how many layers do you like in a cloth pad?

[rubidoux]

I am so averse to leaking that I think I have made my pads way too thick.  So I'm making some new ones and trying not to go overboard, but it's scary!  (I have leaked a couple of times and it sucked!)  

I just made one today with a layer of microfleece for the wings, a layer of PUL on the back of the pad, two layers of hemp french terry and a layer of bamboo double sided terry with a layer of quilter's cotton on top.  Jeez, that still sounds like a ton of fabric!  But it's really only three layers of absorbent stuff.  The quilter's cotton doesn't count for much.  

But I'm wondering what you all feel comfortable with for absorbent layers.  Also, I only have microfleece, no fleece, and I'm not buying any fabric (don't tempt me!)  --  do you think microfleece is a serious enough barrier layer?  I am using it w/o PUL for my liners to use for those couple of days that I'm not sure I'm really done bleeding.

BTW, I used to have a business where I dyed organic bamboo velour and other yummy bamboo fabrics that I LOVE to pet and roll in, and I know it's all the rage for pad tops, but I bought a pad topped with quilter's cotton a long time ago and it was always my fave, and I think this one that I just made is also very comfy.  It really feels cooler and less sweaty/damp.  

[Basylica]

I made same mistake and had too many layers in the core and it actually impacted absorbancy!

I did find that I really ought to have more body layers as opposed to core. I really am overdue to make more.

for overnight PP I plan on doing 2 full body layers plus top in thickish material and I think one core layer.

Reg sized I want to do 1 thick body plus top and one core

and just 1 full body on a pantyliner, but I am tempted to do a core there too....

esp since I use them as cup backups.

I think i'm going to do OBV next time as tops since it's SOO heavenly. I used quilters and found I prefered thicker flannel, but the flannel looked worn quickly....but since I tend to bleed heavy and not "thin" I need something that will keep it from rolling off and grab fluid quicker like OBV.

[rubidoux]

How do you make your core? I have only been doing full body layers in the ones I'm working on now.

I am having my heavy day today (day 3, which I find off putting bc up until recently and for the 25+ years I've been having periods it was day 1, this is a whole new beast!) and so far this pad with 3 absorbent layers seems good. If I make it home leak-free in half an hour, I might go ahead and make a couple more just like it.

I gotta say, it is irritating that most of my purchased pads have absorbent layers that extend through the wings. I think we all learned that was a bad idea when we started diapering. This one I made w micro fleece wings is wet right up to the edge of the pad (sorry bout all the tmi!) but isn't getting wicked around the wings like those other pads do. I wonder why so many pads are made that way.

[Basylica]

So i've run through making pads a few times and in different combos, so my plan for next time will be :

I drafted my own patterns for all 3 sizes. I used a regular/long always pad to create the regular pad style. I rounded bits and made sure would fit into the most common style of underwear I was wearing at the time. I didn't have a snap press and HATED metal ones so I sent the second batch to a friend who put snaps on all of them for me. I have one of the poly snap presses now tho, so I need to make use of it.

The PP style I did by tracing out undies I preferred. making sure the width was same size as undies and came up front and back in the shape of the undies to the right points. I was wearing a low cut boyshort style from AE at the time, esp for pregnancy since the wide foldover band didn't leave itchy compression marks in my skin :)

Once I had the base of the pads, I created a "core" that followed the body coming in like ehh...3/4ths of a inch from the front/back/sides and was similar to a wingless pad.

My latest revision (where I used WAYY too many core layers) I used like 1 or 2 of the PP cores, plus a regular core or two....so I had graduated layers.

I did turned and topstitched pads using PUL on the bottom and leftover diapering materials that I had. I used woven (plus birdseye because otherwise woven shifted and was too thin) for tops.

Next time around my plan is to make like 6ish PP style pads since I can bleed heavy at nights and I sleep HARD....I've woken up to a puddle more than once. probably 6 or so regular pads because my bleeding can be super heavy then light, then heavy out of nowhere...then to where I wouldn't need to wear anything but I'd get sudden gushes of blood....ick.

I like to wear my cup, but not all the time....give it a break now and then. I've always had 7/8 day cycles and just in the last year (first time since I was 12!) it's slowed down to more like 2-3 days of bleeding and then 3-4 days of weird spotting and occasional random gushes. :S

So I'd probably make like 12 pantyliners.

I plan on using OBV for tops and pul for bottoms again, and then do like 2 full body layers for the PP and one for the regular of a thick material. I have hemp sherpa I think, some obv french terry, some leftover hemp FT I think? it's been awhile since I dug through all that stuff.

Probably use 1 thickest that I have for PP or reg, and a slightly thinner for PP...dunno.

Then use core layer on both that is cut smaller (no wings) than the pad itself. Infact I think I used (http://www.diaperware.com/mooncare/freshmoon.htm) fresh moon pads I had a few of for inspiration.

I quilted on the core and used a few methods during the various cycles of pads I made. You want them secure but so that it'll wash clean...if I'd had a serger (I do now!) i'd have serged the edges and possibly just tacked them top/bottom/sides. I mostly just did lines the length of the soaker part as close to edges as possible and that worked well.

I'm fairly tempted to try something much more similar to the freshmoon pads and do soakers that snap into a body. atleast for the regular pad style. but I like the AIO aspect and not having to search around for bits ;)

I think I will try just sewing along the C shape of the top and bottom of soaker after serging it, and then the sides along the curve...if that makes sense?

But i'd just quilt the core bits to the tops, then sew tops to pul bottoms leaving just enough room to turn, flip the whole thing right side in and sew around the edges.

I may use pads to play with new serger and see how that goes. would save me quite a bit of time!

I had pics and I think even a step by step tutorial, but that was like 6 years ago the last time I made any....and I can't recall where I put them! I'll see if they are floating around anywhere...

[rubidoux]

Thanks for all the detail!  You'll enjoy using your serger for them!  You don't have to worry about the layers drying as much when they're not turned and topstitched.  And serging them is so much faster.  

I'm doing something like these:  http://homesteademporium.smugmug.com/Business/June-2nd-Stocking/8332943_XVnnHL#!i=552334122&k=7zhJo&lb=1&s=L  Except those wings on those look like wool and I'm using microfleece.  And I do think I need more than just 3 full layers for my heaviest day.  I'm going to try a core like you're talking about.  Though, when you're serging and not turning and topstitching, it doesn't matter as much if it comes to the edge.  But still, it might be neater to serge if it's not a bazillion layers.  

[Basylica]

Those are adorable!

I'd consider serging bottom layer (MF in your case) with a couple full layers in the same exact size to look like those. Then do a "core" of another 2 layers serged and just tack it to the body layers.

I'd love to see how they turn out!

[rubidoux]

I don't like the absorbent layers in the wings, though.  If they wrap around my underwear, they're gonna touch my pants, and then I'm in trouble.  lol  I do like the idea of making the absorbent area larger...  but I don't want them wicking out to my pants.  

I'm working on a bag today, but I may find a few minutes to do a couple of more pads.  :)  

[Gabbi]

I have used the micro fleece...I am currently still using up an older micro fleece blanket that wasn't used.... I cut two squares that reach almost the ends of the pad (mine are about 11 inches) and then I fold in half... I lay one square folded to the left, and one square folded (open side) to the right.... they work well and do not bunch.

I like heavy pads and was buying, sewing all of them with PUL... but then realized how much SOFTER they were without the PUL.... So mine are like this:

Top layer cotton or flannel

Middle 4 layers of fleece (the two folded squares)

Bottom Flannel
 

:)