If you can make your own and have the time to do so, it's definitely your best bet! If you don't want to do that, it's entirely possible to buy just a couple pads at a time. That's what I did (though I ended up making my own - and then ended up a manufacturer of cloth pads for my etsy shop, lol.) And even one or two pads used in a cycle is better than none, right? You can continue to add your bought or made pads every cycle
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A good general pad pattern, and if you have any creativity towards sewing, you might be able to take the techniques and draft your own pattern to fit you. :)
I use buttons to fasten my pads because it is what I had and they are cheap.
I personally like envelope or foldable pads. They dry faster and I can adjust the absorbancy during my period. Try out a few styles until you know what you like.
www.ecomenses.com has a lot of good info and a bunch of patterns you could try and how to make your own pattern. I used old school folders and cereal boxes to draw out patterns I could then trace.
For fabric I bought flannel remnents and used old towels for the inside. I also bought a pair of 80 percent cotton velour pants at a thrift store to use for a soft cozy top. There is no need to buy expensive fabric unless you want to.
Goodluck and welcome to the wonderful world of cloth pads.
This is a great webpage to start with! I found the pad shape and size I liked best by experimenting. Make a few different lengths, widts, wing styles, AIO versus pocket or insert pads, and use a few different kinds. Don't get your mind set on one style before trying out several.
As far as fabrics, if you are in the US JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby or Hancock's has most of what you need! Polyester fleece if you want a barrier layer between your pad and your underwear, and cotton flannel and terry toweling fabrics make great absorbent layers. You can use cottons or cotton flannels for the layer against your skin. Some fabrics like hemp, bamboo or PUL are easiest to find online and work well, but aren't necessary.
Start with light-day pads. If you haven't used a cloth pad before, don't invite trouble by starting on a heavy day. As you get more comfortable with making and using pads you'll make better decisions about what you need on heavy days.
Liners don't really need waterproofing. You can use flannel or quilting cotton or jersey. I back my liners with fleece or corduroy (no slip!) or more flannel.
www.AmysRagBag.com offers reasonably-priced pads made from reclaimed fabric. They work great and are a cheap way to get started.
Cloth pads come in many styles, shapes, and sizes, just like jeans, so my advice would be to try out a few different patterns before making a stash full of them. Actually, my advice would be the same if you wanted to buy your pads (and you can buy some and make some if you see some in a shop that you really love); it's better to build your stash slowly and try things before stocking up than to end up with a bunch of pads you don't love. I've made a site with links to every pattern I can find here: http://clothpads.wikidot.com/patterns. Try out a few patterns that appeal to you (you say the size of your disposables is about right, so start looking at similarly-sized patterns, etc.) and match your sewing abilities (curves can be hard if you're a novice, do you have an overlocker/serger?, etc.) and work from there, making more of what you like and trying similar things while avoiding what you don't like, as it's a very personal thing, and one woman's favorite is
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http://shewhorunsintheforest.googlepages.com/
A good general pad pattern, and if you have any creativity towards sewing, you might be able to take the techniques and draft your own pattern to fit you. :)
Welcome to the cult. I mean, club!
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I will certainly be busy in the very near future on this! Once I get started it will probably make more sense.
Thanks again~
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I personally like envelope or foldable pads. They dry faster and I can adjust the absorbancy during my period. Try out a few styles until you know what you like.
www.ecomenses.com has a lot of good info and a bunch of patterns you could try and how to make your own pattern. I used old school folders and cereal boxes to draw out patterns I could then trace.
For fabric I bought flannel remnents and used old towels for the inside. I also bought a pair of 80 percent cotton velour pants at a thrift store to use for a soft cozy top. There is no need to buy expensive fabric unless you want to.
Goodluck and welcome to the wonderful world of cloth pads.
Reply
This is a great webpage to start with! I found the pad shape and size I liked best by experimenting. Make a few different lengths, widts, wing styles, AIO versus pocket or insert pads, and use a few different kinds. Don't get your mind set on one style before trying out several.
As far as fabrics, if you are in the US JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby or Hancock's has most of what you need! Polyester fleece if you want a barrier layer between your pad and your underwear, and cotton flannel and terry toweling fabrics make great absorbent layers. You can use cottons or cotton flannels for the layer against your skin. Some fabrics like hemp, bamboo or PUL are easiest to find online and work well, but aren't necessary.
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Liners don't really need waterproofing. You can use flannel or quilting cotton or jersey. I back my liners with fleece or corduroy (no slip!) or more flannel.
www.AmysRagBag.com offers reasonably-priced pads made from reclaimed fabric. They work great and are a cheap way to get started.
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