How to create and sew handmade wipes - Sewing technical tutorial

Nothing is simpler and more eco-friendly than making your own wipes for cleaning your face or removing makeup! It's an eco-friendly gesture; you use fabric scraps and can avoid single-use cotton pads. Reusable wipes are super easy to make; it's a perfect sewing project for beginners.

We explain in detail and in a video.

For the English version, remember to active the English subtitles.

Makeup Remover Pads, 2 Sewing Options:

• A single square of approximately 12x12 cm (but you can make it smaller or larger depending on the use... 6x6 for simple eye makeup removal or targeted areas, 12x12 for a pad that will clean or remove makeup from the entire face. It can be even larger if you want to make wipes for cleaning a baby's bottom! This square should preferably be made of slightly thick terry cloth and simply serged on all 4 sides. On a standard sewing machine, using a wide but rather tight zigzag stitch is recommended. Tuck in the threads with a needle into the zigzag stitch lines. With an overlocker, it's super quick; serge all 4 sides and tuck in the threads at the end into the seams.

• A square with 2 sides, so 2 squares assembled together... in the dimensions mentioned above but remember to add about 1 cm for the seam allowances. So cut 2 squares of 13x13 cm to end up with a 12x12 cm pad, etc...

Materials for Sewing Makeup Remover Pads:

One side in bamboo terry cloth (thin or thicker, your choice) or waffle fabric. Bamboo terry cloth is super soft, very absorbent, and dries much faster than cotton. Waffle fabric is also well suited for washcloths.

Another side (optional) in cotton, with or without a pattern, to make it pretty and use up scraps.

Necessary Sewing Supplies:

Ideally, a rotary cutter and a suitable cutting mat, a patchwork ruler is also ideal, but you can simply use scissors and a graduated ruler. Finally, a fabric marker is useful for marking. Also, use pins or clips, thread, a needle, and a sewing machine.

Sewing Two-Sided Pads:

Here is the complete tutorial to sew 12x12 cm pads (finished product):

From about 50 cm of terry cloth fabric (which is usually 140-150 cm wide), you can cut approximately 30 pads.

1. Cutting the Pads

Mark and cut the squares to the desired size (here 13x13 cm, including the seam allowance).

Also, cut the cotton squares for the second side.

I will use Fanfan cotton satin from the exclusive Ikatee collection, printed in the region of Lyon. I’ll be using Fanfan in marmalade, pink, and quetzal green.

And there you go, my terry cloth and cotton satin squares are cut!

2. Sewing the Pads

Place one terry cloth square (choose the side you prefer to be the right side; I always choose the softer side) and one printed cotton square right sides together

Pin the sides together and then stitch around the edges, leaving an opening (about 8 to 10 cm) to turn the pad right side out. Note: I marked the stitching line with a fabric pen to show you. Start with a few backstitches to secure the seam. Then sew with a straight stitch. At the corners, leave the needle down in the fabric, lift the presser foot, and rotate your work 90 degrees (pivoting around the needle), lower the presser foot, and continue stitching to the end. Finish the fourth side with a few backstitches to secure.

3. Turning the Pad

Trim the corners by cutting diagonally close to the seam (without cutting the seam). Then, use your fingers to shape the corners.

Finally, turn the pad right side out. Carefully shape the corners and press it.

5. Topstitch Around the Pad

To finish, topstitch around the entire pad 2 mm from the edge (this is called an edge stitch), starting with the side that was left open and continuing around in one continuous stitch.

There you go, it's done in just 3 minutes! Well, I still have 29 more pads to make to fill my bathroom cabinet !