DIY Reusable 'Paper' Towels

Reusable 'Paper' Towels

I was so excited to make these. I have seen them on ETSY a couple times and, oh swoon...

I finally got my serger in good working order. (You know, the blade sharpened, the tensions set, the oil changed {it's an oil bath model}, and the whole thing just generally checked and lubed.) So now that it's back I have been fired up to start making stuff and this was the first thing I got a chance to do!

I made these the super easy way, with plain old serged edges but if you don't have one I will write the instructions for that at the end.

I made two different types of towels, a thicker one with tericloth on one side and cotton on the other. The second type of towel was doubled up flower sack fabric. (Do you ever use these, they are my absolute FAVORITE dish towels.)  So who wouldn't want them in multiple sizes?  No, just me, well that's ok too.

I had this tericloth sitting around, staring at me, begging me to do something.

And now comes the fun part, picking out a matching fabric to use.

Here's what I went with... cute, right!

Then I took the two pieces of fabric I wanted to use, placed them wrong sides together,

...and serged the edges. How simple right?!?

And for the flour sack ones, same idea.

Now, if you are in the same sad situation I was in about a year ago, serger-less, then you will want to put the right sides together, sew around the edges, leaving an opening to flip it...

Turn it right side out and sew around the edges one more time. This gives it a really nice, more professional, store bought look.

And done.


I used an actual paper towel to measure the size I wanted but truly you can make them any size you think will work for you. How super fantastic.


Now if I was really fancy I would out snaps on them so they would wrap around he towel rack but I didn't, I think I am going to keep them in a basket next to the sink for now. When I find a great way to kind of display them and keep them functional I will let you know!

Thanks for stopping by everyone, come back and visit us again soon,

 -Sarah

 We love that you stopped by and cant wait to see you again soon! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts, Like us on Facebook,  ,visit our ETSY shop, follow us on Instagram, follow us on twitter, or come see our website www.yuenyarn.com.

The circle skirt, altered!

Super Easy Circle Skirt - Altered

It's the same pattern but even easier, if that's possible.

We recently added a lower bar in the closet so the girls can reach their clothes that are hanging. The idea was to get them to pick out their own clothes, and to help with the dressing themselves. Little did I know pants and shirts became obsolete and fancy dresses and skirts are absolute!

So, me being the modern mom that I am, I roll with it. Why fight it? It was time to make some more skirts....

So here is a variation of the circle skirt. It's the same pattern idea but less cutting and measuring.

I used two fat quarters, measured the child's waist, and cut a hole in the center of the fabric. I actually folded the fabric into 4, then cut the folded corners. Then I laid them out with opposite ends and the hole matching in the center and I pinned it. See pics below.

I cut a piece of elastic and sewed it to the top and then hemmed the edges.

She can twirl and be in heaven...and dress herself!

Sew and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by everyone, come back and visit us again soon,

 -Sarah

 We love that you stopped by and cant wait to see you again soon! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts, Like us on Facebook,  ,visit our ETSY shop, follow us on Instagram, follow us on twitter, or come see our website www.yuenyarn.com.

My Thrifted Pillowcase

A Pillowcase and an Idea

I found this pillowcase at the thrift store the other day and really just fell in love with it. I don't know why, it was calling me I think. And for .55 cents, who argues when it is calling you?  Anyway, I bought it knowing I could do something fab with it when I got home.

After I was home however I couldn't decide what to do with it. First I thought, maybe a dress for the girls, but no, then the design would be backwards. Then I thought I could cut it down and make something, but I really didn't want to loose the balance of the design. So what to do.

Then it hit me, how about an apron. How easy would that be?  A 5 minute project, that's how easy!

I just pinned a piece of lace to the top of the pillowcase with enough left over the ends to tie.

Now sew together and done!

How easy and cute is that?!?

I knew you would love it!

Now hurry, go make a few, they are so easy and so cute.  You are going to love them!  And if they're lucky, and your a nice person, maybe your friends will love them too, if you decide to gift them, IF they are lucky...

Thanks for stopping by everyone, come back and visit us again soon,

 -Sarah

 We love that you stopped by and cant wait to see you again soon! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts, Like us on Facebook,  ,visit our ETSY shop or come see our website www.yuenyarn.com.

Reusable Snack Bags

DIY Reusable Fabric Snack Bags

So, yesterday the kids had some friends over for a play date and their mother and I also got to have a craft date.  You can not believe how excited I was to have a friend to craft with!  

She had purchased some reusable snack bags with a nice liner but we decided that just a plain cotton one would work just as well if you are not going to put anything liquid or juicy in there, right?

So, here is what we did...

take a scrap of fabric and cut it down to about 7 1/2 in x 20 in

Place right sides together,

 and sew around 3 sides, 

leaving one end open to flip it right side out.  

fold over the open end twice and sew the hem shut.  

now fold the entire strip in half with the side you will want on the inside, out.  

(see, here I wanted purple to be on the inside, stripes out)

fold the hemmed edge under about 2 inches so you will have about a 2 inch flap up also

now sew around 3 edges, starting at the fold, up over the fold, around the top, and down the other long side.  This will give it a finished look as well close the sides.  

flip it right side out and DONE!

Ta-Da, don't you just love it?  We were super excited, I made several and Charly was excited to take it to school today too!  Pretty sure I will be making these for everyone.   

Thanks for stopping by everyone, come back and visit us again soon,

 -Sarah

 We love that you stopped by and cant wait to see you again soon! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts, Like us on Facebook, ,visit our ETSY shop or come see our website www.yuenyarn.com.

The Easiest 3 Minute, $3, No Sew Boot Socks Ever...

Boot Socks, fast, easy, and CHEAP!

I'm not kidding, these may be the easiest boot socks ever.  They will only cost about $3, too!  I know, you are excited, I was too, I made several pairs, I mean, you have to have one to go with every boot and outfit, right?  

All you are going to need is an old sweater and some scissors.  

Super easy, you are telling yourself, I know.  

If you have an old sweater that you don't mind cutting then this will be a free project for you but if you are like me and just cleared out your closet then you may need to hit the local thrift store to find one.  

I hit the thrift store and scored a few cute sweaters that at only $3 a pop I didn't mind cutting up and using for scrap.  (Plus I still have the actual body of the sweater to use for other crafts.)

All you have to do is buy a sweater, cut off about half the arm


and slip it on!  (I use pinking sheers to make sure they don't unravel but I don't think it is really necessary.)  

Ta-Da!  (I know, these are my winter boots, not as cute as some of my others but still way cuter with the socks!)

Thanks for stopping by everyone, come back and visit us again soon,

 -Sarah

 We love that you stopped by and cant wait to see you again soon! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts, Like us on Facebook, ,visit our ETSY shop or come see our website www.yuenyarn.com.

DIY Taggie Blankets

Baby Gifts....

I don't know what happened but it seems like everyone is pregnant this summer and I have about 100 gifts to get together (well, thats what it feel lisle at least)!  So I thought I would throw together some of these taggie blankets I have seen around so much.

Neither of my girls had one but they both rub the one tag on their 'lovies' until they fall asleep.  So it proved to me that there must be something to this taggie thing.






They are pretty easy to make, just find a couple small scraps of fabric and several different ribbons...

Pin the ribbon all around the edges  of the right side of the fabric with the loops facing inward toward the middle.  This is important, you will be turning it right side out later and if you place them the wrong way they will be on the inside.  

Sew the two pieces of fabric together, right sides together.  Don't forget to leave an opening to turn it around.  

after you sew around all the edges clip the corners, this keeps the corners from being too bulky and makes it easier to have sharp corners on the right side.














Now flip it right side out and sew around the entire edge.  This will sew the opening shut as well as add a nice finished edge.

Ta-Da!!!  See, done, so easy, you can make this in less than an hour.  And your friends will love it!

Happy sewing!
-Sarah


Thanks so much for stopping by! If you liked Yuen Yarn, check out some of our older posts,

us on Facebook, or