If I were going to make cloth nursing pads...

[LZP]

What fabric(s) should I use? I'd like to use scraps of material I already have.

should they be just a flat disk, or do I add a dart or something to make then more of a cup-like shape? I dont want cone boobs!
Also, I have a serger and a regular machine. should I serge, or T&T? I would think T&T would leave a funny "ring."


Fabrics I have on hand are:
baby flannel (100% cotton)
bamboo velour
suedecloth
1/8" thick bamboo/organic cotton batting
PUL
an old VERY thick cable knit sweater
t-shirts

TIA for any help/advice/BTDT!!

x-posted in Breastfeeding.

[sosurreal09]

considering the fabric you have i would choose bamboo and i wouldnt do a cone shape and i would serge. i EBF and never use these btw...i guess only some women actually leak? i never do

[LZP]

Thanks anielasmommy - you're LUCKY! I'd like to be prepared, so I'm not leak-a-saurus when we have visitors or go out and about. I was thinking the velour would be really nice and soft too... I wonder how many layers?

[AutumnW]

I would use the velour and/or t-shirt material. I made mine when pregnant with my first ds and used hemp jersey and hemp fleece. I had to ask my sister to measure her nursing pads because I had no idea of the size and then I cut out circles and sews 4-6 layers together. I centered two smaller circles together with the bigger circles so that there was more absorbency in the center but they also tapered down to my skin level so they weren't so thick all the way to the edge and showed through clothes. I just sews around about 1/4 inch from the edge. I didn't serge or turn them or anything since they were knit material they don't ravel just as your t-shirt and velour material won't.

[andisunshine]

nak, but just wanted to post a neat nursing pad tutorial. I would have used this one to make my own pads if I had seen it when I needed it. I made pads tear-drop shaped with velour, hemp and birdseye in various combos.

http://www.pamperedcheeks.com/nursing_pads_pattern.php

[autumnfairy76]

I just shared how I made nursing pads in this post
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...191&highlight=
and there are some other ideas there too.
I liked my contoured ones better than the flat, they didn't look cone shaped at all. I might have made the pie shaped cut go only partway to the center to keep it from being too cone shaped. It was really a slight contour and very comfy.
I would suggest out of your fabrics:
flannel absorbancy layers (or maybe bamboo, I've never worked with it, but I hear its nice.)
inner staydry suedecloth layer
outer PUL
I just used the same concept as an all in one diaper.

[Carson]

Originally Posted by autumnfairy76

I would suggest out of your fabrics:
flannel absorbancy layers (or maybe bamboo, I've never worked with it, but I hear its nice.)
inner staydry suedecloth layer
outer PUL
I just used the same concept as an all in one diaper.

nak, i did this too, loved them, was the perfect combo. i used birdseyes in the middle b/c i had it in hand, but the pads were great.

i made fairly lge circles and serged. the serging pulled it in a bit and gave a little contour.