
Eco-Friendly Non-Paper Towels


Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- 1-1/2 yards cotton fabric (JoAnn fabric)
- 1-1/3 yards terry cloth fabric (JoAnn fabric)
- Cutting mat (on hand (from JoAnn fabric))
- Straight edge (on hand)
- Fiskars fabric cutting tool (on hand (from JoAnn fabric))
- [url=https://www.amazon.com/KAMsnaps-20-Color-Starter-Pack-Snap/dp/B01CASU5AY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1488785651&sr=8-2&keywords=Starter+Pack+KAM+Plastic+Snap+Setting+Pliers+&+Awl+Set&linkCode=ll1&tag=ctbr-amanda27889828-20&linkId=4af17ddb63f79c4bd4546eb755084b4d]Starter Pack KAM Plastic Snap Setting Pliers & Awl Set[/url] (Amazon)
- Brother Simplicity SB3129 sewing machine (local sewing machine dealer)
- Fabric measuring tape (on hand)
Questions on this post
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Elizabeth Stevenson on Mar 12, 2017
Did you preshrunk the fabric? -
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Susan K. Mueller on Jul 07, 2017
Won't the snaps scratch the surface you are wiping with them??-
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Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team on Jul 07, 2017
They're soft snaps so I wouldn't think so. -
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Cindy on Nov 05, 2017
I would think if you'd grab for towel, your hand can be gripping the exposed snap and so no harm; you'd have the control. ( To scratch/ Not 2 scratch.) Thanks for thinking of another useful project, keep them coming! -
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Flipturn on Jan 21, 2021
These are the same lightweight plastic enclosed snaps that are used on infants baby-grows, or sleepers. So, they should not scratch the surface any more than they will scratch the baby.
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Catherine Sigmon on Aug 07, 2017
How many towels did you make with that amount of fabric?-
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Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team on Aug 08, 2017
I made 7 towels I believe and I still had fabric leftover.
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Comments
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Sylvia Tatro on Apr 01, 2017
I have been doing this for years..My kids are 50 and +....I used just pieces of terrycloth. put clean wet ones in a plastic bag and another bag for the soiled ones. much better than so much paper. Every time I'd leave he house with a little one, i'd have a bag of "wet ones". Old ratty ones could be thrown away. Even as they got older, the wet ones were good for sticky hands and faces after a snack..we traveled a lot............... -
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Dhi5051916 on May 04, 2017
Wow what a great idea and project. Congratulations on your baby, too.- See 1 Previous
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Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team on May 10, 2017
Thank you! She was born on April 20th--all is well and we're happy and healthy. 🎀
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Fran2 on Jun 04, 2017
Love your idea! Congrats on your new baby. She was born on my birthday. Blessings to all. Keep up the great work.
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B. Enne on May 04, 2017
creative and smart -
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Trudy Tutti on May 14, 2017
Thank you for sharing this project with us! I get discouraged by the amount of paper towels my house hold is using! (mainly me) I too am intimidated by sewing.. I would love to learn, as I really enjoy doing projects with my hands
. You'll usually find me outside in my garden playing in the dirt,, however.. in my neck of the woods, the summers can get well over 100 degrees
outside. Too hot for me to play in the dirt
...This would be a fun project, with little frustration to try as a beginning beginner
whenever its too hot outside(or rainy) Thank you for the inspiration! Happy Mother's Day
and God Bless!
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Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team on May 14, 2017
Thank you--God bless you too and hope you have a great Mother's Day!
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Rosey Owings on Jun 06, 2017
Looks like we're going back to the old days: a drawer full of dish towels! I remember when the first paper towels came out (colored to match kitchens) & my Mom had her dish towels! Well she just kept using them ( still does at 91) & now she's even crocheting dish cloths that everyone loves!! Yes they are okay in the washing machine & dryer (water & energy suckers)! I foresee that we will eventually be going back to hanging everything out on clothes lines; the real green way!! Using scrub boards to wash clothes, not so much!-
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Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team on Jun 09, 2017
Oh I would love to have a clothes line!! I'm hoping Rob finally puts one up for me this summer to save energy and so I don't have to go up and down the basement stairs. 😂
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Fran Hopkins on Jul 13, 2017
I use all my old wash clothes for clean up. SAVES paper towels BUT, if it is a HORRIBLE spill like an egg I use paper. -
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Annie on Jul 20, 2017
Great idea ! I am most selfish person with paper towels. I have do this ! -
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Cam23995085 on Nov 26, 2017
Thanks Courtney, what a great idea. Enjoy your future times sewing. Congrats on the baby. -
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Rdy31549481 on Feb 02, 2018
Seems a bit expensive $35 for replacing paper towels..... I buy cheap washcloths at Wal Mart, they come dozen in a package for $3. and keep them under the sink, use them instead of a paper towel. toss them in the laundry...... not pretty or fancy, but do the job, cheaper, and don't take up counter space.- See 3 Previous
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Jacqueline on Mar 30, 2020
Hi there Rdy. I realize your comment is from 2018. I am commenting on March 30, 2020. Today we are in the middle of the beginning of a new (novel) Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic claiming lives world wide. My county in the USA is locked down. People are standing 6 feet apart down the sidewalk waiting in line to go inside grocery stores. There is zero toilet paper. Toilet paper and paper towels are selling out within an hour of the store opening. The idea of homemade toilet wipes and hand towels is very interesting. All ideas are helpful and can be modified for our individual circumstances. $35 might be the cost of getting one person to wipe his or her hands sending the germs into the bin for washing and sanitizing. I think kids prints would help little kids enjoy. This project would not cost me $35 to make. I would consider using hook and loop or Velcro brand instead of snaps if they are wrapped around a paper towel holder. I have another idea that I'll practice with before suggesting it. Day care workers and childcare providers don't need to wrap these around a paper towel holder. They can use the tutorial to make really cute, thick hand towels. They can use solid colors or animated characters for each day so they know when the change out towels. Without the snaps and paper towel holder, the tutorial is still helpful and relevant. Now I'm off to make some. Many people don't have fabric hand towels because they always used paper towels. In other others like mine, fabric hand towels are completely sold out. This tutorial for a paper towel replacement is relevant to 2020 and will help new sewists create helpful, cute items for themselves and their loved ones. Cheers and stay healthy and safe. Kindest regards - jac
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Donna walther on Jan 12, 2021
Thats what I have been doing for years. I find it cheap and easy to wash if you buy the white washcloths. You can bleach the ones from the bathroom if they need be sanitized I use them for everything waxing furniture, cleaning bathrooms etc. I couldnt be bothered to sew them. Dont have a sewing machine and hate to sew!!!!!!! lol
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Flipturn on Jan 21, 2021
Donna,
Part of Courtney's goal of this project was to learn how to use her new sewing machine, and to make something useful in the process.
If she gains confidence with her sewing abilities, it is $35 well spent towards learning a new lifelong skill.
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Flipturn on Jan 21, 2021
Rdy31549481,
Some folks are not fortunate enough to live close to a Walmart store where they can purchase washcloths. Besides, the ones she made are thicker and more durable than the cheap ones you referred to.
While I agree that $35 for 7 kitchen wash cloths/towels seems expensive at first glance, the cost included the rotary cutter, and the snap setting tool, which can be used many times again. Plus, she stated that she had some extra fabric left over.
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Cynthia H on Feb 14, 2018
I've looked at several projects like this online, and yours is by far the most detailed. Thanks for a great tutorial! -
No I didn't.
As an avid sewer for over 60 years and also a former employee of both Singer and JoAnn Fabrics, it is advisable to pre-wash your fabrics. Not all fabrics shrink at the same percentage. This prevents puckered seams. Most if not all fabrics are processed with a "sizing". It is advisable to remove it by washing, especially for any fabrics that will be used near food, eating utensils, etc.
Being your first attempt, I think you will learn the tricks of the trade as you become more skilled so it's only my place to say how I completely adore your project it's great that people like yourself, that can think out of the box. Keep it up!😀
Great idea! These pretty and utilitarian towels would be an awesome green addition to any kitchen!
I think they are a great idea, and lovely. So what if they shrink differently or the red color run, they are non-paper towels. When they get beyond cute, you can finally toss them and make more. Still greener than constant paper towels in the trash. I applaud you.
Agree with Virginia R. Yes, it is recommended to preshrink cotton and cotton blend fabrics, especially those that are going to be made into kitchen towels such as these. The fabric will be much more absorbent when the sizing has been washed out.