Pad-a-palooza!!!!

[1boy1girl1kitty2]

i'm in the menstrual care swap and got to makin' some pads (i also needed to stock my cart) and decided to use up my scrap pile as well as my "oops i dyed it" pile. i used to make cloth diapers untill i realized i wasn't  making money but losing money, but while doing so i accumulated alot of scraps of awesome absorbent fabrics. i also dye my own yarn (and use the washing machine to do some of it) sometime i forget to rinse and then toss in a load of baby/kids clothes. so i end up with yellow things with a blue tinge or pinkish whites lol  so they get tossed in the scrap pile as well. and here is the result of a pile of scraps (i kid you not . . . waist deep) minus a few i sent to friends already, turned menstrual pads!!

made of reclaimed fabric scraps and backed with scraps of fleece


made completely of reclaimed fabric scraps and backed with scraps of pul


made completely of new hemp fabric (but still scraps) and backed with scraps of fleece


any comments?

[littlebluegirl]

I think these are a brilliant idea!  I don't use pads anymore (whoo!) but if I did I like the idea of re-usable ones.

[grendelsmom]

That's some stash!  Very nice, and a terrific way to use up scraps. 

[irish_chicky]

can you suggest types of fabric to use and maybe a bit of a tutorial? I want to make myself a bunch of these aswell but am kinda stuck on absorbent/repellent fabrics to make them with!

Those look great!

I am sick of paying an arm and a leg all the time for pads, so these are what I am looking at making!

[1boy1girl1kitty2]

i serge the pads i make (makes them less bulky) but you can turn and topstitch. but to answer the fabrics question . . . . any natural fiber (cotton, hemp, bamboo) any type of natural fabric (ie cotton comes in linen, jersey, fleece, velour, terry, flannel, sherpa, etc) myself i look for 100% natural fiber in the fabrics i use for absorbancy. 50/40 will work but not as good as 80/20 or 100%. doesn't matter what type of fabric it is just keep in mind how many layers of the fabric you will need for the desired absorbancy. for say a heavy flo pad you would use a ridiculous amount of layers if you used jersey as apposed to a couple layers of fleece. i like the thicker stuff personally. the wicking layer (top)can be anything really but polyester is a good wicking fabric. polyester again comes in many fabrics as well. most commonly used is thin fleece, but athletic weave, suedecloth, and velour are popular options. the bottom layer is usually something that repels moisture. polyurethane laminate (pul) is most common but a thick fleece will do the trick just as nicely, nylon is also a good one. contrary to popular belief you do not always need a repelling bottom layer. personally 3 layers of hemp fleece will hold a regular flow at least 4 hours (i've pushed 8 hours with no leaks).

another little known factoid of cloth pads is your flo will get lighter and shorter over time after switching to a 100% cloth regimen. as a for instance. my flo was a good 7 days of at least 5 heavy days. now it is about 3-4 of a moderate day and a couple light days. i also do not get cramps hardly at all which i had keel over and die cramps for 2 days when using disposable pads. if you would like to know more of the many, many, MANY! wonderful benefits of using cloth pads please pm me as i could spend hours typing the many amazingly positive aspects of cloth pads but the kicker for me was the fact that i am not paying $20 a month of pads i throw in the garbage. not to mention the many positive reasons for our earth!

i will see about a tutorial later tonight when my husband is home to watch over the kiddos

[VeggieJess]

Wow, you were really busy!  I wish I had a serger!  Do you use those sew-on snaps?

[SteeelMagnolia]

Your pad stash is fantastic and to know all the "waste" you're keeping out of the landfills, not to mention the good you're doing for your body!  WOO HOO!!!    I really like the looks of yours, too.  I don't normally ask for tutes but if you have a few minutes and would like to share, I'd love to see how you put yours together.

Thanks and keep up the wonderful work!

[knitty mcknitknit]

I love these! I've seen pads here before but the sheer VOLUME of your stash is impressive. Good job!

I know there's a pad tutorial somewhere here on craftster...did you make these from that pattern, or your own? (Sorry if this is spelled out already and I missed it!)