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| The first pad I ever sewed |
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| The 2nd pad I sewed |
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| The 3rd pad I sewed |
Steps to Make Your Own Reusable Cloth Pad
First off you will need to have a pattern on hand using either one of your favorite disposable cloth pads or trace around an existing cloth pad or create something all your own. There are tutorials on how to make your own cloth pad patterns on YouTube.
You can use cardstock to make a pattern that will last much longer than regular copy paper. You could even use a cereal box, poster board, or cardboard to make your pattern. I used cardstock when I made my pattern because that is what I had on hand at the time.
Next you will need to trace the pattern onto your fabric. I used to pin my pattern onto my fabric, which is the way I was taught to sew. But it seems easier to me with these cloth pads to trace the pattern right onto the fabric using a fabric marker and cut it out that way.
There are many choices when it comes to fabric for cloth pads. One of the fabrics I decided on for the bottom of the pad was PUL fabric, which is short for polyurethane laminate, which is waterproof, so the liquid in the pads will not leak onto your clothing. I bought mine at Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon. The fabric is $12.99 per yard, but with the coupon only cost $7.99.
The next fabric I wanted to buy for our pads was Zorb material, which is a material that quickly absorbs liquid and is created and sold by Wazoodle.com.
The Zorb that I wanted sells for $7.99 a yard, but after taking a short online survey I received a 20% discount and was able save $1.60 off that price and only paid $6.39 for the fabric. Of course there are plenty of other alternative fabrics you can use to make your core out of like flannel, terry cloth, bamboo, etc.
You can use cardstock to make a pattern that will last much longer than regular copy paper. You could even use a cereal box, poster board, or cardboard to make your pattern. I used cardstock when I made my pattern because that is what I had on hand at the time.
Next you will need to trace the pattern onto your fabric. I used to pin my pattern onto my fabric, which is the way I was taught to sew. But it seems easier to me with these cloth pads to trace the pattern right onto the fabric using a fabric marker and cut it out that way.
There are many choices when it comes to fabric for cloth pads. One of the fabrics I decided on for the bottom of the pad was PUL fabric, which is short for polyurethane laminate, which is waterproof, so the liquid in the pads will not leak onto your clothing. I bought mine at Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon. The fabric is $12.99 per yard, but with the coupon only cost $7.99.
The next fabric I wanted to buy for our pads was Zorb material, which is a material that quickly absorbs liquid and is created and sold by Wazoodle.com.
The Zorb that I wanted sells for $7.99 a yard, but after taking a short online survey I received a 20% discount and was able save $1.60 off that price and only paid $6.39 for the fabric. Of course there are plenty of other alternative fabrics you can use to make your core out of like flannel, terry cloth, bamboo, etc.
The next thing you will need to do is to cut out your fabric pieces for both the top and bottom of your pad, as well as the absorbent core.
The pads my daughter likes are called exposed core pads and there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to make these. I started out this project by making the top part of the pad or the core.
You do this by attaching the core pieces together by sewing a 1/2 inch seam all around the core layers, but leave an opening to turn the core inside out and then stitch the opening closed. I also zigzagged a stitch down the center of the core to make sure the layers did not come apart.
My core consisted of one layer of zorb, two layers of flannel on top and bottom of the zorb and then two layers of the fabric of my choice on the top and bottom.
The pads my daughter likes are called exposed core pads and there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to make these. I started out this project by making the top part of the pad or the core.
You do this by attaching the core pieces together by sewing a 1/2 inch seam all around the core layers, but leave an opening to turn the core inside out and then stitch the opening closed. I also zigzagged a stitch down the center of the core to make sure the layers did not come apart.
My core consisted of one layer of zorb, two layers of flannel on top and bottom of the zorb and then two layers of the fabric of my choice on the top and bottom.
Afterwards I attached my core to the topper by centering the core carefully and pinning to the topper fabric. Then sew around the core, using a 1/4 inch seam.
After that you will attach your backer to the core/topper piece by laying the backer fabric and topper fabric or finished sides together. Pin carefully around the edges, lining up all curves and corners.
Leave a 2 inch turn space at any place in the pattern. I use the wing area as my turning space as I've found that works easiest. Whichever turn space you choose, make it on a straight part of the pattern. Do not leave your turn space on the ends or on the curves. Use a 1/4 inch seam to sew the topper to the backer.
Leave a 2 inch turn space at any place in the pattern. I use the wing area as my turning space as I've found that works easiest. Whichever turn space you choose, make it on a straight part of the pattern. Do not leave your turn space on the ends or on the curves. Use a 1/4 inch seam to sew the topper to the backer.
Then you will clip little triangles around your corners and curves, so the pad will lay nice and flat when you are finished.
Ironing the pad afterwards helps tremendously and makes the pad look so nice.
Turn the pad right side out, and run a tool along the inside edge to make sure all corners and curves are neat and fully pushed out. I use a chopstick for this step.
Then you will pin the turn space closed and top stitch all the way around the edge of the pad, making sure to close the turn space. I use a full 1/4 inch top stitch, but you can use whatever width you add attractive and comfortable.
Finally, you will add a closure of your choosing. We decided on a snap press in order to attach the snaps to our pads. We ended up using the following Kamsnaps press from Amazon for $28.97.
Putting the snaps on the cloth pads is pretty easy and only takes a few minutes.
Cloth pads were a game changer for my daughter. She loves them and would never consider going back to disposables.
If you decide to make your own cloth pads, I would love to hear about it. Send me an email at Bar2969@yahoo.com and tell me all about it.
The rest of this page will simply be a photo record of all the pads I made for my sweet Bailey. :)
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| Pad # 2 ~ June 3, 2017 |
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Pad # 3 ~ June 4, 2017 |
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| Pad # 5 ~ June 5, 2017 |
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| Pad # 6~ June 7, 2017 |
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| Pad # 7 ~ June 8, 2017 |
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| Pad # 8 ~ June 10, 2017 |
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| Pad # 9 ~ June 12, 2017 This sock monkey fabric was actually a bandana in it's former life. |
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| Pad # 10 ~ June 12, 2017 This material was a scrub shirt in its former life. |
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| Pad # 11 ~ June 14, 2017 Day of the Dead |
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| Pad # 12 ~ June 14, 2017 This material had been a scrub shirt. |
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| Pad # 13 ~ June 14, 2017 Day of the Dead # 2 |
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| Pad # 14 ~ June 21, 2017 Made from a shirt from thrift store |
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| Pad # 15 ~ June 21, 2017 Core made from Flannel Receiving Blanket |
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| Pad # 16 ~ June 22, 2017 Made from an old dress |
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| Pad # 17 ~ June 22, 2017 |
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| Pad # 18 ~ June 30, 2017 Made from scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 19 ~ June 30, 2017 |
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| Pad # 20 ~ July 2, 2017 Fabric came from Hobby Lobby $4.00 on clearance |
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| Pad # 21 ~ July 3, 2017 Made from an upcycled Camp Rock sheet |
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| Pad # 22 ~ July 3, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 23 ~ July 4, 2017 Made from an upcycled sheet |
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| Pad # 24 ~ July 4, 2017 |
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| Pad # 25 ~ July 10, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 26 ~ July 22, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 27 ~ July 23, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 28 ~ July 23, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 29 ~ July 23, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
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| Pad # 30 ~ July 24, 2017 Made from an upcycled scrub shirt |
Pad #33 ~ March 24, 2018
Made from an upcycled scrub shirt
Hi Belinda,
ReplyDeleteCould you post a list in order from top to bottom of the fabric layers? I'm a bit confused about that.
Thanks!
Nichole
Certainly, Nichole. The top layer is your fabric of choice for the pad, then one layer of flannel, one layer of zorb, one layer of flannel, and then the PUL. Of course, you can omit the layers of flannel or just do one depending on how thick you want your pad to be. Hope that helps. Please let me know if I can answer anymore questions. :)
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