Making Reusable Linens
Allergy season is here, but truly all year long I am tormented by allergies. I am one of those people who is allergic to dang near everything, including grass and animals. I typically blow my nose constantly throughout the day and night. I also use tissue and paper towels to dab excess water when I am painting. So I decided to create a little basket of hankies and rags for my art table. That way I can just wash everything instead of wasting so much paper. Today was my first day using the new handkerchiefs I made, and it will take some getting used to. I also made a basic drawstring bag so I can put some in my handbag for on the go!
Making handkerchiefs is actually super simple. They do not need to be fancy, and you can even make some without sewing. I used 10 inch pre cut squares and just hemmed the edges. But you could cut up an old sheet or cotton dress to use instead. If you do not sew, just get some pinking shears and trim the edges with the shears to prevent fraying. 10 x 10 inches is about the smallest I would recommend going, aim for 12-14 inches square at minimum. If you have some old bandanas, those would work great too!
Making UnPaper Towels is also super easy. You can buy them on Etsy, but making them yourself is a great way to use up some of your fabric and custom tailor the cloths to the specific purposes you will be using them for. A very basic rag can be created by cutting up flannel and zig zag stitching around the edges. Cut up tee shirts work great for dusting and are totally washable. Or use a flannel or cotton on one side and a more absorbent fabric like an old terry cloth towel on the reverse side for 2 ply towels. My twin sister bought me a bunch of UnPaper Towels from a woman who sews them online, and they were fussy with all these fancy details. Call me simple and plain, but basic things like handkerchiefs and cleaning rags do not need to be fussy, they just need to be functional.
Sewing your own fabric napkins is also super easy. Make them a bit larger, like 18x18 inch square. Use a single square of fabric for each and do a basic hem around the outside. Single ply is best for fabric napkins. I learned this the hard way and used a fabric on either side, which turned out to be way too thick for use as a napkin. You can use any cotton fabric for fabric napkins, and batiks or solids are especially nice because they look the same on both sides.
If you do want to add a nice element to your handkerchiefs or UnPaper Towels, embroider a little design on each one. Small bundles of each would be great gifts to give as well! When you are crafty, going green is so much fun! Little by little you can create objects of beauty that you will want to reuse instead of wasting paper all the time.
