Girls only!

Do you get tired of purchasing feminine products? Looking for a better way to go about the good ole Aunt Flo that doesn't hurt the environment AND your wallet? Then I have a plan for you!

Ever wonder how they kept things under control monthly before there were disposables? Well obviously they used cloth! If we use cloth diapers on our kids it makes sense to try it for us too. I went to Partypantspads.com because I was curious and my good ole mum sent me a link. It was Earth day and they had a free shipping day. So I thought why not try it out. They have a "Cloth Pad Curious" free pad you must got a hold of! These things are glorious, and FREE! If you use disposable pads you are used to the "diaper" feel but these I can hardly tell they are there.

Naturally I look to do EVERYTHING the hard way so I embarked on making my own cloth pads and they turned out SO well.

1. You'll need a pattern. I took a disposable pad and traced it roughly with about 1/4 inch around the pad for a seam allowance. If you are more of a perfectionist you can find cloth pad patterns HERE. 
2. I used an old T-shirt with several layers sewn together for my absorbency. 
3. You'll need a waterproof fabric. I used leftover PUL fabric from making cloth diapers so my pads look like a tiny cloth diaper. You may want to purchase something a little more grown up for yours. You can also use an old rain coat.
4. Cut out the fabric. 
5. I sewed a small rectangle of about 6 layers of t-shirt into the top layer of absorbency so that it has more power with less bulk. 
6. Pin the top and PUL layers together wrong sides out. 
7. Sew! Make sure you leave room to turn out, I ALWAYS forget to do this and it is soooo frustrating!
8. Turn the fabric out and press the seam.
9. Sew a finishing stitch along the seam.
10. I used velcro to secure the wings because I find snaps to be a little uncomfortable.
11. You can wash them just like regular clothes. Everything stays fairly contained so it isn't too yucky. I try to not let them dry the whole cycle for longevity but it doesn't matter too much how you dry them. You could hang hem out on a line for all your neighbors to see too! :)

There ya go! The pictures don't show velcro because I had to find some not so stiff velcro for comfort. The t-shirt fabric is under the minky, which is super soft I might add! You know you like my monkey PUL fabric too! You could make panty liners for everyday use and save many dollars! I have contemplated making some "Flo undies" with built in velcro to attach the pad to the panty for more security but that may be too much!

All in all this project cost less than 15 dollars and has made 10 pads with leftovers to make more if I need too! 

Have you used cloth pads before? Do you like them? Have you tried making your own? Share your stories below!

Happy DIY!

~B