I've been saying for a while now that Granny Plants isn't just a garden account — that once the beds get put away for winter, I switch over to quilting, baking, and whatever else is keeping my hands busy. This is the first real proof of that. Sewing machine's out, and the first project off the list is something I've wanted to make for ages: reusable paper towels.
Not the snap-together kind, either. I wanted something that actually behaves like a real roll — pull one, the next one's ready, no fumbling with buttons or ties.
The trick is in the fold, not the fabric
Turns out the answer isn't some special notion or gadget. It's interfolding — the exact same mechanism that makes tissues pop up one after another out of a box. Fold each flannel sheet through the one before it, roll the whole connected chain around a saved cardboard tube, and the flannel's own texture holds it together well enough to dispense just like the paper version did.
Double layer of flannel, zigzag-stitched around the edges so there's no fraying and no need to turn anything right-side out — about as beginner-friendly as sewing projects get. If you can sew a straight line, you can make these.
Why bother
Partly the money — paper towels aren't cheap anymore, and a stack of these gets washed and reused instead of thrown out. But honestly, mostly it's just the season talking. Same instinct that has me tracking seed inventory in spring has me digging through the fabric stash in fall. It's nice having a project that isn't outside in the cold.
Get the free pattern
I wrote up the whole thing — materials, cutting dimensions, sewing steps, and the interfold-and-roll method — as a free printable pattern. Download it here.
More winter projects coming as the garden winds down for the year. This is just the first one off the list.