Eco kitchen sponge, is the perfect easy 5 minute make for beginners and seasoned sewists. Use up your fabric scraps. And these make fab gifts too,
So why is this option better, the reason we are all trying to lower our plastics use is to help nature around us. Also, there are other benefits… these skinny sponges dry quicker than thicker ones (better hygiene), they have a scourer side, an absorbent bamboo lining and a quilting cotton side, which is great for delicate items.
Stitch a loop of ribbon on the top if you like to hang this out to dry, and also useful when laundering.
How to make
YouTube Quick Tutorial
- Cut out the three hearts.
- Stitch around the edge of the burlap piece, 0.25cm (1/8″) seam allowance.
- Place the front and back pieces right sides together. Then place the towelling piece on the back piece (this will be hidden when the heart is completed).
- Pin and stitch around the edge of the heart through all three layers. 1cm (3/8″) seam allowance. Leave a turning gap of 5cm (2″) unstitched on one of the straight sides.
- Turn Right Sides Out (through the turning gap between the front and back fabrics).
- Push the edges out with the chopstick.
- Finger press flat, focusing on the edges.
- Pin the turning gap neatly.
- Top stitch the edges of the heart 0.5cm (2/8″) seam allowance.
- Tah dah! Well done you! A super little make.
Materials
- Sewing Machine
- Chopstick
- Three identical hearts:
- 1 Burlap // Hessian (back)
- 1 Towelling – Bamboo towelling is slim and naturally antibacterial (middle)
- 1 Thick cotton – medium to heavy weight cotton (front)
Selecting fabrics:
Using fabric scraps up, this is the perfect project.
For delicate bone china and glassware
If you wash up a lot of fine glass ware, use a cotton Tana Lawn for the front fabric, and a quilting cotton back. With towelling in between.
For dirty pots and pans
After a delicious cheese dish, steak or slow roast, for the burned on bits make a rough, tough burlap fabric rugged scourer. You may wish to make one of these hearts with burlap on both sides and in the middle layer too.