I've been making my own lately, since I just bought a sewing machine.
They are pretty simple and two different kinds.
They consist of plush terry cloth and flannel.
I fold over the terry cloth (cut in long strips as long as I want the pad) three times to make a 2 1/2 inch or 3 inch wide pad (and six to eight inches long). Then I stitch that together firmly so it doesn't fall apart, to make a square within the pad - I make the rectangle about 1/2 inch from each side.
Then I cut a square of flannel 1/2 inch wider than the pad, and sew them together following the same basic lines as the first "rectangle" stitched. Now the two pieces are attached.
Then I stitch "clean up". I use a serge stitch or as close as my machine will come to doing that, and stitch the loose edges of the rectangle to the flannel, so that it is all attached.
It now should look like a pad at the store, with a rectangular "bowl" with "rims" around it.
I don't use any waterproofing fabric on the back, I've never had problems with leaking, though I don't use them for heavy flow days.
I also make them in a hourglass shape, with various depths of terry cloth, depending on how thick I want them. I discovered that the flannel I used was too thick, though, and it makes me sweat - though it DOES breathe more than the icky plastic disposable ones. I'm now using lighter flannel.
Oh, and WASH the fabrics you use before you sew them, or they may shrink. You can be thrifty and use old terry bath towels, too and give them another life
With pads like these, I won't feel bad about tossing them when they get stained or raggedy, you know? Or, I could just RE-stitch them - it's not like anyone is going to INSPECT them!
I think this would be a cute gift for a newly menstruating girl, a bunch of cute light pads with cutsie flannel on the back - with instructions and a welcome to the club card
If she is so inclined....
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