Do you use a lot of paper towels? Here's a way to help cut down and save money in the process. Get some flannel and some terry cloth from the fabric store; about 3 yards of each. Use cardboard or plastic to make a 10 by 11 inch template and cut it out. Cut about 20 each of flannel and terry cloth squares.
Now place them with a flannel and terry cloth together, fronts of the fabric facing. Leave a 3-4 inch space on one side to allow room to turn them right side out and then sew all the way around using 1/2 inch seams. Remember to leave the space for turning. Clip corners, avoiding the thread. Turn the towels right side out and with a stick, chopstick, or screwdriver make the corners as straight as possible. Line up the sides and pin them every 3-4 inches, making sure to turn in the fabric from the open space.
Sew a topstitch seam around the outside of the towels about 1/4" from the outside edges. Repeat this 3/8" in from the outer edges. You should now have several un-paper towels with terry cloth on one side and flannel on the other.
If desired, put snaps on opposite sides at the corners and in the middle so you can attach them together, roll them up and put them on a standing paper towel roll. It's great. They are soft, absorbent, and reusable, which saves money and trees. We also have small ones made from fabric leftovers from the large ones. We use these for wiping sweat from foreheads, napkins for meals, and for the grandkids. They also make great coasters.
By simpleadditions from Wright City, MO
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I just keep a stack of hand towels at the kitchen sink and that's what we reach for to dry washed fruit & veggies, wipe up a wet counter, dry your hands, etc. Mine aren't as pretty as the cute cows.
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great saving $ idea. I've done a similar idea by using old towels and cut them in smaller pieces and stitched the edges.
Thanks!
Ugh! too much trouble, too bulky and unsightly to keep on counter anywhere. Makes no sense to me if by making towels one would be buying more detergent, etc. for sanitation of towels and then end up with other materials (detergent bottles, etc) of which to dispose.
It actually does... Those that are " Green " minded usually don't buy tons of products that are packeged in non-recyclable materials. In fact I make my own laundry detergent, fabric softener, and laundry stain sticks. The laundry detergent I make for about 1.00 a gallon and reuse my containers... I am not being holier then but I just wanted to point out to be more earth conservation friendly it's the larger picture you have to look at.
Love, love, love it! Excellent ideas with the snaps and rolling the towels onto the paper towel roll. I have lots of rags and hand towels in the kitchen, but we still end up going through a roll of paper towels every few weeks.
For the one who goes ugg, I know, some of these comments are like two years old, but in case. Some of us use cloth towels to be eco friendly not just cost effective. It is way more detrimental to the world to create paper, especially paper that is bleached. It poisons the water supply of those near the factories and uses way more resources and water than washing a few measly towels, not to mention the porduction of all that plastic packaging. Also it is cheaper than buying paper towels since they are reused, making laundry soap is cheap and you dont need much per load.
Netflix has an awesome series called eco trip its on instant watch, just watch the one that follows production of paper napkins
More water, detergents, and bleaches like polluting dioxin are used in making paper towels than you will ever use washing cloth wipes.
If you can't sew, or don't have time you can buy these on eBay and Etsy. They're kind of expensive, but should last for years. I just bought a 2 roll package of paper towels for $2.50 at Aldi. These are next on my list of purchases. I already use family cloth, which I bought as cloth baby wipes from Etsy. I got double ply flannel wipes from "Tender Bottoms" though I would buy single ply next time.
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