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

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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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Enjoy your un-paper towels!

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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. 🙂

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7 Comments

  1. What a sweet gift! She did a great job!

  2. Debbie Grosskopf says:

    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!

  3. Patti Hansen says:

    What a great and simple idea!

  4. Lara Trottier says:

    I might have to make some of these for camping, less waste. I can have my daughter do them.

  5. Mea Cadwell says:

    I think I would use a dark towel and fabric to help hide any stains from their being used. Great idea! Thank you

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