Homemade Cloth Pads
Stop! I see you there trying to run away from this post! Before you go in terror at least hear me out.
Several years ago I first heard about cloth pads. My first reaction was, YUCK! Why would you want to have to deal with such a thing? But the idea still fascinated me so I still looked into it and was amazed at the info that I found. As I wrote about in the article, Naturalizing Your Feminine Hygiene Routine, here are some of the things I discovered about cloth pads:
- Cloth pads are made with no chemicals and you can even get some with no dyes.
- Cloth pads remove the risk of TSS(Toxic Shock Syndrome) since you aren’t putting any chemicals into your body.
- Some women find reduction in length or heaviness of periods, or reduced cramps, clotting, ect while using cloth vs regular pads. (I personally can testify to this one!)
- Since fabric is more breathable than plastic, using cloth reduces your risk of rashes or infections.
Those reasons were too good for me not to give it a try. So I started out by buying Glad Rags. They were expensive but my co-op carried them and they claimed to last 5 years when taken care of so that was worth the expense. The first wash I put them through they shrunk like crazy and got all twisted up. They are still usable but are not in very good shape. I then went to Lunapads. They were a little more expensive but if I had to pick a store bought pad that I liked the best it would be these. They did not shrink and I liked the fabric they were made out of.
But then I got really brave and decided it was time to make my own. And I’m here to show you how you can do it too! If you have some scrap flannel and some ok skills with a sewing machine (you could also sew these by hand) you can make a simple cloth pad.
Supplies you need:
- Flannel (not very much, at least ¼ yard in 2 colors will make you a couple pads, I get mine from Fabric.com)
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Measuring Tape
- Scissors
- Cloth Pad Liner Pattern (scroll to the bottom of post for link)
First you will need to trace around your pattern on the fabric. You can use a pen or a fabric pencil or whatever you have on hand.
Cut out two of each of the patterns.
Turn the fabric inside out and sew the liner around the edges. Go around the entire thing leaving no openings. Do the same for the wings of the pad.
Snip a hole in one side of both the wings and the pad.
Use this to turn the fabric right side out. Do this for both wings and pad then iron each of them.
Make sure to put the sides with the holes together so you won’t be able to see them in the finished pad.
Sew the pad onto the wings.
Now for a closure…if you don’t want to invest much in the pads or you don’t plan on making many of them you can just use Velcro or a button. Otherwise invest in a snapper tool and put snaps on the pad to keep it attached. (I used plastic snaps like the ones they make for homemade cloth diapers)
That’s all there is to it! It takes me only about 20 minutes from start to finish to make a pad so it’s hardly any time spent on something that will save you a lot of money!
A few tips on making cloth pads:
- The cheaper flannel that you buy the shorter life of the pad. Sometimes it worth spending a little more on a quality fabric so you get more use out of it. I have found plenty of great flannels in the remnants bin at fabric stores!
- MAKE SURE your flannel is 100% cotton! Artificial fabrics will cause sweating. Gross.
- Make sure to wash the fabric first to avoid shrinkage in the final product.
- To care for your cloth pads, make sure to wash them right away after use. They can be rinsed off first and then washed right in with your regular load of clothes. Do not use scented laundry detergent on cloth pads or it will irritate your skin.
If you have trouble with your monthly cycle you might also be interested in making one of these Homemade Heating Pads. They are simple to do and can be a real life saver!
Find more great sewing projects like this one on our Frugal DIY Projects page or head right over to this Free Printable Sewing Patterns post.
Have you ever tried homemade cloth pads? Do you think you will try making them?
I have been using Luna Pads for a few years now. I love using them and have been wanting to make my own for a while. The Luna Pads have some sort of waterproof liner inside them that prevents leak throughs. What type of material would you recommend for an inner liner? I have really heavy periods and wouldn’t trust just four layers of flannel to hold back the flood gates… so to speak 🙂
This pattern works best for just a liner type of pad, I’ve got one I’m working on for more of a day pad. You would want to put some kind of absorbent layer plus a layer of PUL, which is the waterproof fabric that you make cloth diapers with.
I would probably try a charcoal bamboo cloth diaper insert for heavy cycles. That’s what I plan in using if mine get really heavy.
What a great tutorial. I am no longer in need of pads, but if I were, Iwould give this a try!
Joining with you in this pioneering spirit, here’s my version: http://mumtopia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/menstruation-for-meanies.html
Your pads look lovely – better results than mine – must have another try!
A really inexpensive way to get the 100% cotton flannel (if you don’t already have an old shirt of hubby’s or a sheet that needs a new life) is to go to the thrift store and shop in their bedding section and pick a sheet that has a pattern you wouldn’t mind using for pads. They are super cheap. You might even have so much extra you would like to make some for your friends or daughter(s).
🙂
GREAT tip! Love this!
Great idea! I love my thrift shops.
The great thing about these reusable pads is is that they last a long time. Even if you use reusable items to make them, versus buying disposable items.
I appreciate you sharing this! My girls and I use cloth and believe in them so much that we’ve started selling them. I feel that no matter how someone gets started using them, it’s just important to make the change 🙂
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cozycloth?ref=si_shop
http://myworld.ebay.com/cozycloth
Thanks for showing how to make these and the reasons you should use them!
What a great tutorial and I just got a sewing machine for Christmas. I’ll have to give this a try 🙂
I’ve ordered some on Etsy to try. I also ordered the sample pack from Telulah Bean. I loved those pads! I was skeptical about trying them. Awhile back my husband told me I should be using them. I thought gross! I have to say that I love my cloth pads!! It really isn’t gross. I have started making my own as well. I will be starting to make the post-partum ones; I’m due in June. I have recommended them to my friend and her daughter. They like them as well. So much more comfortable than plastic!!!
I have been using some off of esty for years 🙂 I am extremely allergic to any type of commercial store-bought pads, tamponds, panty liner ,etc. I get a bad rash that spreads down my legs that is painful and itchy. I delt with it for 3 years before I found cloth pads. I was desperate because my skin literally looked liked it was peeling off in chunks. As soon as I switched I have never had any problem at all!!!!!!!:) thanks for the great tutorial . This looks like the easiest one i have so far . I have made some before but I use zorb between the flannel layers. It’s extremely absorbent and I never leak with it. You have to be careful with the lined pads because they are normally lined with pul and that can cause yeast infections because of decreases air flow:)
Hi Kelsye,
May I ask where you get zorb, and what kind of price point does it sell for? Have heard of this, but I think it’s synthetic, so want to look into it more, but didn’t even know where to find it if I went with this layer.
PS Merissa,
This is really nice! THANK you for posting this tutorial and pattern. I hadn’t considered making it until seeing yours with the pictures of the steps… I feel like I could manage trying it! Really appreciate this. Just learned of cloth pads yesterday and have been scouring the internet trying to find free samples (have only come up with paying for 3.99 shipping + $2 to upgrade to organic for one at party in my pants, 5.95 (but no organic option) at gladrags, and looking at some options on etsy that were cheaper like $4 plus shipping (just sort by price).
If anyone knows of other companies that sample or freebie organic ones at a decent price can you reply and lmk please?
And if anyone has suggestions on places to find new organic cotton or cotton flannel on a budget, I would love the leads. I like the idea of looking at scrap bins at fabric stores… don’t even know if they would have organic options though…
Thank you all
Oh my gosh – this is so crazy! I was just yesterday putting my first effort into making my own pads, but I was having problems making my own pattern! I was using this tutorial — http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/organiccotton/clothpads.html — that used terry (towels) as the pad layer, and as I was cutting them, they shedded over everything!! I am really going to try yours. Thanks so much!
Let me know how it turns out for you!
I no longer have periods, but when I did, I loved using the flannel “Glad Rags” pads; it was so much more comfortable, even though I had ready access to free pads by using coupons. Things to remember are: you want to initially rinse the pads out in COLD water, not hot. Cold water gets out the blood, but hot water sets it in. Also, after rinsing, pour hydrogen peroxide on it and let sit for a while. After that, I’d usually rinse again before adding to my regular wash. And I usually use hot water to wash my clothes despite the usual advice of using only warm or cold; I like to try to kill some germs, too, while washing clothes.
Anyway, if I’d a pattern and directions, I would have liked to make my own pads, and I love Andrea’s idea of buying something flannel at a thrift store! Most new fabric has chemicals in it, such as formaldehyde, in it, so better to get a fabric that has been through the wash before, and then wash it again since you don’t know the history of that particular flannel.
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the information. I wondered how you would properly clean the cloth pads.
So glad you shared. What do women think their ancestors did before disposable anything? My mom learned how to make “rags” from her grandmother. I am only 48 folks so that is not too long ago. Not a bad idea to at least talk to younger women about these options as “disposable pads” might be scarce in an emergency.
Just started sewing my own because I can’t affored to buy them and I can’t wait to try them out I use 4 layers of terry in the center because Zorb is to expensive and the water proof fabric is PUL and I also use quilters cotton for botton or top but I like the minkey top a little better but e/w urs look awsome thanx for sharing 🙂
Great post, Merissa! I’ve been wanting to make my own pads for a while, but I use tampons, so I’d only use these at night.
Where did you get your snap tool? That looks like it might be a good purchase.
I got mine from Hobby Lobby. I noticed you can also get the same one on Amazon for a little cheaper…. http://amzn.to/X7NZ8H
How about adding a layer (or 2) of microfleece inside for extra protection? Good idea or bad?
That’s the same idea behind a color diaper so it might work. You would want to add in a layer or PUL (waterproof) fabric though as the microfiber would wick away the liquids and you wouldn’t want it to leak.
where would you get the PUL and what is it if i may ask..my church women’s group will be making some of these to be sent to girls in very poor countries so they may stay in school and not miss so many days..
PUL fabric can be found at most fabric stores, I’ve even seen it at hobby lobby near the cloth diaper fabrics. PUL is a waterproof, laminated fabric that will provide a perfect moisture barrier (which is why you find it by the cloth diaper sewing things!).
I’ve gotten mine off of Etsy, but it would be fun to make them. For the ladies that like their tampons, have you tried a menstrual cup as a non-disposable option? (no TSS worry). I saw that they’re mentioned on this site. LOVE mine (I use a Lady cup, which I like better than my Diva cup), and the thinner cloth pads work great as a backup. I wish I’d known about these alternatives sooner, so thanks for getting the info out!
I use homemade cloth pads in conjunction with a diva cup. I had TSS twice when I was younger and trying to use tampons. I have had no issues with the Diva cup or the cloth pads.
Anti pill fleece works good as a backer to keep it from leaking through. It is less “slippy” and more breathable than PUL, although it is a little bit thicker. It’s what I use, and it works great for me.
Hey Merissa,
How much fabric do you use per pad? I want to buy enough fabric for 92 girls to be able to make their own pad at an all girls sleep away camp this summer! Trying to figure out how much fabric to order (i.e. how many yards).
Any help with this would be appreciated! Thanks.
Good question….I’m not sure I guess, I would say that 1/2 yard of flannel should make around 4 pads. It could be more though. Sounds like a fun project!
Thanks! I think the girls will love it :).
Thanks for sharing your pattern! I’ve been using cloth pads made by a company local to me (back when I lived in Halifax) for the last several years and yesterday made my own out of some scrap, although, it didn’t occur to me to use flannel for the whole thing! That WOULD be comfy! I used a mix of flannel and terry cloth ^^
Willow Pads. Ok product. TERRIBLE customer service. I do not recommend this company. I purchased my first, ever, supply of organic pads from Willow Pads. I wore them once and washed them once. One of the pads’ stitching had missed the material and it came loose in the wash. I called them and had to leave a voice mail. 4 days later, I emailed them. Next day, I emailed, again, with a picture of the faulty pad. That was a week ago; still not response.
I haven’t heard of this brand but thanks for letting us know! I will be staying away!
I would love to try cloth, but since having my youngest and having a tubal during the c-section, I have had horribly heavy periods. For the first two days I have to change a super tampon and liner every hour, or a pad AND tampon every two and a half hours when I teach. I cant even wear JUST a pad during those first two days otherwise a simple move, laugh, sneeze, cough causes a major gush…its bad.
Zene, I had the exact same problem…talk to your ob/gyn about having an endometrial ablation done. NO woman should have to suffer like that, and since you’re finished having babies, an ablation is a good option. I had mine done 5 years ago, and I wish I’d known about it right after my tubal…I spent SOOO many years suffering!!! Best of luck to you!!!
My mom was born in the 1920’s she use old sheets because the store bought type hadn’t been invented yet. When I was growing up we didn’t have much money so that is what she gave me to wear to school. She always said it’s better for the stuff to drain outside of our bodies. I think she was smart about that. Thanks for sharing this sewing tutorial about homemade pads.
Anyone ever use Procare waterproof fabric?
I’m not sure if it’s the same but I’ve used PLU which is waterproof. It makes a great extra layer in the pads to make sure nothing gets through.
I am also past that stage but now have a little urine problem when I cough. Would this pad hold up for that. Urine is more liquidy than blood. Would I need it thicker. What is pul? You amaze me on how frugal and down to earth you are. God is using you to teach many . He always leads me to people to show me how to make the best of resources which I have not done. Again I am thankful He lead my finger to pick your site. IN the winter I do a lot of sitting at the sewing machine so will the snap bother me. Older people’s muscle tone is more tender . Velcro sound good but would not last in machine unless maybe if left velcroed
PUL is a special kind of waterproof fabric, if you ask for it at your local fabric store they should be able to point you in the right direction or it can be found near the cloth diaper making supplies.
Polyester PUL can be bought at Joann’s Fabric store. You can Buy it on line from a lot of places like fabric.com, both have every thing you need including Minky fabric the best (in my opinion) for top layer is 2 to 3 millimeters thick. You can get Cotton PUL from kidsinthegarden.com(great company,not mine, just my opinion).I made my own 8 years ago, now I am in menopause and I still wear them for incontinence. I still have all of the ones I made. I make new ones every once in a while and have introduced others.I also make custom bras and undies.
Merissa, yours is one of the easiest tutorials I’ve seen!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! I’m up to my eyebrows in canning still, but these pads are going on the top of my “to-do” sewing list for winter!!!
Loved this tutorial Marissa!! You made it so easy to follow!
I just recently started making and selling Modern Lady Cloth too.
Very excited about cloth.. i must say 🙂
Check out my Facebook Page @prettyecointimates.
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I find that my pad always slips up my behind and barely catches anything in the front. I found this to be true with the GladRag brand and my homemade ones. Do other women have this problem or perhaps I just need to make them longer on one side? Also, what’s everyone’s secret to keeping your pads out of view from people while they are drying and waiting to be washed? It’s hard to hide them discreetly without putting them in a closed environment where they won’t dry or smell. Afterall, no one wants to see a 3 year old stained pad hanging from a shower curtain when visiting your home. I also want to mention that I use the Keeper which I have had great success with.
I recommend getting a little wet bag (like for cloth diapers) to hold them in until you wash. I just toss the whole bag in the washer too. I think you might want to make them long on one side if you are having that issue, it might work!
Everywhere I read says you have to put a waterproof pul fabric backing or they will leak. I really want to use organic fabrics and that clearly is not, any suggestions?
I haven’t had any issues with the cotton flannel I use but those pads are more for light days. I’m not sure what a good organic alternative would be for PUL besides maybe adding extra layers?
Kristine-
I have several different pad sizes for various flow levels. For really heavy flows I use 6-8 layers of flannel and many times use the keeper (like a diva cup) for extra protection at night or when I’m in public.
Holly
@Kristine
I’m with you! I would prefer not to use PUL fabric and would also love to not feel like I have a log between my legs because of the layers. I was looking into using Zorb, and I feel more comfortable with that. Supposedly “Zorb contains only tangled cellulose fibers from bamboo/cotton/viscose and poly micro fiber”…not perfect, but it seems a little better? I think I will try it.
If anyone else figures anything else that might work as a filler that is super absorbent, please share!!
I’m definitely interested in knowing about an organic waterproof option as well. Have heard 2 layers of organic flannel might work well, and Party In My Pants uses some unnamed “nylon leak-resistant shield”.
Hi, I’m fairly new here, but I wanted to comment. I get my pads from New Moon Pads in Canada. She uses Malden Mills Sherpa Fleece as her waterproof layer. I understand it is rather expensive and I don’t know if it is environmentally better than PUL. What I can tell you is that it is breathable and it works. Water just pills up and rolls off. When I’m rinsing out my pads water doesn’t go through it until I squeeze it out and it is dry to the touch immediately. I have a fairly heavy, gushy flow and I haven’t had a leakage problem yet. Hope this helps.
Thanks for posting. I’ve been using cloth for several years now, and I will never go back! Just the comfort of cloth is worth it if nothing else!
I make my own very simply; just a circle of 2-3 layers flannel (from old sheets), sometimes with some old towel in the middle. Zig zag stitch around the edge, and put a snap on either side. Easy peasy!
For those wondering about heavier days, I often just double up on the cloths. With mine I can roll one up and slide it between my undies and another cloth to create an insert layer. For night time, I use two; one a little to the front, and one a little to the back so they overlap in the middle for extra protection. I doubt this would be enough though for the lady with super heavy flow. Sorry to hear! Good luck!
They do leak through to my undies sometimes, which isn’t great, but it’s better than infections, so I leave out the waterproof layer. If you wanted a more eco friendly version, maybe the water-proof breathable shell layer from an old jacket would work?
I should have wrote about PUL not causing infections or that it is not breathable.PUL is used in cloth diapers it does not cause Yeast infections it is breathable I have worn a cloth pad every day for the last 8 years. Wished to god I had known about them years before.
Store pads are no longer in our budget and since I realize I will have urine leakage (in small amts) the rest of my life, this looks like a realistic alternative! Thank you for the ideas and advice, they make this project so much easier. I am shopping for fabrics tomorrow!
I’m new to all this, so my first question is – how well does the blood wash off? :/
It actually washes off really well. If you are worried about it you can always either use a stain spray (I use Bac Out by BioKleen) before washing or you can place in a small container with a bit of water and baking soda after use until you can wash.
I have never had a pad stain ever,but I don’t use flannel on my top layer I use bamboo or minky. works great!!! Rinse in cold water in bucket with a little oxygen cleaner (I use LA’s AWESOME from Dollar Tree)wash in hot water with home made laundry soap or small amount of tide rinse with Vinegar in last rinse Dry No softener. No static no smell no stains no soap residue.
Thanks for sharing this great pattern. I’ve used Gladrags which I like but too expensive for me. I’ve got some cloth pads from Momscrafts4u on Etsy. <which I wear when I'm away from home. They are leakproof and awesome!
But I was thinking of sewing my own to wear when I'm home and can change more often. Your pattern seems easy enough for a beginner like me! I made the switch to cloth about 15 years ago and haven't looked back. Less bleeding, less cramping, etc… Not to mention the savings. Thanks again. Love your blog!
Thanks for this pattern!! I am looking into making my own because I use disposable pads and they are absolutely horrible. It stinks and I get a rash from it so I will be switching to cloth in the very near future. I have never been a fan of tampons either. I will take a shot at making this because I want to save money, not produce as much waste, and be healthier because of it. I’m 17 years old and all of the res of my family thinks it is gross but I absolutely love the idea! I wish I would have heard of it sooner! Thanks again!
I’ve been using WeMoon pads and love them! My cycles have reduced from 7 day agonies to 3 days without the need for any pain relief. The waterproof liner is a must though!
I soak the used pads overnight and use that to fertilise the garden – how’s that for organic and sustainable :o)
What if you put a shammie fabric in the middle? You know the kind you use to dry your car? They are supper absorbent and they sell them at the dollar store.
Yes, you can do that to make a heavier pad. 🙂
Just wanted to tell you I finally got around to making some pads. I made some with 4-6 layers for the middle part and found if I cut the slit in each one before sewing, it made it much easier than trying to cut through all layers after it was sewn down.
They work great!
This is a technical question. Is the line on the pattern the cutting line or the sewing line? Do I need to add seam allowance to the pattern or cut as shown.
Thanks! (I’m making these for my daughter)
It’s the cutting line. You can add a seam allowance if you want a little more space to sew.
How do you know if fleece is anti-pill, or no- pill? I have some fleece and flannel sitting around that I’d like to try making pads with. I’m pretty sure the flannel came from Walmart though… it’s probably not cotton huh?
Hmmm, good question. I’ve bought quite a bit of cotton flannel from Walmart since we don’t have many other stores here and it’s worked well for these.
I think I will be trying these. This is great I can alter to my daughter and I’s needs. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! I know this is an older post, but I found it on Pinterest and wanted to comment. I made up a pattern myself last year (way not pretty lol) and made around 8 pads. I have a super heavy flow, so I use tampons on the heavy days with the pads for backup/leaks and these alone for lighter days. I made mine solely out of recycled fabric, old baby blankets and flannel shirts from the thrift store. It was very cheap and I love them to death, so much money saved!!! Thank you for an actual pattern I can follow! I’m down to 4 (from my very beginner sewing skills, some have since fallen apart!), and need to make some more. I’m also thinking of making some up for Christmas gifts for close friends! 🙂
Just wanted to say thank you for the pattern and tutorial. Everyone wants to sell these and I really can’t understand why. If I couldn’t find one I was just going to trace one of mine and use 1/4 inch seem allowance. This will be much easier.
No problem Angela 🙂
This is a great tutorial and I see it got a lot of shares!! I wish you’d update the directions with the following hints though, from a long time cloth pad user. Stuff the pad itself with a layer of warm-n-white. Use pure polyester thread to sew these to prevent wicking. Hide a layer of PUL in between the flannel layers of the wing section, to make it fairly waterproof.
I’m interested in making cloth liners… it feels like I am having a reaction to the disposables. :/ I got a FFS liner from GladRags and I love it. My question, though, does it need to be a particular flannel? I have old flannel receiving blankets that no long will get used, do you think those will do alright for homemade liners?
Thanks. 🙂
I would just make sure that it’s cotton flannel so you know that it will be more “breathable”.
I would like to know if other ladies cycle shortened, as did mine after I made the switch to cloth 3 years ago. After the first 3 months of wearing cloth pads, my period went from 7 days to 3 days and has stayed that way since. I mentioned this to my doctor, who of course, has never heard of cloth pads and didn’t seem to give a care of what I was talking about, and said no such thing can occur. She said it must have been a hormonal change in my life. I disagree with my doctor completely.
I haven’t tried cloth yet, but I’ve read a lot of reviews in the last 2 days and many people and sites say this is a positive result from switching from disposables with the chemicals/bleach to cloth. So I figured I’d let you know since no one has replied to your comment on here yet. 🙂
My period has gone from 5 days with 2 heavy days to 4 to 4 1/2 days with only 1 heavy day. I am using a cup (Sckoon cup, but just ordered the Super Jennie) with cloth pads as back up. I am on my 4th cycle of this. My reasoning for ditching the disposables was a year of battling reoccuring vaginal infections. I haven’t had 1 infection since switching. I also did work on my diet and changed up the probiotics I took to those for vaginal health. So far so good.
I had to wear the largest pads that you could get (Always).I would put them end to end with the center over lapped.Leaking at night was always a problem. I was put on birth control by a male Dr. he didn’t think having blood clots that was as big as my hand was a big deal so on the pills I had my period the whole time(the clots looked like strings about 6 to 10 inches) I stopped taking them. I saw a thing on you.tube and I could not wait to try them I went to Joann’s and Walmart and bought every thing they had and started making pads. Yes that happened to me I had 2 periods a month for about the last 12 to 15 years I used the first time and my periods went down to one period then that got lighter then less cramping then just before I started real menopause my period disappeared for the months of April to June then it did it again in August to December then no periods at all and I wish I had known about them before.
Hi Merissa,
I was searching for something for my daugther with downsyndroom.
She hates the normal cloths and last summer she had her period on our vacation. I’ve made her something of an old towel and a skinny short so she could swim too. She loved it so much that I want to make those cloths for her periods.
I just found this;
http://www.diapersewingsupplies.com/what-is-pul-fabric-pul-fabric-by-eco-pul/
I’ve just ordered this in a dutchwebstore. Can’t wait to make them with your tuturial.
Kind regards,
Brenda.
I really hope they work for her Brenda. 🙂
I like the style of these pads. I’ve been making my own cloth pads for a year now and have a stash of about 30. I have made several patterns and still haven’t found the one that I like best. I will have to give this one a try. However where you cut your fabric there is only two layers of absorbency. It would be alright if you are a light person. But I would be scared to use them. If you left a small opening of about two inches on a flat portion of the seam between your layers then you could just flip it there and sew that closed. That’s what I do. It would take less time and insure less leakages. 🙂
How would you make these for an older woman who has incontinence?
Marissa,
I agree with a commenter (Ashley-10-27-15)…
…There really should be an update to directions. . .
It would be much better to leave a small opening on a longer / flat side for turning the fabric. . . then once turned right side out, press it, tucking in the seam of the opening…
When making these with several layers, you could stack the (inner) pads together before sewing to the outter.
In my opinion, cutting the fabric (in the middle), would just compromise the ability of the fabric to have a stable liner… it would eventually separate or open in the center, leaving less space for absorption. . . .
I know the directions were made to be simple, but for simplicity and a better absorbing nature, , it would be more practical to make a cut at one end or the other… just not in the center, where the thickness is needed.
I have a friend who made these years ago who used diaper flannel dyed a really dark color so they didn’t look icky when they were clean (no stains). She also used diaper changing pad, left over from having little ones, for the moisture barrier. Thanks for the pattern, great picture instructions and tips.
I forgot to mention that she used some type of hemp fleece( may have been a combo of hemp and cotton) fabric as the absorbent layers. The Hemp is supposed to be more absorbent than plain cotton for the same weight. When I make mine, I am going to try to create a way to make the thickness adjustable/removable.
Thanks for the thrifty ideas. I have several diaper changing pads not in use right now. I was going to just donate them, but reusing them will be better!
I would love to make these, but do not own a sewing machine. I would have to learn to hand sew them. How are would it be to hand sew the pads? Any help is appreciated.
Since they are a small project I don’t think it would be difficult at all to hand sew them.
Have you seen any patterns for homemade incontinence pads?
Thanks!
Hi!
Thank you for this tutorial. I just tried making a few cloth pads the other day, but your tutorial looks way easier! And way cuter!
Question:
Does your pattern already have seam allowance added to it? Or do I need to add it myself?
Thank you!
It needs to have a seam allowance added to it.
This is so creative! I’ve heard about cloth pads and have been very interested in them. I like the fact that you just made them yourself. Very impressed! lol! Thanks for sharing at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop 🙂
I don’t sew, but I’ve definitely been considering buy some cloth pads for my lighter days. Pinning to share! Hollie
Great project! I’d love it if you shared this on the brand new DIY party!
Hi Merissa. Your Homemade Cloth Pads are so adorable and useful too! Congratulations, it was the most viewed link at last week’s Creative Muster Party and will be featured tomorrow night! It’s also been shared on all of our social medias for our followers to enjoy too. Hope to see you tomorrow night at 6pm. ~Heather
I just found your website and fell in love. You had me at the lessons from the little house books. I loved those too as a girl. I had just resigned myself to shelling out big bucks to the party in my pants folks. I was looking for a more eco-friendly alternative for my tomboy daughter who will be starting menstruation soon. So I printed out the cloth pads patterns, reduced it by 75% to make them smaller. I left a small opening unstitched in order to turn the pieces right side out instead of cutting a slit. Then when you top stitch the wings and attach the liner to the wings you can sew this opening as well. I finished seven of the smaller size in some cotton fabric left over from some quilting projects for both of us to use as liners. I even had snaps, so the total project cost me nothing. I thought it would be a hard sell to get her to use them, but my daughter loved them! Thanks so much!
Awesome, I’m so glad they are working out well for her! (And welcome to Little House Living! 🙂 )
Hi Merissa! You know, I heard about making your pads years ago and it was something I always thought of trying but your posts might’ve just given me the motivation to try. It makes so much sense. Thank you so much for sharing at Thriving on Thursdays last week. I’m featuring this post at tomorrow’s party. Thanks again for coming.
Anne @ Domesblissity xx
I hope you do give it a try. And thank you for the feature!
Absolutely love this pattern! After scouring the web this is the one I went back to and I’m so glad I did. To make the pad a little thicker I sewed a layer of pul and thin towelling to the wrong side of one of the winged pieces before I started then followed your instructions to sew it all together. I must confess making these has become an addiction! I love how they look and feel, they are so quick to make. I have made 15 so far all in different colours from my stash and will make more because I can’t help myself! Great pattern thank you so much!!!!
Thank for this tutoriel. Il will try it because i’m allergic. …
I love these patterns, and ease of the pattern. Wuestion, I mo longer need these for menstrual needs. However, I do need them for bladder issues. What would I need to add for that?
I am an older woman with incontinence , specially at night when I wake to go pee. Is there a way to make these like the overnight pads I’ve been buying….I sure could use the saved money as I’m on a fixed income. Thanks for any suggestions. Marie
hey i was just wondering about the pads pictured? they ook really awesome but a little longer? do you also have a pattern for them?
I just used the original pattern and extended the middle of each piece to make them longer 🙂
I am getting ready to make my first mama cloths, I haven’t tried them before, but I am due in March with my second and I want some postpartum pads. I think this pattern is gorgeous and would love to use it! Do you have a postpartum version? Am I just missing it somewhere? Thanks for sharing!
As of right now this is the only version that I’ve made. You can add extra thickness by adding another layer of cotton (or two or three) into the middle or some commenters have added in a layer of PUL. I’ve also made it longer by just extending the pattern as I’m tracing it onto the fabric.
Hey Jessica,
I am having 2nd in 5 weeks now and just made some post-partum with Merissa’s design (and hopefully they work!).
After turning the middle pad inside out I stuck in the middle part of a prefold and then sewed two lines down the middle, to direct the blood flow, as well as too keep the absorbent layers in place.
I also changed up fabrics and made it longer.
I have a problem with incontinence and the plastic on the store bought pads leave me with the worst case of diaper rash you can imagine. I happened to spot these and am going to try them for my problem.
This post saved me from having to use disposable! A little back story. I ordered pads three months ago and well long story short they had to be re mailed. But mother nature surprised me yesterday and i found your post and went to walmart!
Im allergic to most fenimim products on the market today. Including pads and tampons i have to special order shampoo and conditioner etc. Or i break out in a lovely rash.
So thank you for your post. I shall look more into your posts.
I don’t know if anybody else got this tip out there or not, but here’s an extra something to check for when choosing your flannel: be sure and water test it before you dive into making your pads. I picked a flannel that I thought would work well and had my first cloth pad all sewn up and waiting to be tried out and didn’t even think to test its absorbency. I still might not have tested it if my nephew hadn’t dripped water from his sippie cup on the floor. I grabbed a scrap of the flannel as the closest thing around to mop the water up with and found to my dismay that it only absorbed some of the water and smeared the rest around on the floor. NOT reassuring! But I thought perhaps the flannel scrap just wasn’t big enough for the amount of water, so I took my finished pad to the sink and turned the faucet on to a slow drip. Sure enough, when I placed the pad under the water it beaded and then slowly absorbed. I don’t know if this problem could maybe be fixed by washing the flannel a few time before using it or not, but I’m definitely going to make sure that my flannel absorbs efficiently before I sew up any more pads. 🙂
Interesting…do you know what kind of fabric the flannel was made from? I’ve only used 100% cotton flannel.
No, I don’t know what kind it was, it’s was just a random scrap we had. I thought it’d work good because it felt substantial without feeling really thick and hot (some of the flannels we have felt thin, some sweltering. But I may have to re-adjust my priorities to absorbent first, thickness after:)). But my Mom said the flannel I’d used didn’t absorb well because of the fireblock they put on them now-a-days. Do you know of anybody who makes them without the fireblock anymore? 🙁
I may just have to be sure and use an old enough flannel, like the old pajamas that a lot of ladies say they used, and not buy any newly manufactured flannels.
So are there different kinds of flannel? I had thought flannel was kinda universally cotton, like denim for the most part is. 🙂
I think you can look for the fabrics that say “not suitable for children’s pajamas” because I’m pretty sure they have to put the flame retardant fabric for pjs.
I think most flannel is cotton but there is a large amount that is polyester or a cotton/poly blend as well.
Ah, got it. 🙂 Thank you so much!!! Now I have a few pointers to go on if I end up having to buy new flannel. 😀
So I’m having trouble getting the pads to come clean:(. The first one I rinsed in cold water and then soaked overnight in a equal parts vinegar and water solution and then threw it in with a load of towels to wash. It came out “clean”, but with a slight metallic smell. The second time I added tea tree oil to the soak, and soaked one pad for a day and the second one overnight, then added a detergent booster to the wash. They came out a little better, but they still both have a slight metallic smell to them. Mama says try baking soda in the soak next, but if that doesn’t work we’re pretty much fresh out of ideas. Any suggestions?
I may have to try these. I live my cloth and have been using it for ten years. But a need new and can’t find the kind I like. Sewing is not my thing. But I may have to give it another go!
This pattern is really easy to sew and can even be sewn by hand if you don’t have a machine. Plus since they are just for personal use, no one will know if your stitches aren’t perfect! 🙂
I live off grid and have no electricity until our solar panels are installed. I would like to order some. How much do.you charge.
Excited about this pattern! Ive subscribed and awaiting the pattern, hope its still valid! Looking forward to using cloth post partum!
If you don’t get the email for some reason, be sure to check your spam folder, it occasionally ends up in there!
For those who, like me, aren’t exactly on a first name basis with your sewing machines;), one way I’ve found to really simplify the process is to just zigzag the whole thing together. Your fabric won’t fray past the zigzag stitches and it cuts out having to sew it inside out and then flip it right side out. It won’t look anywhere near as pretty;), but it’ll work. 🙂
I’ve also found that, for me, it’s better to cut the top layer of flannel (the layer that will be facing your body) the same shape as the base and only sew it together at the edges. that way you don’t have any stitches near the pad area that go through all layers and eventually allow leaks. This may not be a problem for everybody, but for fairly heavy bleeders it is. It may also depend on what type of thread you use as to whether this would be a problem. I remember reading somewhere to use polyester thread instead of cotton in order to avoid this problem.
I can’t find the pattern for the cloth pads. No matter where I go I can’t find them. 😕
Hi Brittany, the pattern is for Little House Living email subscribers only. If you are a current subscriber there will always be a link with the password to all of our freebies at the bottom of every single email. If you aren’t a current subscriber you can just enter your email in the form at the bottom of this post.
I use them and make them myself. I live them, I used to get yeast infections quite often but don’t since I went to cloth.
Hi Merissa,
I’m wanting to make pads for LBL, I’m an oldie and way past menopause. I’ve been researching how to make and what to use etc for the past few weeks. Have got my snaps and snap tool and ordered some fabric. Just having another quick look for more ideas today and came across your post and pattern. So easy and straight forward! And I’m so impressed that your original post was 5 years ago Jan 2013! And people are still accessing the post and commenting. You’ve got to be doing something right! Well done you! Thanks so much.
So the pattern link is just a wild goose chase!
I’ve tried signing up with 2 different emails, and it just leads you in a circle back to this tutorial…the tutorial is useless to me without the pattern, which is disappointing because I really wanted to try it :.(
Hi Sarah, the link to all of the freebies and patterns should be in the email that you received (or in any email from me). If you don’t happen to have one in your inbox, feel free to email me [email protected] and I will help.
I am wondering if there is a “lighter” version of this I can make? I use panty liners basically everyday and I am trying to cut waste. This looks like a great alternative but a little too big for everyday use.
Thanks!!
These are pretty light. To make an even lighter version you might try a different type of fabric but by just doing 2 thin layers of cotton flannel it will be similar to a basic liner.
Where is the printable pattern? When I click the link for free printable sewing patterns and I click the pad one it just brings me back here.
Hi Andrea, if you could email me at [email protected] I can send you step by step instructions on how to get any of the patterns on this site.
I would love to get any pattern that would be easy and fast to make. We ladies at my church are making cloth pads for girls in 3rd world countries. Thank you.
The pattern is available for free for all our newsletter subscribers. Just enter your email in the form at the bottom of the article and I will send it over!