Are you ready to ditch paper towels for good? Swap out your single-use paper towels with this DIY for no-sew reusable cloth towels. Made with Spoonflower’s Organic Cotton Knit, these washable and reusable towels can be in any design available from Spoonflower artists to match your home decor and style — no sewing required!
Video Tutorial for No-Sew Reusable Paper Towels
Reusable Paper Towel Materials
- 1 yard of Organic Cotton Knit (yield: fifteen 11″ (28cm) x 10.5″ (26cm) towels)
- Rotary blade or fabric scissors
- Straight edge ruler
- Cutting mat
Steps to Make No-Sew Reusable Cloth Towels
1. Cut Our Your Fabric
Lay your fabric out flat on a cutting mat and cut out a rectangle that measures 11″ (28cm) x 10.5″ (26cm). Using this rectangle as a guide, continue cutting out towel pieces until you’ve cut all of your fabric. You should be able to get 15 towels from one yard of fabric. Because we’re using knit fabric, the raw edges won’t fray so there’s no sewing needed!
2. Roll Your Fabric Pieces
Once you have all your pieces cut, stack them wrong side up on top of each other. Starting with the towel piece on the top of your stack, roll it loosely so there’s room to fit it onto a paper towel.
Add the next rectangle, overlapping it a little with the previous piece to help give it some extra support, to the roll and continue rolling/adding pieces until you’ve used up all your towels. And just like that, you’re ready to start kick paper towels to the curb with your new no-sew reusable fabric towels!
Hi
I just came across this page and love the idea, however I am finding it difficult to find cotton knit in the UK. Do you happen to know if it goes under another name?
It comes up a lot as cotton jersey, but I think that material may be different to cotton knit?
Any tips anyone has would be amazing
Thanks 🙂
Hi Laura!
I took a look around the internet and couldn’t find whether it’s called the same thing in the UK.
However, if I were you I’d take a closer look at the description of the fabric used in this post, Organic Cotton Knit—specifically this part > “Our 100% Organic Cotton Knit fabric offers a medium-weight interlock construction that is extremely soft with a smooth hand. Featuring a natural 2-way stretch.” And then use that information as a guide when looking for similar fabric where you are.
There’s more detailed fabric information at that link, but from the information I just shared above, you’d be looking for a 100% organic cotton knit (vs. woven) fabric with interlock construction with a natural 2-way stretch.”
If you don’t have any luck, do remember that we ship products around the world! 🙂
Best,
Betsy
Spoonflower
Hi Debra,
Because this knit is cotton based, it’ll absorb pretty well!
Best,
Anna
Spoonflower
Beautiful idea! Thanks for sharing.
It is even easier with the 2 yards FAY option. It makes 9″ x 9″ towels.
That sounds great, Nadine! The more cloth towels the better.
-Anna
Spoonflower
I’m a bit late to this party since I’ve just started reading your blog a few weeks ago, but I want to say what a lovely idea this is. I have used rags, but I’m looking forward to designing fabric for this project, something that matches the kitchen and, hopefully, makes me smile. Thank you for posting this idea.
Stella, Thank you so much for sharing and best of luck with designing and making!
-Amy
Spoonflower
Thank you for an inspiring article. I have seen the idea before, but you explain and illustrate it so attractively that I am inspired to make some. I used to use old terry face cloths but when they wear out or become irretrievably stained it cost too much to replace them. Even at the thrift shop. I know I can buy terry fabric, but that stuff unravels. Cotton knit is a much better idea!
Keep on sending those good ideas out into the internet because most of us appreciate them and your kind efforts.
I don’t get why people are confused. I think this is a neat way to display them!
If I would like to edge them do you have any ideas?
Hi Marlene,
Would you be able to clarify what you mean by edge? If you’d like finished edges, we suggest either serging the edges or creating a 1/2″ double hem.
I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Best Regards,
-Meredith F.
Spoonflower
Can you use these in the microwave to absorb moisture from foods when cooking (like you would disposable papertowel)? I love this idea, now all I have to do is decide which fabric pattern to use!
Hi Sarah,
We’re so glad to hear you plan on making the towels! Folks on our team have used towels and napkins made of Organic Cotton Knit in the microwave for short periods of time (under 2 minutes) both to reduce food splatter and absorb moisture with no issues. I hope that helps and best of luck with the project!
Take care,
Amy
Spoonflower
I’m confused. After rolling the fabric loosely, are you inserting the cardboard roll from a paper towel roll in the center? Or just putting them on the paper towel holder?
Thanks
Hi Sandra,
For this project, it is not necessary to insert a cardboard roll inside the fabric. You can just roll the fabric up gently, with enough room in the center to fit snuggly on your paper towel holder. And if you do not have a paper towel holder, you can just as easily keep these fabric “paper towel” alternatives in a kitchen drawer for easy access.
Laurie S.
Spoonflower
Cool project to try especially since I’m a beginner at sewing. Does this material fray at all after a few washes?
Hi Shalanda,
Since this is a knit fabric it won’t fray during washing if you leave the edges unfinished.
I really wish people would think before they put their thoughts in writing.
Meredith, I think you pick me up on your ‘short wave’. Since this Pandemic, I have reduced my use of paper towel because of the constant handwashing. I use small tea towels/dish cloths and do a small wash load twice per week. I have lots of paper towel rolls to spare a few for this project. Thanks for sharing
Great idea! And they are super simple to make. Especially good for right now where paper products are hard to get a hold of of. The perfect time to go green.
How absorbent are these if they are a knit fabric?
Hi Trish,
Great question! Alexis shared that the towels do a great job wiping up spills and feels like they’re more absorbent than traditional paper towels.
I absolutely love this! I’ve been wanting to do this to break my paper towel addiction. Can you please tell me a little about the care for these? Do you wash them like normal with everything else in your laundry?
Thanks a million. I truly appreciate this tutorial!!!
Stay safe out there,
Alecia
Hi Alecia,
Great question! We’ve washed our towels with other dirty laundry and we recommend using a phosphate-free detergent. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
How absorbant is this material? ????
Hi Jessica,
Great question! Alexis shared that the towels do a great job wiping up spills and feels like they’re more absorbent than traditional paper towels.
This was confusing– they’re not paper towels, they’re still fabric.
You’re putting cloth on a roll- you could call them ‘Unpaper towels’ perhaps?
‘Cotton Knit Kitchen Wipes’?
Cotton Knit Kitchen Wipes is Great!
To get people to start charging their habits, we might start by calling them washable Paper Towels, then Transition to Cotton Knit Kitchen Wipes.
Who has ideas about getting people to remember that they should not be thrown away , but washed, just like anything that is dirty..
My thoughts exactly, Marion! I just use rags & kitchen towels. They wash up nicely & don’t require the time it takes to roll them up on a paper towel holder. The whole deal just seems pointless.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Marian!