30 stuffed animals.
I was looking at old photos this week and look what I found… eek! That’s me at 17 (graduation photo) in a dress that I made myself. Was it obvious or what? I don’t think many other gals my age were walking around covered in sunflowers in 1993. What made me pick that fabric? It’s really cute and all, but to wear?
With school in session now and fall in swing I’m ready to start thinking about making a nice new fall bag. This is the bold and beautiful bag is the Gatherer Bag from Anna Graham. A small crossbody bag that’s fun and easy to make. Holds the basics without weighing you down!
Sew an easy Variable Star Quilt using fat quarters with this free quilt pattern! The Variable Star is a traditional quilt block that is popular again in quilts of all sizes. This Stars and Irish Chain Quilt Pattern has 13…
I am soooo glad you let her go with this! When I was little, my grandma and mom sewed everything. I wanted a pink barbie sewing machine so badly but my mom said no – that I would learn to sew on her machine and learn I did! I started sewing at 7 and never stopped! My kids all sew – my son in the Navy makes a little money sewing patches on other guys uniforms! So, yea for you!
What a sweet gift! She did a great job!
Real cute project for kids to do for their moms.
This is great!!
I am soooo glad you let her go with this! When I was little, my grandma and mom sewed everything. I wanted a pink barbie sewing machine so badly but my mom said no – that I would learn to sew on her machine and learn I did! I started sewing at 7 and never stopped! My kids all sew – my son in the Navy makes a little money sewing patches on other guys uniforms! So, yea for you!
YEAH for you! You included your son👏👏👏
What a great and simple idea!
I might have to make some of these for camping, less waste. I can have my daughter do them.
I think I would use a dark towel and fabric to help hide any stains from their being used. Great idea! Thank you