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Writer's pictureDee

DIY Reusable Facial Rounds




If you are new to zero waste or you’ve been at it awhile, making your own things your need can both satisfy a feeling of independence and reduce what we send to the landfill at the same time, in more ways than one. If you are currently using disposable cotton rounds, you may be asking, “What’s so bad about disposable cotton rounds, anyway? It’s not made of plastic. What’s the big deal?” I am here to answer that question for you.


What happens at a landfill? First, the hole for the landfill is lined by clay and then covered in a plastic cover, kind of like how you have pool liners. This is to keep liquids from the waste, which are toxic, from leaking out into the ground and water supply. Once the pile of garbage is high, they cover it with plastic and put several feet of soil and plants on top, incorporating vents here and there to let methane gas release out of the pile. Methane gas is created from the pile and must be released. This creates an environment that has no oxygen. This means it does not break down or does so VERY slowly. Yes, that means even paper, cotton balls, and organic matter does not get the chance to break down, either. Landfills are not compost piles. They are simply a place to store and pile up garbage. It does not go anywhere. It simply sits there as we dig yet another landfill.

Methane gas is a poisonous greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Back to the reusable facial rounds.


With all of this in mind, you can stop sending cotton rounds to the landfill and save yourself some money. In addition, you can also upcycle a cotton t-shirt for the inner layer and a flannel shirt for the outer layers, if you wish. Without further delay, here is what you came here for, reusable, washable fabric cotton rounds!


Facial Rounds can be made of several different choices in fabric, such as cotton, cotton flannel, and terry cotton. I have used cotton flannel because I had some pieces left over after a project. I am using an old t-shirt as an upcycle for my inner layer, but you can use all new materials, if you wish. You can also use your own old-tshirts or other cotton fabric to save those from the landfill.


Step 1

Decide on your outer layer fabric and take two pieces, putting right sides together. and put aside.


Start with placing right sides of the fabric together.

Step 2


Choose your inner fabric. I am using an old t-shirt to upcycle. Take a glass or other round object with approximately 3" width and trace the circles with a marker. Don't worry, we are going to cut just inside the line and you won't see the marker in the finished product. If you cut two layers at a time, you will need three sets for a set of six facial rounds. You will be using one layer per round.



Cut out the circles of t-shirt material for the inner layer.


Step 3


Take one layer of the t-shirt round and place it on top of the fabric you put aside for the outer layers.


Step 4


Pin the one layer of t-shirt inner material (the white circle in my pics) to the top of the other two outer layers (in my example, the flannel layers) and cut the flannel circles.


Here's a shot of me cutting out the circle.



Here's all three layers, ready to be stitched.



Step 5


Now that you have all the circles cut out, straight stich the three layers together, being sure to leave 1 1/2 to 2 inches unsewed. Don't complete the circle. I used about a 1/4 inch hem line.


This can be done by hand but is much faster by machine.




Step 6


Once you have sewn all around the edges of all the circles (leaving a 1 1/2 to 2 inch opening as shown in the pic), very carefully cut notches around the outside edge almost up to the stitiching. Do not cut through the stitching. This will allow the round to lay flat after turning it rightside out.


Cut the edges before turning.

Here's another shot.



Step 7


Turn the facial rounds right side out, so that you have the flannel on either side and the t-shirt layer inside. The pictures below should help.


Pro tip: You can use an object like the eraser end of a pencil, a chopstick, or the end of a paintbrush to help turn it out. See below.



Turn the circles right side out using a chopstick.

Step 8


Hand sew the hole closed by turning in the edges.


Here is a pic showing the hole sewn closed.


Step 9


Straight stitch along the edge with 1/4" seam all the way around. That's it! You're done!




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