DIY Cloth Pads Tutorial

[verycrafty]

Hello! I've started my pads! I have one question though. When I used to watch my mom sew a long time ago, she used to cut little dart things on the curves before she turned whatever she was working on. She said it was so the fabric wouldn't bunch up when you turn it inside out. Well, do you need to do that for this or not? I've read pretty much the whole thread and I dont think I read anything about this. Sorry if its a stupid question

[Atheris]

Hello! I've started my pads! I have one question though. When I used to watch my mom sew a long time ago, she used to cut little dart things on the curves before she turned whatever she was working on. She said it was so the fabric wouldn't bunch up when you turn it inside out. Well, do you need to do that for this or not? I've read pretty much the whole thread and I dont think I read anything about this. Sorry if its a stupid question

I just don't turn mine- but I use a serger too so the ends don't fray. So I just cut the pieces out for whatever size I want to make and then layer them and serge away!

I am curious to see what those without sergers do...

[Lydia the Strange]

I layer my fabrics and then serge the sides, that way I don't have to worry about the bulkyness you'd get if you sew right sides together and turn them.

Here is a small tutorial for the pads I make.

Regular pads: Cut out 4 large ovals (you can decide however big you'd like your pads to be). Cut out 8 long rectangles (these will fit in the center in the center of the ovals). Secure the 8 rectangles to 2 of the ovals (the two ovals will lay on the bottom and then set the rectangles on top of them). Next, lay the other two ovals  over the rectangles, making a sandwhich.  I pin them together so they stay even while I serge around the sides. Now fold the sides of the oval in towards the middle and make a sharp crease. Open the fold back up and do a straight stitch down the crease you made. This will make the wings that fold over the sides of the underwear. You're done.

Pantyliners: Cut 4 hour glass shape pieces (agian,m you can decide how large you want them). Cut 4 small rectangles ( these will fit in the center of the pantyliner). You are basically goiong to layer these just as you did with the pads. Then serge the sides adn you have a pantyliner. Makes sure to sew down the center to secure the rectangles inside.

[jan_on_ice]

Hello! I've started my pads! I have one question though. When I used to watch my mom sew a long time ago, she used to cut little dart things on the curves before she turned whatever she was working on. She said it was so the fabric wouldn't bunch up when you turn it inside out. Well, do you need to do that for this or not? I've read pretty much the whole thread and I dont think I read anything about this. Sorry if its a stupid question

It's up to you whether you do this or not - it all depends on how the fabric sits when you turn it the right way. I made my pads out of flannel and didn't clip the curves before I turned them, but instead sewed a zigzag stitch around the turned edge to get it to lay flat.

[rostitchery]

Hello! I've started my pads! I have one question though. When I used to watch my mom sew a long time ago, she used to cut little dart things on the curves before she turned whatever she was working on. She said it was so the fabric wouldn't bunch up when you turn it inside out. Well, do you need to do that for this or not? I've read pretty much the whole thread and I dont think I read anything about this. Sorry if its a stupid question

not a stupid question at all!

what you are referring to is notching the seam allowances, it is only needed on inside curves and is necessary if your curve is very tight, and/or if your seam allowance is really wide.  if you are using 1/4" or smaller, it probably isn't necessary, and in fact if you use a wider seam allowance but trim it down after sewing, you are probably fine.  however, for anything wider than 1/4", you will need to notch in order to prevent the seam allowance from folding on itself.

if you notch, do each seam allowance separately, and make the notches alternate so they aren't in the same place on each layer.

FWIW, the opposite is clipping the seam allowance and the same rules apply but you do it on outside curves.  it is done so that the seam allowance will spread enough for the fabric to lie flat.

ok, one more definition:  the direction of the curve refers to the direction the seam allowance lies when the project is turned right side out.  thus, an inside curve is one in which the seam allowance is on the inside of the curve, and vice verse.

[verycrafty]

Yay I did it! Here are some pictures! Whoo. Im so happy!


I was a pack horse! I made 4 inserts 2 panty liners and two pads all from 1/2 yard of fabric I found at walmeart. My sister let me splerge on new fabric. Heres a shot of the back



I dont have a pic of the back of the panty liners but one is red like the insert and the other has cola fabric on it.

Oh and princess blueberry send me some super duper super pads for me. Thanks princessblueberry!



Yay! Thats it for now. I cant wait to make more and use them on my next 'monthly'

[the noodle princess]

i'm so jealous! they look really good. i havn't quite taken the time to really wrap my head around this. some day!

[lovething]

Just wanted to say I've been using these for 2 months now and I love them. They're much more comfortable than the disposable kind, and cheaper too. One major difference I've noticed is that the cotton allows my skin to breathe so I don't feel all sweaty and clammy and gross down there like I did with the plastic-y disposable pads. Sometimes I even forget I'm on my period at all.

[Shelichan]

Im gonna do it! Muahahaha! I used your tut/pattern for the super pad... and I made...

http://www.shelichan.com/mandy/FirstPad01.jpg
http://www.shelichan.com/mandy/FirstPad02.jpg
http://www.shelichan.com/mandy/FirstPad03.jpg

I put a snap on the teo back flaps to hold em closed better. And I put channels on the insert after I took that picture.

Im going to try using it soon! I hope all works out well and my mother does not kill me! Thanks!!!

[flrtingwdisaster]

reusable tampon, made out of 100%cotton yarn

I've never seen those before. Are they hard to use? I mean, are they sturdy? I'd think they would be hard to insert.