Glow-up for used textiles
Get your sewing machines ready because it's time for a sustainable upcycling project. Grab a discarded shirt, old towel or bed sheet and you're all set to go. We'll show you how you can conjure up your own sustainable cosmetic pads in no time at all. With our step-by-step instructions, you not only recycle old textiles, but also get an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional disposable cosmetic pads. And best of all: they are not only great for your own use, but also make a nice gift for your (sewing) friends!
#upcycling #diybeauty #sustainability
What you'll need
- File for download
- Frayed towel
- Discarded T-shirt or sweatshirt
(alternatively, you can also use leftover cotton fabrics) - A sheet of fine sandpaper
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- SCHMETZ needles
- Thread to match your fabric
Preparation
Print the sewing pattern with printer set-up "original size" or 100 % and cut it out in the desired size without seam allowance.
Tip: Glue the sewing patten onto fine sandpaper and then cut it out. This will give you a sewing template that won't slip.
Cutting
Cut off all the seams of your T-shirt. And be as generous as you want. This works best if you first turn the T-shirt inside out. Now use the pattern to cut as many pieces of fabric from the T-shirt as you want to sew cosmetic pads. Cut the pieces roughly, i.e. about 1 cm larger than the pattern all around. The exact size is not important, it should just be significantly larger than your pattern. Then place the cut pieces of T-shirt fabric on the towel and cut out the same number of pieces from the towel. Make sure that your cut pieces do not have any holes or ugly stains.
Here's how
Place one piece of fabric from the towel and one piece of fabric from the T-shirt on top of each other, left sides together, so that the right, pretty sides are on the outside.
Then place your sandpaper template with the rough side facing down on the two pieces of fabric and sew around the outside of the template using a straight stitch. This will give you a precise circular shape and prevent the fabrics from shifting during sewing.
Cut the cosmetic pad on the outside along the seam (approx. 1-2 mm away from the seam).
Tip: The seam can be seen better on the jersey side than on the terry side.
Now finish the cosmetic pad with a zigzag stitch. We used a stitch length of 1.5 mm and a stitch width of 5 mm. The outer stitch of the zigzag should be directly outside the pad, while the inner stitch should "enclose" the previously sewn straight stitch.
Tip: If you have an overlock foot, now is the time to try it out. The bar on the foot ensures that more thread is used for the stitches and the fabric is not pulled together. This results in a nicer seam.
Your first cosmetic pad is completed. Now you can go into series production ...
Tip: Patterned fabrics or fancy threads bring color to your bathroom. :)
