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With a Needle and Thread, You can Make your own Re-usable Cloth Pads

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Jan 18, 2020

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This pattern is approximately 10" long and 4" wide. I used a brown bag to make the pattern. You can use any paper, the heavier the better. Keep your pattern in one safe place. As you continue to make cloth pads, you will want patterns with wings and for all sizes. As soon as we finish a few of these simplest patterns, we will move on to a winged pad.
This pattern is approximately 10" long and 4" wide. I used a brown bag to make the pattern. You can use any paper, the heavier the better. Keep your pattern in one safe place. As you continue to make cloth pads, you will want patterns with wings and for all sizes. As soon as we finish a few of these simplest patterns, we will move on to a winged pad.
The blue fabric is cut from gently used, velour sweat pants. i looked over this pair of pants. They had stains in a few places but were very clean every where else. I cut all the seams out of the pants and any parts that had been stained or ripped. Whats left are big pieces of fabric to be used for pads. The fabric is then doubled over so when you cut out the pattern, you will be cutting two pieces of cloth, the exact same size, facing each other.
The blue fabric is cut from gently used, velour sweat pants. i looked over this pair of pants. They had stains in a few places but were very clean every where else. I cut all the seams out of the pants and any parts that had been stained or ripped. Whats left are big pieces of fabric to be used for pads. The fabric is then doubled over so when you cut out the pattern, you will be cutting two pieces of cloth, the exact same size, facing each other.
After folding the fabric over so there are two sides facing eachother, pin the pattern to the fabric and cut out the pattern; unpin the pattern from the fabrics and make sure the outside of the pad is on the inside. We are now ready to hand stitch. Thread your needle with and knot it.
After folding the fabric over so there are two sides facing eachother, pin the pattern to the fabric and cut out the pattern; unpin the pattern from the fabrics and make sure the outside of the pad is on the inside. We are now ready to hand stitch. Thread your needle with and knot it.
My mother was crafty with a needle and I imagine her mother was too. Women all over the world have intimate relationships with the needle and thread. If you can, sit with other people when you stitch. Where women stitch together, change happens. Include some tea and open hearts and watch as miracles happen. Threading a needle is as old as time and every person finds her best way. Cut a length of thread that is as long as your arms outstretched. Wet the thread and guide the thread straight through the eye of the needle. Make a knot in the end of the thread. You are ready to begin stitching
My mother was crafty with a needle and I imagine her mother was too. Women all over the world have intimate relationships with the needle and thread. If you can, sit with other people when you stitch. Where women stitch together, change happens. Include some tea and open hearts and watch as miracles happen. Threading a needle is as old as time and every person finds her best way. Cut a length of thread that is as long as your arms outstretched. Wet the thread and guide the thread straight through the eye of the needle. Make a knot in the end of the thread. You are ready to begin stitching
Make sure the two pieces of fabric are facing each other and the outside is on the inside. It will be turned inside out in a minute. Hand stitch the pad all around the outside of the pad leaving a small, approximately 2" opening on one side to turn it inside out and fill with your batting
Make sure the two pieces of fabric are facing each other and the outside is on the inside. It will be turned inside out in a minute. Hand stitch the pad all around the outside of the pad leaving a small, approximately 2" opening on one side to turn it inside out and fill with your batting
You can see clearly here, the white stitching on the black sweat shirt material. Its called the Baste Stitch. Once we turn the sewed pieces inside out, we then lay the pad on top of the batting fabric and cut the batting to fit inside the pad. Batting is the absorbent part of the pad. You can put 1-4 layers of batting in the middle for light to heavy flow. The batting pictured here is a black, gently used sweatshirt with the seams all cut out of it. The middle white fabric pictured here, is the batting that you can find for quilting in a fabric shop.
You can see clearly here, the white stitching on the black sweat shirt material. Its called the Baste Stitch. Once we turn the sewed pieces inside out, we then lay the pad on top of the batting fabric and cut the batting to fit inside the pad. Batting is the absorbent part of the pad. You can put 1-4 layers of batting in the middle for light to heavy flow. The batting pictured here is a black, gently used sweatshirt with the seams all cut out of it. The middle white fabric pictured here, is the batting that you can find for quilting in a fabric shop.
After simple base stitching around the entire outside of the pad (except for the 2" free space), turn it inside out and fill it with the pre-cut absorbent material. The black fabric is an almost new, big sweat shirt. It had a few holes, so I thought it would get more wear by cutting all the seams and any holes out of it, then using it to make plenty of absorbent material for middle of the cloth pad. You can also use Wool, salvaged quilts and diapers. 4 layers of this batting are used for a heavy flow pad. For a moderate to light flow, 2-3 layers are used and for a panty liner, 1-2 layers.
After simple base stitching around the entire outside of the pad (except for the 2" free space), turn it inside out and fill it with the pre-cut absorbent material. The black fabric is an almost new, big sweat shirt. It had a few holes, so I thought it would get more wear by cutting all the seams and any holes out of it, then using it to make plenty of absorbent material for middle of the cloth pad. You can also use Wool, salvaged quilts and diapers. 4 layers of this batting are used for a heavy flow pad. For a moderate to light flow, 2-3 layers are used and for a panty liner, 1-2 layers.
Here is the blue flowered flannel. It has been stitched, then turned inside out and now waits for the black sweatshirt batting to fill the inside. You will smooth it out before you round stitch the 2" opening closed then continue to stitch all around the pad to keep it strong for years to come.
Here is the blue flowered flannel. It has been stitched, then turned inside out and now waits for the black sweatshirt batting to fill the inside. You will smooth it out before you round stitch the 2" opening closed then continue to stitch all around the pad to keep it strong for years to come.
Gently place your 1-4 layers of batting into the pad. Smooth it all out. Now, fold the two pieces of fabric together at the opening making it look like there was never a hole. You are ready to stitch the opening shut and to finish the outside of the pad.
Gently place your 1-4 layers of batting into the pad. Smooth it all out. Now, fold the two pieces of fabric together at the opening making it look like there was never a hole. You are ready to stitch the opening shut and to finish the outside of the pad.
knot the thread and come in at the bottom of the 2" opening. Fold the sides in to match the rest of the pad and then stitch the opening closed with a round stitch. Continue around the whole outside of the pad and stitch in the same place for 3 stitches to secure the knot at the end.
knot the thread and come in at the bottom of the 2" opening. Fold the sides in to match the rest of the pad and then stitch the opening closed with a round stitch. Continue around the whole outside of the pad and stitch in the same place for 3 stitches to secure the knot at the end.
Round and round we go until the whole outside of the cloth pad is stitched and knotted. Next we stitch the middle of the pad so it stays in tact and then we are finished!
Round and round we go until the whole outside of the cloth pad is stitched and knotted. Next we stitch the middle of the pad so it stays in tact and then we are finished!
This basic running stitch around the middle of the pad will keep the pad in tact through many wearings and washings.
This basic running stitch around the middle of the pad will keep the pad in tact through many wearings and washings.
Remember that stitching is something that always goes better with company. When women stitch together, generations of knowledge is passed on. Pads are fun to make for yourself because no one sees them and even if you make mistakes, you can still use the pads. Keep practicing and making more and pretty soon you will have plenty of pads around to gift your friends too
Remember that stitching is something that always goes better with company. When women stitch together, generations of knowledge is passed on. Pads are fun to make for yourself because no one sees them and even if you make mistakes, you can still use the pads. Keep practicing and making more and pretty soon you will have plenty of pads around to gift your friends too
No one can tell you that you have to depend on them for something you can make yourself. We are powerful and together with our sisters and our mothers and our friends, all kinds of good changes can take place. All because of a little resourcefulness and a needle and thread.
No one can tell you that you have to depend on them for something you can make yourself. We are powerful and together with our sisters and our mothers and our friends, all kinds of good changes can take place. All because of a little resourcefulness and a needle and thread.

The Gallery attached to this article is a picture tutorial on how to make your own pads.  Thank you for trying it out!  Thank you also, for contacting me with enthusiasm, questions, ideas and ways to make this information more accessible to all humans who bleed.  Let us focus on reaching people who are living in poverty. Our small and large donations of resources and funds,  make a difference.   



I began hand stitching cloth pads many years ago, all the while pondering how to make it a simple process for anyone who has access to a needle, thread, some fabric and a little time.   



This tutorial is for the person who may not have access to consistent sanitary aid but does have extra clean, used clothing, or the finances/donations to visit a fabric store.  I know that water, extra clothing, bathrooms and underwear may be hard for many, so i want this story to be an on-going dialogue that changes as it includes women in the most meager of situations.   As She has the power to make her own cloth pads,  She then goes on to empower her neighbors too.  In fact, why not make a little business and supply the whole community.  There is something very powerful about people sitting close, drinking tea with purpose and a needle and thread in their hands...  Please feel free to contact me, I am here to encourage you to make your own. 



Using cloth pads can be daunting when resources are low with little support.  As encouragement grows independently and in the community,  you may find that hand stitching your own pads is the perfect solution. Remember the Elders in your neighborhood. Most Grandmothers have wisdom and knowledge when it comes to hand crafting and I'll bet she will love to sit with you in your sew circles.  There are also lots of Do It Yourself sewing tutorials on YouTube.  Google: Basic hand stitching.  Feel free to come to me with questions.  Its time for All People to Shine. Different patterns for winged pads, pads for heavy flow and for panty liners will continue to be provided  after we finish this simple, no wings pad. 



 You will need a comfortable snug pair of underwear to be able to hold your pad in place.  You will also need water and soap to clean your pads.  The following is a (DIY) Do It Yourself video on how to make your own underwear, using a tee shirt.  Thank you Elana Bloom from Salvage and Stitch  for this tutorial.  https://salvageandstitch.com/2017/11/13/diy-underwear-tutorial-from-a-t-...   



For those of us who have more in our lives,  let us join together and find ways to donate fabric, needles and thread and funds to every one who needs it.



Some women wear layers of dark clothing, bleeding on the inner clothing and washing them regularly.  Many use a yard of cloth.  S/he wraps it around her lower body and weaves it in and out of her upper thighs, adjusting accordingly during the night.  If you have any traditional or invented tools for healthy menstrual practices, please do comment.    



In the mean time, I offer my humble profession as a solution for those who are curious  to make your own cloth pads.    We don't need machines or big companies to help as we begin to collect our own resources.  The experience of gathering  tools together is very empowering indeed.  Start by taking the first steps, and from there, and with growing support and leadership, we will become a band of strong, menstruating leaders.



Here are 2 lists:  



1.  For the person who can afford to buy and/or donate fabric to low income women:   You will need needle, thread, pins, a pattern (which is provided in this tutorial).    Absorbent cotton fabric works the best. Try cotton flannel or fleece for the outside and quilt batting  or thick sweatshirt material for the inside batting.



2.  For the peeson who has very little resources but does have access to underwear, soap and water.  You will need a pattern ( one is provided), needle and thread, scissors and pins.  Collect clothing that are clean and gently used, cut the seams and any stains and holes out and use this as fabric for many pads.    Are there any churches or organizations that gift the community with clean, used clothing near by?  Here is what i look for when i am searching at thrift shops and our local free store:



For the outside of the pad:  Anything cotton and absorbent like;  tee shirts, flannel sheets, shirts and pajamas, sweat shirts and pants



for the inside batting:  Anything that is thick and absorbent like; thick sweats, wool sweaters, anything fleece, a salvaged quilt, cloth baby diapers, ...



When you have these things together, follow the picture tutorial and lets see what we come up with! There are no mistakes,  have fun, be creative and inventive.  You can do anything you want with a needle and thread. 



As women make their own and we claim our power, the movement will spread like a wild fire, and there will be more leaders (like yourself) who had the courage to start something new.  Always provide for yourself first.  As you become a believer, other people will begin to throw any left over shame or doubt out the window and will want to follow in your footsteps.



 



 



 



 

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