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Bamboo is one of the most sustainable sources on the planet, but did you know that it can be used to produce a soft, strong and eco-friendly textile that is perfect for keeping cosy, mopping up spills and a variety of re-usable projects?!
Non? Well! In this guide we’ll be talking aaalllll about bamboo towelling fabric, sharing how this super-fabric is made and giving you 13 sewing tips for handling this fluffy little fella of a fabric…
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You never quite realise how much your child moves around in their sleep until you reach the toilet training stage. Once that plastic protector is on their bed every movement is exaggerated with the crunchy rustle of plastic! And if that isn’t enough, the poor lamb suddenly finds themselves overheating from the added insulation.
A mattress protector like this is designed to fit on top your main sheet to help you change your child’s bed quickly and easily in the middle of the night. Your child will sleep with cool cotton against their skin and when soiled just whip this protector off and replace with another OR if have a separate bed sized waterproof protector under the main sheet of the bed you can literally just whip this off and get back to sleep!
The finished mattress protector is machine washable; make 2 or more and there will always be a spare on hand for those blurry eyed bed changes. The top and sides are cotton, giving a huge number of styling options, and it fits over a bed sheet instead of under, for speedy switching in the middle of the night.
Another advantage if using this protector is that it will reduce the size of your laundry load as these are around half the size of a full sheet.
This tutorial runs you through how to make a mattress protector of any size. It combines absorbent bamboo velour, non-rustling and breathable waterproof PUL fabrics for a quieter, cooler night’s sleep along with some pretty quilting cotton to make it super pretty!
Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or guidance found in this post, or on this blog, you agree to be bound by our disclaimer which can be viewed here
Measure the length, width and depth of the mattress in cms:
*The single mattress being covered was 190cm long, 90cm wide and 20cm deep
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1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless directed.
For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 3.5 unless otherwise stated.
Prepare your fabrics as per manufacturers care advice – Bamboo velour should be prewashed without fabric softener.
DO NOT iron waterproof fabric.
Disclaimer: PUL and waterproof fabrics are a suffocation hazard, always check the sheet is firmly fitted before every use.
1. Cut out the following using the measurements calculated above:
2. Hem the 2 short sides of the side panels and 1 long side: With the fabric facing wrong side up, turn over 2cm of fabric along each side and press.
3. Fold the raw edges under to the crease and press forming a 1cm border.
Never mitred corners before? Check out this video to help.
4. Mitre the 2 hem corners on each side panel: Starting at one corner, open out the 2cm hem on both sides with 1cm of fabric still folded.
5. Fold over the corner, the creases will have formed a small square. Align the 2 sides of the small square with the two 2cm creases on the underside of the panel.
6. Finger press along the crease.
7. Unfold the corner and mark out the fold line.
8. Fold the corner in half, bringing the 2 right sides together.
9. Pin and sew along the marked line.
10. Trim the seam allowance to 3mm and clip the end.
11. Turn out the corner, use a turner to shape the point
12. Press then sew around the inner edge of the hems to secure.
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13. Align the fabrics in the following order:
Please note: the waterproof layer is longer to create a lip at the edges of the finished mat.
14. Align and clip the short edges of the 3 fabrics together, guiding the excess waterproof fabric toward the centre.
15. Sew the 3 layers of fabric together on each side.
16. Understitch the seam allowances 2mm from the seamline, seam allowances overlapping the waterproof fabric side.
17. Add the side panels: Working under the waterproof layer, align the raw edges of the side panel with the side seams of the topper, right sides facing.
18. Clip the side panel, topper and absorbent layers together.
19. Baste with a 1cm seam allowance then press the seam allowances toward the topper fabric. Take care to avoid ironing the waterproof fabric.
20. Repeat steps 17. To 19. on the other side panel.
21. Clip the waterproof fabric to the topper fabrics. 1.5cm of waterproof fabric should extend past each end of the topper.
22. Sew the 2 sides leaving a 30cm turning gap in the centre of one.
23. Turn the mattress protector out the right way.
24. Sew the opening closed.
Would you love a duvet cover and pillow to match? Check out the tutorial here.
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Help save the planet with 2 FREE tutorials! Read on for a Reusable Makeup Remover Pads sewing tutorial, and a waterproof bag to store them in until laundry day!
Did you know face wipes contain plastic and make up more than 90% of sewer blockages in the UK? They also end up in our oceans, which causes problems for our marine environment and sea creatures. Do you use cotton pads instead when removing makeup? Single use cotton pads are found to be non-biodegradable too.
Beauty experts say a reusable cloth can be less abrasive on the skin and is less likely to cause irritation to more sensitive skin types and around the eye area, ideal for waterproof mascara. A reusable alternative is sustainable and great for your skin!
Also lets not forget the cost, 50 disposable cotton pads can cost around £3-4, if you bought one for each day of the year you’d need around 8 packs, so you’d spend £32 a year.
So, let’s ditch the baby wipes and cotton wool pads! One very easy swap to make is to replace cotton pads for a reusable & washable alternative. Reusable makeup remover pads are a really quick & easy sew, also a great scrap buster.
We highly recommend using a bamboo fabric to back your reusable cotton pads in. The best choices are bamboo towelling and bamboo velour. We recently shared a fabric guide of bamboo fabrics here on the blog.
You will need..
Cotton fabric – quantity depends on how many you wish to make. You will need 4½ ” square for each makeup pad
Bamboo velour or bamboo towelling – 4½” square is required per pad. We have used (and prefer) bamboo velour for this project as it’s so soft against the face
We used the gorgeous Woodland Songbirds fabrics.
Pre-Wash all of your fabrics and dry them as they will be laundered. Don’t skip this step! This is really important for bamboo velour as, like many stretch fabrics, the velour is likely to shrink a little
It is also advisable not to use fabric conditioner when laundering bamboo velour as it can affect its absorbency ofter a while.
Looking for more info on bamboo fabric? Check out our full guide here
For each pad you require
2. Sew around all 4 sides with a 1.5cm seam allowance leaving a small turning gap of 1-2” *Pro Tip to help with your turning gap later on – When starting off your sewing place the needle in your fabrics 1cm from the raw edge and then pivot your fabric. This makes sewing up the turning hole easier.
3. Clip the corners on the diagonal and clip the main seams to ¼” – leaving the turning gap with 1.5cm seam allowance
4. Turn through the gap you’ve left and poke out the corners to a sharp point.
5. Press and then top stitch a scant ¼” from the edge with a 3mm stitch length, making sure you close up the turning hole.
…and you’re done!
Would you love to make a pouch for them to go in? Let’s make a double pocket waterproof dry bag!
We thought we would share this tutorial to make a waterproof dry zip pouch with two pockets, one which is waterproof, to keep your clean and used make up pads apart. When you’re ready to wash your reusable makeup pads, simply open the zip and put the whole thing into the washing machine.
You’ll need some waterproof fabric for this make, we recommend PUL fabric but check out our Waterproof Fabrics Guide here for more information.
You Will Need…
2 pieces PUL Fabric 10.5″ x 7.5″
2 x cotton fabric for outer 10.5″ x 7.5″
2 x cotton fabric for pocket 10.5″ x 7″
All supplies can be found on our website.
To match our previous make, we used the Nutex Woodland Songbirds fabrics.
Pin or clip all of the layers in place.
TOP TIP: Open the zip pull half way so you can turn!
12. Trim the corners & turn right side out.
13. Stitch up the hole in the lining fabric.
14. Turn to the right side, poke out the corners and press.
Yay you’re finished!
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We’re kicking off Eco-Week sharing share some information about Bamboo Fabric., considered to be one of the most eco-friendly fibres available. Have a read of our guide to learn why, and about the different types of bamboo fabric that are available.
Bamboo fabric is a natural textile, made from plants called Bamboo, which are known as the ‘plant of a thousand uses’ as they have been used for centuries as building material, but Beijing University managed to develop the super sustainable plant as bamboo fibre.
Bamboo plants grow quickly like grass, so often need a trim and will carry on growing.
Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or guidance found in this post, or on this blog, you agree to be bound by our disclaimer which can be viewed here
Bamboo fabric is very soft, smooth and lightweight, yet strong. Also, it does not go under much chemical processing to make the fabric, which makes it easy to wear if you have found your skin is sometimes irritated by fabrics.
The fibres have a criss-cross texture which makes it a fantastic moisture absorber but also good for breathability.
Not only is bamboo fabric more environmentally friendly, but it is also super absorbent. This means it’s great for re-usable items like cloth nappies, reusable wipes, yoga towels, women’s cloth pads, mattress covers, pet beds and so much more!
The textile industry have found in comparison to cotton, it is 3 times more absorbent and keeps you cool and dry in sweaty situations! It can also adapt to weather conditions, keeping you cooler than cotton would in the heat but warm and cosy in the winter.
Lab tests on the material have proved that it is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal thanks to the natural substance called ‘Bamboo kun’ which protects the plant from pests. Even after 50 washes, the bamboo fibres continue to have antibacterial properties!
Bamboo fabrics comes in a wide variety of types such as velour, towelling, jersey and stretch terry.
Check out these makes below where bamboo fabric has been used as an absorbent insert.
Photo Credit: Bumble Bees Modern Cloth Nappies
Read our 13 Tips for Sewing with Bamboo Towelling Fabric here
One of our best selling bamboo options is the Bamboo towelling. Ideal for cloth wipes, bibs and towels, it is super soft and the premium version is lush with a gorgeous sheen for that luxury feel.
There is no stretch to struggle with while sewing but can be quite lofty as it has terry loop on both sides.
Bamboo towelling comes in a few different neutral colours too!
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Another bamboo option we have is a knit fabric with a super soft velour finish. It makes GORGEOUS snuggle blankets & has a great drape for loungewear. It is also a popular choice for nappy making as it’s very soft to touch and is thinner than bamboo towelling.
When sewing, be careful as it has a little stretch so make sure to use lots of pins, a walking foot and a ball point needle. In addition, it makes a fantastic blank canvas for your own colour palette, as it takes dye well.
Bamboo French Terry is a super high quality premium fabric that comes in a variety of colours. It has a smooth knit side and dimpled weave effect on the reverse. It’s great for lounge wear as well as sports wear as it’s super absorbent. It’s can be used for any item where absorbency is needed.
How about some super soft leggings? Bamboo jersey is ideal for sportswear as it’s soft, breathable, strong and lightweight. Also perfect for t-shirts & dresses. Don’t forget those anti-bacterial properties too, ideal for those sweaty gym sessions!
You can use bamboo jersey any where you might use a regular jersey fabric.
When browsing for absorbent fabrics, take a note of the fabric weight (normally written as gsm which stands for grams per square metre). The higher GSM the fabric is, the more it will absorb.
Looking for project ideas for bamboo fabrics? Here’s some suggestions
For free tutorials and other ideas, check out our blog series.
We hope you loved learning all about Bamboo Fabrics! Don’t forget to sign up to the newsletter to make sure you never miss a fabric guide or tutorial again!
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