I learned about homemade cloth menstrual pads on a Christian Ladies’ message board in 2002. I had just been diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. Some of my symptoms were heavy, irregular and painful menses which left me feeling very much like the Woman in the New Testament with the issue of blood who touched Jesus’s garment to be healed. I even joked that I had periods of biblical proportions. Financially, we were in a tough spot at the time. Making decisions between groceries or sanitary pads is not a pleasant place to be so I was tickled when another mom shared a link to homemade pads. I ran some simple ones up on my sewing machine that day and have pretty much been a convert ever since.
Before the 20th Century, most women used cloth pads or “rags” during their menstruation. Disposable pads didn’t become common in America until after WW II. Among rural and low-income women they didn’t catch on until the 1960′s. As with diapers, there have always been people who prefer cloth to disposable. Disposable pads do not biodegrade very quickly. Plastic diapers and sanitary napkins are likely to be two of the most common artifacts that future archaeologists will find when excavating landfills from the 20 and 21 Centuries. I wonder what kind of commentary this will be on our present lifestyles? Only time will tell.
Outer Pad with Wings
Cut 2 with flap extended & 1 on fold with flap closed
Inner Pad
Cut 2 of flannel and 1 or 2 of filling or more flannel
Printing Instructions: Set Margins to 0.25 or 1/4 inch each.
To make your own sanitary napkins you need the following supplies: 
- A sewing machine with a zigzag stitch.
- Flannel: Old flannel shirts & baby blankets work beautifully but new flannel works fine too. Be sure to wash it in hot water before using to prevent shrinkage.
- Thread
- Snaps or Safety Pins
- Scissors
The Outer Pad
Begin by printing both of the patterns and cutting them out. The Inner Pad is a large oval. The Outer Pad is actually 2 patterns in 1. With the long straight side extended, it is the topside. You will need to cut 2 of these. With the long straight side folded in, it is the bottom side. Place the straight edge on a fold of fabric and cut 1 of these. Look at the pictures for examples. 
Make 1/2-inch hem down the long straight side of each of the 2 top pieces. Straight stitch or zigzag stitch this hem, as you prefer. Now arrange the 2 upper layers of the outer pad over the lower layer. The front hems should overlap slightly, or by about 1/2-inch.
Zigzag stitch around the outside twice. If desired you may straight stitch down the dotted lines shown on the picture to the right. This allows the inner pad to fit more securely inside the outer pad and also makes folding the wings a bit handier.
Some women apply a snap or button to the wings at this time. Place them at points “A” in the illustration. Velcro is not advisable because it has a tendency to chafe. Personally, I don’t <
like
to go through all the work of applying snaps or buttons so I use a safety pin instead. Large diaper safety pins work beautifully for pinning the wings together. To the right you will see a picture of the pad pinned closed. The wings fit around your underwear just like disposable pads with wings. Some women wear the pad with the pocket seam facing down, next to their underwear. Other women prefer the pad placed with the seam-side next to their skin. Try it both ways to see which you prefer.
The Inner Pad
The inner pad is the absorbent part of the sanitary napkin. It slips inside the pocket of the pad. The beauty of this is that you can use as many inner pads as necessary for the rate of your flow. During heavy times, or overnight, use 3 or 4 Inner pads. For a lighter flow use only 1 Inner pad. For a panty liner, use the outer pad without an inner pad. The reason you use several layers instead of 1 very thick layer is because several thinner layers are easier to wash and have a shorter drying time. Additionally, the many exterior surfaces of the pad layers makes them more absorbent than a single thick pad would be. 
For the inner pad you want to cut at least 3 layers, maybe 4, depending on the thickness of your fabric. Use the same pattern for all of the layers. 
Use flannel for the 2 exterior layers of the inner pad. Use 1 or 2 layers of flannel or terry cloth, cotton quilt batting or another absorbent material for the interior layers of the inner pad. I used old flannel shirts, a flannel baby blanket and an old towel for my fabric. The towel was ripped and had a few holes. I used it as the interior layer of my inner pads. The flannel baby blanket was the exterior of the inner pads, and the flannel shirt was the outer pad, the part with wings.
After cutting out your layers for the inner pad stack them neatly. Zigzag stitch around the edges twice. Trim the edges if desired. I used dark thread in the picture so you could see it against the light flannel. Make 2 of these inner pads for each outer pad. They are very easy to cut and stitch, so you may want to make a few extras for heavy days.
After completing each part of the pad, slip the inner pad inside the pocket of the outer pad. Pin it in place and see how it feels. You will be surprised at how comfortable it is.
Washing and Maintenance
When you make your own pads you have to wash them instead of tossing them into the garbage. Keep a small bucket of water with a lid in the bathroom, preferably out of the reach of children and pets. Add a spoonful of vinegar if desired. Remove the inner pad from the outer pad. Soak the used pads in the bucket of water. Drain the water into the toilet before washing the pads. The water can also be used to water house plants because they like all the extra vitamins and minerals. Make sure you use cold water so that the stains will come out. I wash every morning. Some women stash all of the used pads in a pillowcase or plastic bag and wash them all at once when their period is over. I don’t do this because I have a washer in the house and I find it more sanitary to wash them every day. They can drip dry or machine dry.
If you do not have a washing machine, then they may be washed by hand. Run cold water over them in the bathtub to remove most of the blood. Place the pads in a medium bucket or tub. Add a little soap and cold water. Using a clean plunger, plunge the pads until they are as clean as you can get them. Plunge for a good 10 minutes for the best results. Rinse the pads well and squeeze them dry. Hang each pad by it’s own clothespin and they should dry pretty fast, even in the winter.
If you like, you can iron the pads, but do not use starch on them. Be careful not to use fabric softener either because it will make them less absorbent.
A No-Sew Alternative
If your sewing skills are lacking, or you simply do not want to go through the trouble of sewing your own pads you can try this instead. Purchase absorbent terry-cloth dishtowels. Wash them before using. Fold them into rectangles about 3 or 4-inches by 10 or 12 inches. Use safety pins to pin them into your underwear at both narrow ends (the front and the back). These are a bit bulkier than home-sewn pads. They are quite comfortable though, and are a legitimate alternative. They may be washed the same as home-sewn pads. I’ve also seen washcloths recommended. Fold them into thirds, or quarters (long ways) and fit them into your underwear. Apparently they stay in place without pinning because of the friction between the terry-cloth and underwear. For heavier flows fold together 2 or more wash cloths.
About Fabrics
When I made these, I used fabrics I already had in the house. You may purchase new fabric instead if you like. Use a sturdy double-napped flannel if you go this route. It will last the longest and give you the best results. Cotton quilt batting is very nice filler, but you can also use additional flannel, which is less expensive. Wash everything before cutting or sewing. Flannel will shrink. After sewing, wash the pads again before using. This helps them hold their shape better. Men’s flannel shirts and flannel baby blankets make excellent flannel for your own menstrual pads. They can sometimes be found for 25¢ or 50¢ a piece at yard sales, which makes pads very cheap to sew at home. Brightly colored fabric is less likely to show stains than solid colored or light fabric is. I prefer to use patterns and dark colors for this reason.
About the Pattern
I created this pattern free hand after measuring commercially available, disposable pads. My pattern is a little bit wider and longer than some patterns available on the Internet. This is to accommodate the average woman, who is a size 14 or larger. Standard pads and liners are created for a size-6 woman. Pads made from this pattern are less likely to leak because they are large enough to fit properly. If you are a smaller woman, or prefer slightly smaller pads, there are several other patterns available online. You will find them linked below.
Note: Some of the sites may refer to ideas you do not agree with. Please overlook anything you find offensive and focus on the useful information instead.
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Natural Choices |
Cloth Menstrual Pads |
Instructions for Cloth Menstrual Pads |
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Frugal Baby Pattern |
Museum of Menstruation or MUM |
Okay, But EEEwww . . .
I’ll admit, many people have this reaction the first time they consider homemade pads. It is weird. We never see anything about it on television so that’s the first sign that it’s NOT socially acceptable. Sewing and using homemade pads seems like something that only weird-os and freaks do, probably off in the woods somewhere, or maybe a nice cave in the wilderness where they can commune with nature and get in touch with the moon. Nice women would never use homemade pads. After all, your hands get wet and you have to touch your own body fluids which is kinda gross. Plus you have that icky bucket in the bathroom so everyone knows that you’re up to something sneaky. The whole idea is enough to make some women vomit and make some men run for cover in a sweaty, testosterone filled locker room.
Believe me, I sympathize. I had to get used to the idea before I became a convert. For some women the conversion process happens overnight. For others of us, it takes time. We have to go slow, talk it over with other women, learn a lot more about it, and try it secretly to see if it really does work (it does). If we have always hated pads, then homemade ones may seem like an even more uncomfortable way of dealing with a monthly necessity. Everyone may say cloth pads are more comfortable, but just because it works for them, doesn’t mean it will be the same for us. Besides, the bucket in the bathroom is just tooooo gross. And what if the husband sees them and laughs at them or thinks that we’ve lost our minds. What if the mother in law visits and sees the bucket and we have to explain it to her, or a visiting preacher’s wife, or worse yet, the Preacher?!!! Gee whiz, it all becomes such a statement, and honestly, this is not the type of statement that most of us want to make to the world.
Relax. Take a deep breath. It is less weird than it seems at first glance. Think about women from the past. Our hearty ancestors who pioneered this country; while they rode their covered wagons west, what did they use every month? What did Native American women use back when they owned the continent? What about Eve and her daughters? What did Sarah use? Well, Sarah was barren, so maybe she didn’t need them. But what about other women in the bible? Give it some deep thought. Queens and peasants, Pilgrims and Puritans, they all have one thing in common. They had to use something to catch their monthly flow. If you visit the Museum of Menstruation, you’ll discover all types of articles that inventive women have used over the years. Absorbent sea sponges and baby socks have been used as tampons. Animal fur, dried plant fibers, and various types of cloth have been used for pads.
The truth of the matter is that cloth pads are not weird. Disposable ones are. Disposable pads and tampons have been commonplace for less than 50 years. This means that pretty much all of the women who are currently menstruating have only been exposed to disposable choices for their monthlies. Pads or tampons seem to be the only option. This is very much a comment on our current society. We use everything once and then toss it away. Disposable feminine hygiene products are a big scam perpetrated by manufacturers who want to keep us on a leash so we have to keep buying their products. They are making as much as TEN to TWENTY Thousand dollars per woman over her lifetime. If you think of the millions of women in the USA alone, the profits are staggering!
At heart, I am a rebel. One of my goals in life is to be dependent upon as few manufactured products as possible. My life and my money are more valuable than that. My freedom is more valuable than that. I will not give myself over to disposable pads if there is a free or cheap alternative that gives ME control over my budget and my body. Modern consumerism is a crock. It is an illusion that makes us feel like we have a semblance of power over our lives, but really it’s just newspeak for letting commercialism and it’s attending obsessions consume us. Extricating ourselves from consumerism is frightfully difficult. The strings and layers it encompasses are sneaky little buggers that are hidden in all aspects of our lives. One of the ways that we can achieve more personal freedom and attain genuine control over our circumstances is to snip those strings every time we find a self-sufficient alternative. For me, this means turning to cloth pads exclusively.
I would rather get my hands wet than give Corporate America one more ounce of control over my budget or even more importantly, my body. There are so many things I have to buy that when I find something I can make for myself, it is reason for rejoicing.
Which brings us back to that bucket. An ice cream bucket with a lid works great. I keep mine under the bathroom sink so it’s not a topic of conversation. Most women keep their disposable products in the bathroom, and the bucket is the same thing. Stash it in a private place and don’t give it a second thought. When I drain the bucket in the mornings, I do it in the bathroom while I’m already in there and no one is the wiser. As I start the first load of laundry for the day, I dump the rinsed pads in there and they wash up with whatever else is in the laundry. The wet pads cannot contaminate the other clothes in the washer. Dirty clothes are dirty clothes. Mud, dust, grime, dishcloths that have been used on bloody noses, rags used to wipe up the floor, it all comes out in the wash. The clothes in the washer are getting clean and one type of dirt will not give cooties to another type of dirt. After the washer has run it’s cycle, all the laundry is clean and ready to start its life anew, sort of a fabric version of baptism.
I live in a house with boys. They are blissfully unconscious of what the bucket is for. They don’t even ask. When they help fold the laundry, they just put the clean pads in the “Mommy Pile” and assume it is part of the world of women that they don’t want to know about. When the boys were younger, and I had to wash my pads by hand with a clean plunger, I did it in the bathroom as part of normal, daily chores. They had no idea and no care what I was doing in there. I could have been cleaning the tub or the sink or the toilet as far as they were concerned. It was all the same thing to them. Now that they are older, and one is a teenager, they have chosen blissful ignorance about my pads. Sometimes I have dried them by hanging them individually on a string strung up in the shower. I close the shower curtain and the boys ignore them completely, the same way they ignore my bras and frillies when I hang them up to dry. Fred doesn’t even notice the pads anymore, or if he does, they are just a normal part of married life. He is married to a woman, and therefore there are feminine details he must get used to and accommodate.
When I must travel a lot during my period, I bring a few plastic zipper bags to store any used ones until I get a chance to wash them. In hotels they are easily washed by hand and dried by laying them over the tub, or for the more adventurous, by laying them over the heater in the room. Fresh pads can be stored in zipper bags and used as needed. Once we grow accustomed to the idea of using cloth pads, it seems like such a normal part of life, that the details become irrelevant. The details of brushing our teeth or washing our hair are mundane. No one is interested in them and we do them without a second thought. Cloth pads are the same way. Once we get into the cloth pad zone, it becomes abundantly clear that they are the best solution available. Our first thought may be “Ewww!” but our final thought is “Aaahhh!”
The Story Of The Woman With The Issue Of Blood
Mark 5:25-34
(25) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
(26) And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
(27) When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
(28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
(29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
(30) And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
(31) And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
(32) And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
(33) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
(34) And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
This article may be copied or linked to as desired. Please include a link back to hillbillyhousewife.com. The patterns I made are placed firmly in the public domain. They are not copyrighted and can be used however you see fit, even to sew and sell in your own home business.
I’ve been using cloth pads for somewhere between 10-11 years now. I have many of the same cloth pads that I first bought in 1999 or 2000, and truthfully they show no signs of wearing out, so if you’re looking for frugal, this is definitely the way to go! It’s also the way to go for other reasons… so much more comfortable, better for your body, better for the earth, and also much more fun than those dreadful disposable pads!!
(A funny note about this… my supply of cloth pads was reduced by half a few years ago, when I moved out of a house that I used to share with an old friend of mine. So ladies, beware! If you have any female housemates or daughters, you may find your stash of cloth pads gets divided up, lol!!)
I bought my first cloth pads long before I got into sewing, but I make cloth pads now too. I just wanted to say that if you’re at all unsure regarding cloth pads, please try them out! Whether you buy some or sew your own, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how nice they are. They’re so much better and I’ll never go back to the disposables!
Even when I went to have surgery a couple years ago, and knew I was likely to begin my period while at the hospital, I insisted on packing my cloth pads in my backpack to take with me, and refused to let the nurse use a disposable pad on me. She seemed a little surprised, but when I showed her my cloth pads and explained, she wrote down the web address that I gave her so she could go buy some too!
Hi everyone:
I am looking at what frabric truly wears the best. I live and work in Kuwait however spend a great deal of time in Kenya, Egypt and Somaliland. The women in these locations can not afford sanitary napkins so we are in the process of looking to have them made here and take them with us. Could any of you please provide your suggestions for the best fabrics to buy? I see you mention Kitra that yours do not wear out, what is the fabric used?
Thank you in advance.
I can be emailed at iseaq8@yahoo.com
I have gleaned alot of good information from this site. I am 46 years old and started to have irregular periods (due to menopause). In the last 2 months my period has lasted about 18 days. I was using 2 or 3 pads a day – sometimes my period was very heavy and sometimes light. The pads started rubbing and causing irritation, so I had some flannel handkies that I had made (to save on buying Klennex), and I started using those just folded up. I am definetly going to go right now and make some “real” pads to wear. Thanks for all the great info! Maybe I can even get my teenage daughters to try these.
I’ve been looking for something like this for years! Thank you so much!
Hi,
Thank-You for this information. I will be making some of these and giving it a try. I always did hate wating my money on throw away.
I do how ever have a cleaning suggetion that has helpped me out when my “Regular” store bought stuff has leaked onto my underslothes or even outer garments. My hubby works at Ace and brought home a bottle of Floex instant carpet spot remover.It can be used on your carpet for animal mishaps.Well, long story short I used it on my undies and it took out all my stains,used it on my kids undies for “skid streak” and they came out. Then washed as I would normally. It works on all kinds of things even rust. Hope this helps you guys out.
how ironic that it is called “flo”ex!! hehe
Another good soap to use for scrubbing your “drawers” clean is Fels Naptha. My Mom told me about how they would use Fels Naptha soap (or they would use homemade bar soap when they couldn’t afford Fels Naptha) & a scrub brush. Scrub them clean, and then lay them in the sun to dry. The sun would make your whites really white. I tried her method out of curiousity and am sold. I keep Fels Naptha around always.
I came across two “soaker” pads at a garage sale for a quarter. The kind to put under someone with incontenance issues. They were about 18″ x 24″. It had all the requirements to make the absorbant layer plus a rubberized backing…already assembled!!
I made 2 circles out of a different material, with the attached holding strips at top and bottom. I found a circular pattern at tipnut.com , and made 2 circular pads, no filler or inserts. With one of the soaker pads I made 14 absorbant inserts!
I’ve kept the other pad to add to my medical devices stock box. Where I am storing things like a set of crutches, arm brace, leg brace, shower chair, ace bandage, etc. so our whole family can borrow them as needed and avoid purchasing anything new when injured or sick.
Brilliant…I have incontinence and hate spending that $12 to $15 a month just to throw it away. Love the soaker pad idea…so going to try this idea out. Thank you for sharing your idea.
After reading this write up 3 months ago I have made the switch to homemade pads. I hated going and having to find what I liked but they were repackaged and I just plain dont like giving walmart all my money. I made the mistake originally of buying some and have found it outragious that they sell the liners and then you have to buy a seperate waterproof liner to use. But anyway, I have made quite a few of my own (which work better). I use the bucket and as long as I soak them right away they come out stain free. I preferr to rinse and scrub them in the sink after I take them off. I feel it keeps the bucket looking less um… scary. I am so glad that I found this information.
Thank you
I used homemade napkins for years due to heavy menstrual flow, mine were made in one piece, a flat oval with and old receiving blanket pieces for the top and middle with the back or “panty side down” made with pieces of waterproof bed pads I bought at the medical supply store when my child was a bed wetter. This fabric was terry on one side and plastic on the other, it was sturdy and I never had an embarrassing leak. I pinned them on with safety pins and these were a lifesaver since even store bought overnight pads were to skimpy.
I have a small stash of cloth pads i bought off Ebay ($9 for 6) and some preemie prefolds that were leftover from cloth diapering my son. Can’t wait to make some homemade ones when i buy my sewing machine
I’m in the process of switching everything in our home to cloth from paper towels to toilet paper. After using cloth diapers with my son i started looking into other cloth options and found that many family’s even use cloth toilet paper also called Family cloth.. Weird I know but when you add up the savings it’s awesome 
Who doesn’t like an extra $40-$100 bucks a month in their pocket plus you’ll be saving trees. oh yeah and the diva cup is awesome too and you can use it for over a year.
Wow, how sanitary is this??? I can’t see this as being all that hygenic! I have no problem with using cloth diapers and reusable nursing pads, cloth towels instead of paper. But, reusing toilet paper and menstrual pads, that is simply gross!!
i dont see why this would be any different than re-using cloth diapers? kid poops,you wash,all better and use again..same concept IMO
Really? You cloth diaper – and deal with poo – and family cloth and mama cloth grosses you out? When your baby eats solids that poo is no different from yours! And to me, menstrual flow is much less gross than poo! (I cloth diaper too!)
For those who are looking for PUL, I just went to JoAnn’s to get terrycloth for my cores and they sell it there now. At the one by my house it was $9.99/yd! I’m super excited!
What IS PUL? I’ve sewn for years and have NO idea what PUL is. Thanks for any help.
It is waterproof polyester. Polyester material on one side, Polyurethane (slick, flexable plastic) on the other.
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Diaper-Cover-White-Fabric-Diaper-Flannel—PUL_stcVVproductId64980067VVcatId544954VVviewprod.htm
Also, consider reusable menstrual cups! I adore my divacup, and there are many other brands like it – silicone, so non-allergenic, totally reusable and sterilizable (can be boiled), $20 initial investment and will be good for years!
Oh Thank You for the wonderful ideas and reasons (and feedback!) I use baby socks for controlling my menses and have gotten many horrid remarks about them. Some from this site actually. I was and am certain and secure in my choices and it is easier knowing I am not the only one tired of giving men in business suits money for bits of cotton I throw away after one use every month. I have saved 120 dollars so far ( I live in Denmark and things are more expensive here) and plan to keep going. No one is interested in my plastic container in the bathroom or the baby socks drying on the line. I shared my idea with a friend and my sister in law and they freaked over having to handle their own body fluids. I get the last laugh every month when I can afford pms chocolate and they have to choose between pads, tampons and paying a bill. Selective squeamishness is just plain silly.
You know this was just one of those “OH YEAH!” topics for me. I know that for MANY years before I came to be women used cloth pads. It just for some reason never occured to me to do the same thing! I’ve been wanting to use something better and more comfortable for years, this is such a no brainer for me. Thank you so much ladies for sharing your tips and materials you use, I can’t wait to sew some for myself and try them out!
This is my very first post! I just had to comment on your article. I am 55 and I did use cloth diapers when my children were young. I never knew that women wore cloth pads (or tampons) now as women did long ago but it has the exact same analogy with the use of cloth diapers. What I didn’t know was this “Diva Cup”. Now that I do know after reading online about it, I’m even more grateful I don’t have periods anymore!
This is fantastic! My husband and I are on a very tight budget right now, and I have ran out of tampons. I have PCOS as well and so bleeding very heavy and for quite a long time can wreak havoc on the wallet. I do not have a sewing machine, but I am going to try to make these by hand..thanks so much!!
A diaper cake is usually a multi-layered cake and many people compare it to a wedding cake when they look them from a distance. In a way, we can say a diaper cake is nothing but a collection of a lot of diapers, and it usually takes dozens to make a complete diaper cake, they are wrapped around to each other in a circular way to make a diaper cake. If you’re searching for diaper cakes for baby showers check out my site.
Tube socks work very well. They are very absorbent and you can fill them with wash cloths as needed. They have the ability to be long or short depending on how you fold them over at the ends. I have a jeweled Victoria’s Secret gift box on my space saver above my toilet with all my girlie supplies inside.
I had a problem with getting raw from the moisture with store bought pads. The absorbency of the athletic tube socks is much better and they are softer on the skin.
I could believe the difference. Sort of like the difference of wiping your nose with a cheap paper towel and a microfiber cloth.
I wear cotton brief panties so they don’t slide around either. I don’t even have to use pins.
tube socks!! That is an awesome idea. I don’t have a sewing machine and even tho both, my mom and ‘ll my MIL have one, I’m not much of a sewer. ‘Ill have to try that. thanks
I know this isnt very frugal, but I went online to purchase some pads from goddesspads.com and they stole my money! The email contact they give on their site is baby bungal. They responded to my first email saying they did not have my order. My account was charged and now they do not respond. I just wanted to give others a warning.
Ladies, have you considered talking to your OB-GYN about birth control that reduces or eliminates menses? I know that at first this doesn’t sound very “natural” but when you read up on it, there’s a lot of scientific evidence suggesting that this is healthier for women. 100+ years ago, women had far fewer periods due to lots of pregnancies, miscarriages, etc. Do your homework and talk to your doctor. If this option is right for you, you’ll find that you’re less anemic, have less cycle-related health issues and have less need for pads, etc.
I will take it all one step further when I try this, and put a hole in my lidded bucket, so that the plunger handle can fit thru it, and I can wash them right in the bucket! So allergic to the disposables ones that I have to keep switching brands every couple days. and I need to wear something every day for those little tinkles. Am hoping that the cloth pads are up to the task, but am thinking that they will be better, as I can put a bit more pad at the front. Very excited!
I also have tinkles every day and use liners in my underwear made from two layers of flannel. When going out (just in case) I use a the same two flannel layers with a small piece of nylon in the middle.
This flannel pantyliner does not move around. This is for those little tinkles though, I have not used these for moderate to heavy flow.
I have been using cloth pads for 5 months and am really happy with this pattern. I dont plan to even buy any more.
Just showed this to my 14 yr old daughter, her first response was, “That’s crazy mom!” then she read the whole article and looked at the pictures a little closer, and said, “Ok, lets make them and see what we think, we already have all those fabrics, but we’ll have to make A LOT!” Now to get my other daughters on board
but with 4 of us in the house who are now menstrating you can imagine the savings we are going to enjoy! thanks for all the great tips! (Oh, she also mentioned the fact that we will no longer be apart of the problem of the landfills filling with disposable diapers and pads! “can you imagine in 100 yrs when some poor guy is digging around and comes across nasty pads!?!? EWWWWW!”
I saw this a few months ago and told my husband that I needed to buy some flannel. It wasn’t until I was on the floor cutting out my pads that he asked what on earth I was doing. When I told him, he didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, he really liked the idea that it will (and has) saved us money.
I have been using cloth pads for about 3 months and I love them! I had a bad yeast Infection where everything became swollen and very painful. Store bought pads hurt, even the organic ones. I researched alturnatives and discovered cloth pads. What a difference. I’m 32 and feel like I am just learning about my body and my period. The best part was when my sis-in-law saw me making pads she laughed. But got to tell her to think of me next time she spends $$$ on disposables.
It is strange that we take little irritations for granted. I would itch while wearing disposables for years and KNEW it was because of the disposables, but continued to wear them. When I came across cloth menstrual pads and started using them all the irritation disappeared. I could have slapped myself.
About 8 years ago, I started getting nasty, welty rashes from disposable pads and went looking for an alternative. I can use tampons some, but they often give me bad cramps. So when I found patterns for cloth pads, I decided to give it a try. I couldn’t believe how much more comfortable they are! I couldn’t figure out why we’ve all been using paper and plastic instead. I made some for my closest girlfriends too, and they were all hooked as well.
Thanks so much! These are fairly easy to make. I’ve sewn up a couple so far. I was looking for an alternative to disposal for two reasons: a.)I’m broke and tired of spending money on them and b.)the environmental impact. I was using 90% organic cotton disposables, but they were so pricey. I looked online for pre-made cloth reusables, but they were also super expensive,even on etsy. So, thanks for the pattern. I won’t be winning the “best sewing of the century” award, but these will do their job!
Thank you!
I’m allergic to something in the disposable ones. I used to only be allergic to the Always ones, but now it seems to be occurring with just about all of them. I think it’s something in the plastic, since the cheap-o ones made from paper were working just fine (until the store stopped carrying them). My lady-parts are extremely unhappy about the situation.
I finally decided I’m going cloth. I had looked at a lot of cloth pads online, but I like the looks of the ones with removable inserts the best, and those are all quite expensive, especially for people like me who are just starting out. Also, I can’t be guaranteed that the snaps are plastic (I’m allergic to a LOT of metals, too, including stainless steel); and I want ones that haven’t been near to wool (yet another thing my body won’t tolerate…/sigh/). I’m going to try these out. I’ll lengthen them, though, since I usually require longer pads…just measured mine as 11″.
I am 67 now but I can remember when I just started my periods and my mother gave me pieces of cotton cloth to use and she washed them out for me. When I was 16 and working, I could finally afford pads to use. I had not considered home made pads but I wish I had for the money I could have saved. After I married I also used cloth diapers for my 3 children. I cannot understand why these young mothers do not at least try the cloth diapers–the savings would be tremendous. Every family can always use extra money. Thank you for putting this information out there for the young women.
I am a young mom and wanted to cloth diaper my oldest two, but was scared away. I did make the switch with my third…because of financial issues. The choice was a no brainer, money for milk, bread, and other food essentials or diapers? Food won. They are so easy to take care of and worth every penny saved for me.
Now to make the switch for me! I never even thought about the cost saving side of cloth menstrual pads!
I have been cloth diapering my 3 kids for the last 1 1/2 years. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do it sooner. I can’t wait to try these. I am trying limit what I have to buy at the store and am trying to make my own things. I look forward to the cost savings and never running out of pads.
You might also try menstrual cups, like the diva cup at divacup.com. It collects your flow and you just pour it out, rinse and re-use. I hadn’t thought of homemade, reusable cloth pads, but did want a non-earth-killing alternative. It’s worked great for me.
I just recently decided to switch from store pads to cloth. I’ve bought two, but they are expensive. I can’t really sew, but I think my mom can show me how. Cost, comfort, and the environment aren’t the only reasons to use them; you’ll also be saving yourself from chemical exposure. There’s toxic stuff in those manufactured things: http://hubpages.com/hub/HOW-SAFE-ARE-YOUR-SANITARY-PRODUCTS-The-hazards-of-using-pads-and-tamponss
Awareness of chemical toxins in the body from many commercial products is new to me. I’m currently reading several books on the subject that I recommend: Slow death by rubber duck, by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, and What’s in this stuff? by Patrica Thomas. I’m definitely changing some of my habits.
I am a 26 year mum with three small children, and I value my fertilty alot… Mid last year I took the step of using cloth pads – and I will never go back to thr disposables again!!!
I get very very heavy periods with clotting and extreme pain, and each period lasts around 5 days, but since I have been using cloth I now hardly have any clots, I have very minimal discofort and I only bleed for 3 days approx. I feel it has made a huge difference to my body!
I also feel like society has been almost brainwashed us into thinking that menstruation is a disgusting and shameful thing, and our teenagers have gotten that message loud and clear. After careful thought, I decided I don’t want my daughter to feel shameful about getting her period when she is older. Even though she is young and has asked me about pads etc, I told her something I read somewhere – that is like the nest the mummy bird makes when she’s going to lay her eggs. If no baby is made, that nest is done away with and then the body starts building a brand new fresh one. At such a young age, she now is not upset and worried about it at all, and doesn’t have a fear/shame based attachment to thinking about it, which I hope to promote throughout the years. I will also be getting her onto cloth immediately starting from her first period… I thank the Lord that u have had an honest and open place to discuss about it here, and warmest blessings to you all
Angela
Thank you, Angela, for your thoughtful comment. I, too, know many women who use the nest analogy to describe what happens with our body during the reproductive years. It’s an easy explanation and one that removes the mystery and/or fear and shame. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
I am trying to make everything myself and just received my period and had to run out and buy pads. Ugh! I thought”why not have reuable”. That led me to looking it up and I am now going to make some. I have ordered some, but also want to make my own. Thank you to all who have said how much more easier this is and better for our bodies and landfills. It helps to know I am not alone in this.
Great pattern. I’ve used cloth pads for years and also use a moon cup. I got sick and tired of the disposable pads sticking to my skin in the hot summertime. Cloth pads are so soft and comfortable!
I’ve got three girls coming up — time to make some more pads…
I am a newbie at sewing and I have a vintage sewing machine from the 50s. It does not do a zigzag stitch to my knowledge. Will it still work if I just straight hem it?
Yes, it will still work but when you turn them over on the right side, do another straight stitch a couple millimeters in from the edge all around the edge of the pad. This will prevent fraying by reinforcing your seam maing them last longer especially if your maching dropped as stitch here and there.
I havent had a period in years but I would imagin micro fiber would do a great job. I know it is a bit more expensive but heck if it is reusable.
Hi. I live in South Africa. I read about the cloth pads on the internet, and wondered how they would work. I have read all the comments posted here and realised that we are so used to having disposable things, and are so indoctrinated through tv etc, that alternatives are not normally considered. I think they are a good idea. I am 51yrs old, and long ago stopped my periods, but if I were younger, I would definitely try them out.
Emily asked: Will it still work if I just straight hem it?
Yes, Emily, it will work with a straight stitch, just make one very close to the edge and one a tiny bit in from there.
An even better cleaner for them – better since it is way cheap – is hydrogen peroxide. As long as you don’t leave it on them undiluted for a long time because that will bleach them. The H2O2 somehow eats it away and it is about $1 for a big bottle at the local Walmart.
Thanks hillbilly housewife. I love your whole website!!
Thank you, MomtotheTs. I’m glad you enjoy HBHW. And thank you for the input.
I am wondering with the homemade pads how the flannel layer that is used for the covering does not wick the flow out along the wings around the panty? I known that we want the inner pad to absorb it all. Thank you for answering this technical question about the construction of the homemade pad.
I’ve had my same set of washable pads for about 15 years and they’re still in perfect condition except for one with a snap that’s a bit loose. Some of them have velcro circles for closures and they’re fine. Square-edged velcro can be a bit sharp, though. I also have extra-long inner pads for nighttime.
As for washing, I’m pretty lazy. I keep a lidded bucket of water with a tablespoon each of laundry powder and NON-chlorine powdered bleach (like oxyclean or something). I drop all the used pads in here for my whole period. Usually I change the water and add new soap and bleach once near the end of my cycle, then leave it a few more days until all the stains are out.
The soap and bleach get out all the stains. I never have to scrub or plunge or anything, just leave everything in the bucket and wait. Then I toss out the soaking water and throw the pads in with a load of regular laundry.
Hi, I have started making some of these for myself, but I am also hoping to have my daughters try them. My Mother in Law cautioned about the girls using them at school, she said they would stink more and wondered what they would do if they had to change them. Do you have any suggestions?
Also, do you keep the same pad on all day and just change the liners? I am trying to figure out how many to make. I have very heavy periods so i usually use the overnight pads for most of my period.
Thanks
The girls could place the used pads in plastic zip loc bags. Of course their purse would need to be large enough to accommodate the size of the pads. Why would the pads smell more than other types of pads?
Thanks for all this wonderful info! I have been stocking supplies in case “the end of the world as we know it” comes! Have been thinking about making homemade pads, just wasn’t sure about fabrics and such. You have answered all my questions and I can’t wait to go thru my bucket of fabrics and get started! Bless you! I may even give some as Christmas gifts this year! Sweet!
UHH…eeEEWWWW and ICCKKKK!!!! SO…So…..Unsanitary. In this day and age, WHY???????????
I could understand it if we were living in the olden days….
Back in the olden days, the menstrual cycle used to be considered almost a medical condition (why do you suppose they put a picture of a nurse in uniform on the box of pads.) Seems odd in this day and age.
Also, in the olden days, the pads were referred to as “sanitary” pads. Of course, we know there is nothing inherently unsanitary about the menses. The only unsanitary issues occur when pads, whether they are cloth or paper, are left unattended to, meaning unwashed or not discarded properly.
In the olden days, when women used cloth pads during their menstrual cycle, they treated them just as they did the baby’s diapers. They would not leave used diapers or used menstrual pads unattended. Thereby, making sure there was nothing unsanitary happening.
Thank you, Candice, for your comment. We are lucky to have so many choices.
Hi Candace, many women share your view. As to why? Some women cannot afford disposable pads, others are allergic to them, recent and not so recent studies show that quite a few of these pads are actually not sanitary; one study showed some of them containing 10 times the acceptable level of bacteria on the surface leading to sinister complications in reproductive organs of women; they are soooo much more comfortable and you get to decide what your body is exposed to. Last but not least we are running out of places to put or garbage a lot of which are disposable diapers and pads.
If cloth pads do not appeal to you, at least think about the organic pads and tampons.
Peace.
This is inspiring! Something that has been in my heart for a long time, but I didn’t know how to say it. You have put words to my thoughts.
I have used a Diva Cup in the past to save money and environment, but still had to deal with some leaks and I didn’t like the thought of having plastic inside. It was also uncomfortable at times. I also stopped using tampons after a friend told me about the risks and how some can actually cause more bleeding. Now I am pregnant and very keen on cloth diapering. While researching cloth diapering, I stumbled upon cloth pads and the idea has grown and grown on me. While making the diapers, I want to start making some pads and try it out. I have also worked in Asia where some people do not even use toilet paper because it is only new to them in the past few years and because they cannot afford it -never mind sanitary pads! If I can get confident with using cloth pads myself, I would like to introduce the women to them when we go back to Asia to give them an affordable alternative. Wish me luck!
I really love this web site. I’ve been off the pill for about a year and a half!!! I’m amazed. My partner and I tried to have children. It’s a shock that it hasn’t happened. I can’t even describe how I feel about my body that I’m not putting chemicals in it to control my periods. I think about all of the years I spent spending a ton of money on birth control I probably didn’t need. It’s sad to think that I may not have biological children but that’s the way it is.
I like the tube sock idea!!! I also sew. I’m just thinking that I”ll have to tweek the size of the pad since I’m not really sure what size I’ll need. At least whatever I make I can use at home, & at night. I discovered the instead cup and I love it!! It’s kind of funny at my age I wonder when my periods will stop. I started having periods when I was 11 years old. I’ll be 40 in a few days. I’m still going strong. I can say that my cramps have decreased so much from when I was young. I used to be physically sick with the pain. Now every month I count the days and wonder if that box of instead cups that I’ve bought will be the last ones I’ll need.
I cloth diapered all four of my kids, and used the smaller prefolded diapers for my period most of that whole time. I loved it! I’ve thought about making some cloth pads since then, just got too lazy I guess, but I think I’m definately going to try it now. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you for this pattern! I knew I would find this here when I went looking for it! I just went through my husband’s closet and found at least four flannel shirts that are beyond repair. my only question is would the cotton batting bunch? I plan on using the flannel for the outer and inner as well, but thought I’d ask for future reference as I have two young daughters
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I’m glad that cloth is becoming more mainstream, but I feel like it’s something that more people need to be educated on, especially RE: the squeamishness factor. I really wish people would understand that there is nothing inherantly unclean about menstruation. We as a society have become so brainwashed by the corporate messages that humans are germy and must be sterile at all times! It’s your own bodily fluids, people! Please don’t be so grossed out by your own body and it’s functions! Please reconsider your reactions to non-disposables and where this idea that menstrual blood is dirty comes from, because it’s not. Ok, I’m done with my diatribe- just one other thing- I can’t say enough how comfy it is to have soft flannel against me vs plastic, not to mention I’ve never noticed any odor from cloth, unlike disposables.
Old wives’ tales abound about women and their periods. My father-in-law, who is now deceased, would not let his daughters help can vinegar peppers every year if they were on their period! He said they wouldn’t taste right (so of course, my one sister-in-law used to lie & tell him that she was on her period so that she wouldn’t have to do the work! Served him right….LOL) Those girls were also never allowed to leave a used pad or tampon in the house, even wrapped & disposed of in the waste basket…it had to be taken immediately outside to the garbage can. And BTW, I will turn 50 in July & still going strong, never missed a cycle yet except when pregnant, and I got my first one at 10, month before I turned 11.
I no longer have my periods anymore, but I do use pantie liners. I got tired of spending money on them, so I crocheted myself some. I used cotton thread, single stitched and made it long enough to be able to fold over twice. The first time I folded it I crocheted around the edges. I fold it the second time when I wear it. I use a single safety pin to attach it to my panties. For some reason two pins puts holes in my panties. The reason I didn’t fold them twice and stitch around is because it helps in drying them.
They are so much more comfortable to wear than paper pantie liners. They also keep me cooler in the summer and never feel damp since they can breath. I stay nice and dry and rashes are history.
Thank you so much for this. I saw something on FB about cloth pads so I thought I would look into it. I have yet to make any pads, but I am definitely planning on it. We’re living in Thailand, so some things, like diapers and pads are more expensive. My girls are still too young but when the time comes I’m planning on introducing cloth instead of disposable. Appreciate your website.
What a fascinating read! I’d been looking for panty liners when it dawned on me that I should just make them…. then in this thread someone mentioned using cloth instead of toilet paper? Did I read that right? I HATE buying TP, and my DH and I go through a roll each day, so I’m wondering if anyone has made the switch to cloth wipes in place of toilet paper. If so, any recommendations on size of each wipe? And I’m assuming that diaper fabric or flannel might be the best cloth to use?
We use cloth TP or “family cloth.” I didn’t want to put much time or effort into something that serves such a purpose, so I just cut up some t-shirts to use. The jersey fabric doesn’t fray, so it does not have to be hemmed like flannel would. I cut the pieces to about 8-inch squares, though very few of them are actually squares. We are still cloth diapering, so the used wipes just go into the diaper bucket ( a 5 gallon bucket) in the bathroom. I wash them on hot with diapers and towels. We keep the fresh wipes in a bin on a shelf above the toilet. At our previous home, the toilet was next to the vanity, so I was able to keep the wipes in a drawer and wet one at the sink if I wanted. Now I just use them dry and they work just fine.
I know others may think this is gross, but after cloth diapering for a while, you realize poop is poop. As someone already said, it all comes out in the wash.
We do have toilet paper hanging still, though, for guests.