The softness of muslin.

I adore muslin. It is a humble and inexpensive thing but so soft and has so many uses!

For years women have used muslin for baby wash cloths as they are so fine and soft. I caught on to this and found them so beautiful to use myself I have used them for taking off makeup and my own face. After you have used them ordinary wash cloths seem really coarse. The thing is the very fine weave is soft but lightly exfoliating and picks up any flakiness on the skin. They are fabulous.

Firstly I bought baby wash cloths and added embroidery to them but in the end I could only find these with terrible coloured trims and so I started to sew my own. Muslin by the meter is only a couple of dollars per metre. Spotlight has it although only in white. Ebay has it in colours and patterns and mostly I am buying swaddling cloths and cutting them into wash cloths to get pink, lilac etc. I make them double thickness so I sew them like you would to make a pillow and turn inside out so your seems are inside. Then I crochet around them.

However now I have made so many I now fold and crochet as I go and don't do any sewing at all as the crochet is holding down the folder over edge. Either way is fine. 

You will find that some muslin is softer than others and finer than others. 

Once I have my size cut out and two layers together I crochet an edge in fine cotton. So far I have never bought this as it is always in op shops. I have purchased pure silk thread on wooden spools for 20c! Mum has given me some fine cottons too as she wasn't keen on something so fine. You need a very small crochet hook and the muslin is easy to get the hook through as it is so soft. An alternative would be to find some fine soft cotton lace and sew that around the edge. This looks just lovely and is very soft.

For babies I do a smaller face cloth and for ladies I do a larger one around the size of a mans hanky. You can do a really large size as a swaddling cloth as a gorgeous summer baby gift. Just divine!

I work a rose into one corner in the perfect colour to match. A tiny bow of ribbon would work or a tiny rose applique. 

I wrap in cellophane and tie up with a lovely ribbon before giving as a gift. My wrapped soaps kind of go with this as well when I am making up a present for someone.

It took me ages to get some muslin in baby blue but at last I have some so that is one of my next projects. Maybe white and blue also would be lovely! This is the problem, so many lovely combinations. I might use some lovely lace if I find some I really like.

It is nice to work on these little light projects in the hot weather too when crocheting a blanket just wouldn't be practical as it would make you feel hot!

Have a lovely Sunday to everyone. We have a really nice day here, so thankful for that!