How to make reusable cotton pads
Swap cotton pads by learning how to make reusable cotton pads to help save the planet and complete the #molliestashchallenge. Find the tutorial on our blog.

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For your first #molliestashchallenge why not make Lyndsey Haskell’s reusable crochet makeup remover pads? Cotton farming, unless organic, has a huge negative environmental impact and uses lots of water and chemicals in the farming process. Which is why crocheting your own little puff stitch granny circle as an alternative is not only good for the planet, but also good for your bank balance.
After you’ve used each cotton pad once or twice, pop them into the washing machine with the laundry and they can be used again. Use the coloured pads for removing make-up and the white ones for applying toner.
Materials
- Sirdar Simply Recycled Double Knit, 51% cotton, 49% acrylic, 50g/130m per ball. One ball makes about four pads.
- 4mm (UK 8, US G/6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
Size/Tension
The finished pads are approximately 5cm (2″) across, they may shrink a little after the first wash. Just make a dense pad.
Abbreviations
You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using this handy chart.

- puff st yo, insert hook into stitch, pull yarn through, do the same 4 more times then pull your yarn through all 11 loops on the hook, close the puff with a chain
The pads are worked in the round.
How to make reusable cotton pads
You Will Need
- Yarn
- Crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
Total time:
Step 1
Foundation ring ch4, then join with a sl st to the first stitch to form a ring
Round 1 ch1, *1 puff st, ch1; repeat from * 7 times (8 times in all), join with a sl st to the top of the first puff st and move with a sl st into the gap between the first and second puff st (8 puff st)
Step 2
Round 2 ch1, 2 puff st into first ch-1 space, then 2 puff st into each ch-1 space all the way round. Note that you don’t chain between the stitches like you did on the first round. Once you have 16 puff st, join with a sl st to the first puff st (16 puff st)
Sew in the ends to finish, then repeat to crochet as many as you like.
Make a few more and hide them in your pal’s washbag, or keep for yourself in a dressing table jar. These reusable cotton pads are the one. And now that your first project of the #molliestashchallenge is complete, tag us in your pictures on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Here’s some more fab free crochet patterns for you to try!
- How to crochet a pin cushion
- Free crochet clutch bag pattern
- Reuseable crochet bag pattern
- Free crochet heart decoration pattern
- Free tennis sweatbands crochet pattern
- Free beach bunting crochet pattern
- How to make crochet envelopes