Yesterday's Washcloth Travel Pouch was SUCH a fast & easy project for Crafty Night, that I decided I needed to come up with another project, preferrably around the same theme: cleanliness? hygiene? cute toiletry accessories?
These pouches sew up just as easy, too.
Once the soap is used up, you can reuse the pouch. It suds up & exfoliates at the same time!
While working on this project, almost everybody that walked in the room said, "Oh! It smells good in here!" It was the white peach scented Dial soap. We decided they'd also make pretty smelling drawer "sachets".
Supplies:
•Towel (I purchased a very inexpensive towel & could get approximately 30 pouches from it! Of course, it depends on the size of your towel. You could also use terrycloth material or even a hand towel or washcloth just as easy!)
•Sewing machine with thread
•Scissors
•Ruler or tape measure
•Soap
•Optional: sewing pins
I like to give very detailed pics for those who may be novice sewers. So, bare with the plethora of soapy photographs. The measurements are based on this specific brand of soap. You'll have to adjust for other sizes. Basically, just give the soap a tiny bit of wiggle room.
Great gift idea!
ReplyDeleteToo cute!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kay
I love this! Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteSuper duper great - will have to make during my summer camp! The kids will love it! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI just made two of these in probably ten minutes time, and they are awesome. They make a great up-cycle if you have any old/mismatched dishtowels you are no longer using! I would say you can get about five out of a standard size dishtowel.
ReplyDeleteHey there! Just wanted to let you know we featured you in our Favorite Find Fridays post over at Whimsically Homemade. We used one of your pictures. If that's a problem let us know and we'll remove it immediately. Thanks for your great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI know this will probably sound crazy but here is another use for these. If you search the internet for natural remedies for restless leg syndrome, a lot of sites recommend placing a bar of soap in an old sock and sleeping with it in your bed. They typically recommend ivory soap but I think most comments say any will work. Anyway, this is much prettier than an old sock!
ReplyDeleteI just made a bunch of these today to put in Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes! Thanks for the detailed instructions...I'm one of those novice sewers you were talking about. :)
ReplyDeleteA great way to use up those last slivers of a bar of soap. Just stuff them in the soap bag and use it to lather up with. Very economical.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing. It bothers me to throw out perfectly good soap when it is too skinny to stay together.
DeleteI was thinking the same thing . . . as I looked at several slivers of soap on the sink.
DeleteI just found this on Pinterest and I'm so excited to try it out. I think this will be great for my kids bathroom. It will help them scrub better than just soap, keep it from being so slippery, an keep it intact (or at least keep pieces together, lol) so much better. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou could also add a loop of thin rope for hanging to aid drying/storing that would double as a wrist strap when using.
ReplyDeleteThx,perfect idea for my boys. Ages 4,8,and 10.
ReplyDeleteI love it! Great idea for Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteDo you wash out these little bags everytime it's used? That wouldn't be very practical but never wash it wouldn't be very clean. I know, it's soap inside, but still.. Or am I the only one thinking this?
ReplyDeleteI like the idea though.
That was my first thought, Berniek. Cute idea, though.
DeleteI would want to wash it between uses. Otherwise, the wet soap kept inside could become disgusting. So maybe the solution is to make 7, one for each day, if we're giving it as a gift.
DeleteOh! The make 7 idea is perfect! I can't imagine never washing it and just using the same pouch over and over until the soap is gone. Ugh. Great solution!!!!
DeleteHi Berniek!
ReplyDeleteWhenever the soap runs out, I toss it in the laundry to wash.
-Nikki
I have the same reservations as Berniek on this one. I live in a dry climate but grew up in a very humid climate.....don't we run the risk of the pouch getting mildewy? I suppose the thicker the terry cloth, the more likely it is to trap germs and become mildewed. A thinner cloth may help the entire unit to dry each day and preserve it's cleanliness.......I suppose the only real way to find out is to make some! :) Thanks for this super cute idea!!!
DeleteLove this for my son with dexterity issues!!!
ReplyDeleteI just found this on Pinterest and am so tickled! I have way too many washcloths anyway so chose a large one and made 3 of these out of it in no time(and I'm fairly new to sewing). I can see these being made for gifts in the future. Thanks so much for the detailed instructions!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I'm trying to go plastic-free, so I'm getting rid of my loofah and trading it in for one of these great soap pouches made of an old washcloth. I think my favorite thing about it is the fact that it holds in the small bits of soap that are so annoying when you can't hold on to them!
ReplyDeleteLoofas are not plastic. .they are plants :-)
DeleteThese look fab - think the kids would live them too x I am not great with a sewing machine but I think even I could make these - thanks for the great tute x
ReplyDelete((hugs)) Suzie xoxo
This is a great idea that I would love to try but dont have a sewing machine :( do u think I could hand sew them?
ReplyDeleteWhipped one of these up Monday. Used it immediately. Didn't like it. Didn't lather well and then the soap ended up all mushy because the terry pouch takes quite a while to dry. Love the idea but it didn't work well for me.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the soap pouch didn't work for you! Mine lathers very well. Wonder if it was the soap you used? Not sure.
And my soap tended to get mushy as well, but I realized it was because it was in a constant stream of water in the shower. Setting it out of the path of the water spray seemed to help.
-Nikki
I can't wait to try this! I have a 5 year old boy who loves to waste the liquid soap but can't hang on to the bar soap or loses it in the water... I think ill attatch a string so he can hang it when finished and well use a new one every week? Thanks again for the great idea!
ReplyDeleteVery cute!! Gonna make some for my mom in the nursing home and my niece in college! Many thanks
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of needle should I use? I have already broken 2 sewing machine needles. The material I am using isn't super thick. Help!!!!! I really want to make these.
ReplyDeleteHi there! ACK! Broken needles are no fun! Here is a link to some tips on sewing on terry cloth. It looks like they suggest using a 12 or 14 size needle.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ehow.com/info_8234730_tips-sewing-terry-cloth.html
These are so cute! And so easy to make. :) I just made some with ribbon trim and a little ribbon loop to hang them up - http://beinginspired-blog.blogspot.ie/2012/10/day-29-soap-pouch.html Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI have to say the entire time I was reading this, I had the same concerns about the cleanliness of this if not washing the bag. And all though these are cute, why not just go the old standard way and just use a wash cloth and a bar of soap to wash with...
ReplyDeleteI think these are cute! What i plan on doing to help with the drying process is to attach a "rope" during the sewing process and after and each use remove the bar of soap, rinse the pouch out well before turning off the shower and hanging it to dry it out, I dont think this was meant to leave it together so everything stays wet...this way the soap dries out and so does the pouch...not unlike what happens when you normally shower using a rag and soap...makes it easy for users to hang onto the soap and especially for little ones....nice idea and i will be making some!!!
ReplyDeleteLove Love Love this Idea, Making this for Christmas gifts this year.. I like the idea of adding a little rope to hang it up too. I also love how you can use any color or pattern of towel you want. I think this will be great for my 4 year old son among other young members of my Family.. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna add a hand strap on the back to double as a hand tag. We change out washcloths every week anyways.
ReplyDeleteAnd concerning cleanliness, seriously how often do you wash a loofah? Lol. If you make a batch of these then you can change them out as necessary. Thanks for the DIY! Its great!
I am going to make these as gifts, too! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi hun. Just wanted to let you know that I featured this on my blog today. I would love it if you could check it out :)
ReplyDeletehttp://mammymade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/mint-stuff-ive-seen-27.html
- Adele @ Mammy Made
This is perfect. My son was playing with the soap last night and I was thinking I should go buy that one they make for kids in the little pouch so he doesn't get it every where. And it kept slipping out of his hands. So this is just perfect. THank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI ADDED A CORD IN THE INSIDE BEFORE SEWING IT UP WHICH WORKS OUT GREAT JUST SLIP IT ON YOUR WRIST AND YOU NEVER DROP IT. :0) MADE 6 FOR CHRISTMAS DIFFERENT COLORS
ReplyDeleteI like this but actually rather than washing with it I think I'll make one for traveling with bar soaps! I use cetaphil bars for my face and if you are packing up to leave somewhere in the morning it's gross to toss a still wet-ish bar in your bag. So this will totally solve the problem!!! Yay!
ReplyDeletethat's a fantastic idea, thanks
DeleteGreat idea! I am going to make some up some in pink & blue with cord to put on my diaper cakes with baby bar soap. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow have I not come across your genius before? I love this easy & adorable tutorial. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAm so gonna make these! Thinking about adding a small nylon handle to hang them for better drying between showers.... :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat are the dimensions of your soap bar? I use Dove which is a bit bigger than most bars, so I need to know how much to adjust the size. Thank you for the great idea! This is going to be my very first sewing project! :)
ReplyDeleteI changed the dimensions a little. I cut out a 4 1/2" x 11 1/2" piece of cloth. Finished size was about 3 1/2" x 4 1/2". It fits a bar of Dial soap snugly. 5" x 12" was too big. But just experiment.
DeleteI hate bar soap because of the residue it leaves behind, but my kids go through the liquid soap super fast. Do these minimize the scum usually left behind by bar soaps ?
ReplyDeleteThese are perfect for sending with kids to summer camp! Send it in a baggie to keep everything else dry between showers and wash when they get home.
ReplyDeleteMy son likes to pull soap apart while he is using it. This would be a great way to save the soap. I have pinned this post.
ReplyDeletechicana if your soap is leaving behind a film it's most likely caused by hard water. try using a water filter on your shower head
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I never thought of using linen.
ReplyDeleteLove this....Just made some this morning with Lever 2000...took pics and sent to my daughter she wants some also..she hates shower gel (for some reason) so starting a batch for her...Thanks so much for the post
ReplyDeleteI came across your great idea . However I think I will try and make a mitten/ glove instead. that way i can leather up with the soap or bath gel and wash myself and toss in the washer afterwards. I know I will need to make a few.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I can't sew, but can crochet. I crocheted a very similar pouch for my iPod, I'll have to try this and see if drying/mildew is an issue.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea! I just made 3, so quick and simple. Best way to use up those so called ugly hand towels into cute soap pouches
ReplyDeleteIs very good .. thanks mrs
ReplyDeleteI made a couple of these pockets and posted them on my blog this morning. Like some commenters above, I made a loop on one of them. I don't use them at home but they're handy when I take a shower at my pool because before that my soap would always be slipping out of my hands! Thanks for sharing this tutorial! :) Lisa
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cucicucicoo.com/2013/11/make-diy-soap-pocket-towel/
This has got to be the greatest thing I've ever found. I made soap and they're not very pretty looking but smell and work great and this is the perfect way to hide ugliness :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think these are awesome! I don't think leaving the soap in it and just hanging it up to dry some would be a problem. It's soap, guys. Self cleaning every time you shower. I think throwing it in the wash when the soap is gone before adding a new bar is fine. You're essentially washing it every single day already. :) adding a way to hang it is a great idea and will def do that for mine. Also crocheting some with cotton or linen yarn is a great idea too! Very fun. Thank you for the post!
ReplyDeleteJust made these! I ended up using an old, worn, mismatched towel to make a whole bunch. I used zest fresh aloe soap and found the best dimensions for the towel strips for that size to be 4"x12". I also attached nylon cords to hang them up and it was pretty easy! The hardest part was trying to figure out the correct dimensions. It also took a little coaxing with my sewing machine to get it to go over that many layers of towel at once, but it turned out fine! I haven't tried them out yet but considering the dry climate I live in I can't see it becoming mildewy. Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely trying this. What a wonderful idea. Thanks. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great idea. Just made 2 of these for my daughter and husband who are heading off on a scout camp this weekend. I added a hanging loop as those camp ground showers often don't have a shelf to put the soap on.
ReplyDeleteSaw this on Pinterest. Love it so cute. I am off today going to my sewing room now. Thanks
ReplyDeleteFor those with no sewing skills try using a baby or toddler sized sock (clean of course). The stretch in the sock holds the soap nice and snug even as it gets smaller. My daughter uses a cotton terry towelling sock turned inside out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea going make some for Christmas with ivory soap and wash rags anyone know what measurements I should use?
ReplyDeleteLoVe this, so simple. My hubby is "Soap on a Rope" type of guy. Sadly, he does not do well with modern scrungies/loofas. This would be great for my manimal (that struggles with my fru-fru, girlie toiletries) I am making some tonight. And to add to a welcome basket for guests its perfect.
ReplyDeleteamazing idea i will try it soon
ReplyDeleteArganOilhome
As a cost sharing effort, you could use this same idea and instead of using a whole bar of soap, you could put slivers of left over soap into them.
ReplyDeleteSome complained that the soap got "mushy." To prevent that, sew a ribbon loop inside the corner of one side. When turned correctly, the ribbon will form a hanging loop. If you use a command hook in the shower away from main shower spray it will hold the soap out of the stream so it can dry between uses. Great project with so many ways to share it! Thanks so much! - C.W.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered this and I love it. I think we all use a lot of product and packaging with using liquid shower gels. And I like them, to be sure, but soap is economical and environmentally smart. BUT - and this is a big but - I have no sewing machine or sewing skills. Is there any way this could be put together with some iron-on or stick-on material? Velcro? Would it hold up to soap and water and rubbing? Any ideas? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat homemade gift ideas. Love this :)
ReplyDeletehttp://bestdarkspotcorrectors.org
I made some for my 10 year old son, there's a lot of waste with liquid soap.
ReplyDeleteI'm also gonna make these for camping...
Thank you
Thank you for this neat tutorial. I just made 2 and sewed a ribbon inside. I used 1/4" seams and then serged the edges. So quick and easy. These are a Christmas gift, and I expect to get more interested in them. Barb
ReplyDelete