Fabric question- unpaper towels

mmm50

Since CD-ing has set off an eco-friendly chain reaction I've been looking for other ways to go green and want to get some unpaper towels and napkins.  I have ZERO ability to sew, but my mom has a friend who makes any sewing projects that I would like and I pay her for it/get her a gift card, etc.  I also know NOTHING about fabric, which leads me to my questions:

- What are the best fabrics to use for unpaper towels?  I'm assuming I need something absorbent on one side and the other side can be cutesy or absorbent (I'll probably do some of both).  

- Where do you buy fabric?  I know there are stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics and some Wal-Marts carry fabric, but will they have the types of fabric I am looking for?  Are there good online fabric shops?

- Is it cheaper to just buy them on Etsy? I would like to get maybe a dozen napkins and 2 dozen unpaper towels.  

Thanks so much!  I'm such a fabric/sewing newb!

jjdillie

I bought some terry and flannel at Joann's for my unpaper towels.  Terry comes in several colors and there's tons of flannel prints. If you have a Joann's close by, I would buy fabric there. They always have a 40% off coupon and good sales.

PipSqueak0313

For my first batch I just used scraps of old flannel. My second batch I bought a couple yards at Joann's bf sales.  I did consider going to thrift stores and buying old flannel shirts/sheets and cutting them up for some but my bf purchase made that unnecessary.

Rrrrrachel

I bought mine but they're made of Birdseye.

jesstellina

I really like the ones I made us out of birdseye and flannel. The flannel side is nice and soft for when we use them as napkins, and the birdseye is a little bit scrubby, which is nice for cleaning. IIRC, birdseye is around $5 a yard. Flannel is typically $6-7 a yard at Joann's, but I happen to know that it's on sale this weekend for $2.99!!

bumpuser5078523

Holy balls! They are super spendy on Etsy! Although they are time consuming, and as a sewer, I can understand the price. I think I'll make my own someday.

I know some of you used a certain fabric so you didn't need snaps and they still stuck together. Was this flannel?

freezorburn

I wanted to do flannel and birdseye but all the flannel prints that I've been able to find here are kid-themed and not something I wanted for my kitchen. And I haven't been able to find birdseye. So I'm using some thinner cotton (quilting cotton? I'm still learning about fabrics) and waffle pique.

mmm50

Thanks ladies!  Now the fabric hunt begins!

mmm50

Thanks so much ladies!!  Let the fabric hunt begin!