I want to make my own mama pads...help please

[MamaAllNatural]

What is the best way to go about this? What are the best fabrics to use? What design of mama pad have you found to be the most absorbant and comfortable? The most trim? Thanks for any help.

I don't have AF back yet but I have a feeling she's coming soon.

[rainbowmoon]

I am currently stitching myself a a new supply of pads. I like to use flannel & use velcro for the wings. I know some people like terry for the layers but I think that's too bulky. I usually use 4-6 layers of flannel and a front and back piece w/ wings. You can also make pocket ones I've seen here. http://www.pacificcoast.net/~manymoons/howto.html

[UmmSamiyah]

I was thinking about making my own mama pads too! I haven't finished one project yet but I figured they would be a good start since DS is potty training. I have a Mother's Eve pad. I think it has fleece. How would you go about duplicating one of those?

[babyblueeyes]

I just made a bunch of mama pads using Kristin's Cloth pattern found here http://kristinsclothpads.com/cloth-pad-patterns.html . It is very easy to sew. I made 36 with inserts in just 2 days and I don't have much time to sew. (I don't have AF back yet either, but wanted to be prepared when she does decide to make an appearance, lol.) It is the pocket style with a tri-fold insert. I serged the insert rather than T&T. The all flannel ones are trimmest, but I also used some hemp, velour and sherpa. HTH

[UmmSamiyah]

okay dumb question what does TT mean?

[babyblueeyes]

Sorry, short for turned & topstitched.

[tsfairy]

I've been using 100% cotton flannel and some fleece. I just started making these a few weeks ago, just in time for my last cycle

I started out with a pattern I found online, but it was an odd shape and it wasn't working for me. So I traced one of my old sposie pads (Stayfree something or other I think) and just made a few that looked like my old ones, with 3 layers of flannel and a layer of fleece. Very trim and comfy and absorbent.

Then I took the same pattern and added wings and made some pocket pads, and some AIO's with velcro on the wings. I've heard some gals say that the velcro chafes, but I'm using some little round velcro tabs that are maybe 1/2" and haven't had any probs.

I don't have a serger and I'm too lazy to T&T, so for the inserts I just did a very tight zigzag stitch and then trimmed close to the edge. I've washed some of them a few times now and haven't had any fraying or anything.

[MamaAllNatural]

Originally Posted by babyblueeyes

I just made a bunch of mama pads using Kristin's Cloth pattern found here http://kristinsclothpads.com/cloth-pad-patterns.html . It is very easy to sew. I made 36 with inserts in just 2 days and I don't have much time to sew.

Very impressive! Thanks for the link.

Originally Posted by babyblueeyes

I don't have AF back yet either, but wanted to be prepared when she does decide to make an appearance, lol

:LOL That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm tandem nursing and my baby is almost a year old. I have NEVER gone this long without a period and I feel she'll be packing her bags for a visit in the next month or two.


tsfairy, that is so ingenious! I will definately not be able to do any fancy sewing either (I'm very new at it) so it's good to know that it'll still work w/o the serging & T&T.


You ladies are so helpful. Thank you!