Sewing and dying cloth pads

[Ruthla]

I'm not sure if this belongs in the "natural home and body care" forum or the "arts and crafts" forum, but I'm posting it here because I think this is the most likely spot.

This month I tried cloth pads for the first time in over a decade. It's the first time I'm sewing my own.

I took some white french terry that I already had in the house and cut it up into rectangles with pinking sheers. I wanted to see how I liked using the pads before putting a lot of effort into sewing them. I also thought that perhaps they'd wash better if I left them unsewn- going on "flats vs fitteds" diaper washing experience.

So, I found that they stained anyway, and they're a real PITA to fold after they come out of the dryer. Plus they look rather icky with the blood stains- the ones I'd purchased years ago were pink or blue printed flannel (I bought 2 packs in 2 different colors.)

I have some dyes from the Dharma Trading Company- I have 2 shades of pink, purple, and blue.

Should I dye them and then sew them, or sew them and then dye them? Should I dye them all one color, or tie dye them so it's not a solid color and hides stains better? Should I dye them more than one color (maybe a light solid color then tie dye something darker over it?)

Also, when I do the sewing part, is there any special pattern I can use? I was thinking of just making rectangles with rounded edges, but then I'm wondering if I should make it with flaps to hold them onto my undies better? Does the velcro get messed up in the wash?

[fanniefarkle]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

but then I'm wondering if I should make it with flaps to hold them onto my undies better? Does the velcro get messed up in the wash?

I do not sew, so I can't address those issues, but from my use of clothe, I can say that I really like having the flaps and velcro. I bought one pad without wings and velcro, and I often forget that it isn't fastened, and the pad ends up in the toilet.

I have a variety of colors, and they are all stained. But stained does not equal dirty. The only color where I can't see the stain is the one black pad that I have. So if you're grossed out by a stained pad, I would go with black fabric.

I wash all of the pads in a lingerie zipper bag, along with the family cloth, but I dry them loose. The velcro will stick to other things in the dryer, especially panties, but it is no big deal. If you line dry them, that would be a non-issue totally.

[homefrontgirl]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Also, when I do the sewing part, is there any special pattern I can use? I was thinking of just making rectangles with rounded edges, but then I'm wondering if I should make it with flaps to hold them onto my undies better? Does the velcro get messed up in the wash?

sidshappymamma is right on about the wingless pads. Go with the wings/flaps/tabs option. I made mine with dark blue flannel with an old towel for an insert. There are lots of patterns out there (craftster.org), but I went with the one on the hillbilly housewife site. It was easy and there's a patten you can print out. Also, I didn't mess with velcro or snaps and just use a safety pin (how's that for lazy?) and it works fine.


HTH!

[chamomeleon]

I too am sewing my own cloth pads for the first time - I just made some today, in fact! I used this tutorial, with a couple of changes:

- Instead of the poly fleece bands to hold the pads onto the pad holder, I used snaps (on the pad holder and the bottom of the pads.) I thought the bands might get yucky, plus I was trying to use materials I had on hand. I chose sew-on snaps instead of velcro because I was also worried it might get messed up in the wash.

- I like her idea of using long strips of flannel and folding it up to the thickness you need, and I might try that as well. But I had some old cotton/hemp cloth diaper inserts that I wanted to use, so I cut those up and layered them with flannel on the bottom, and a velour/minky type fabric from an old baby blanket on the top - cozy!

So far I'm really happy with them, but this is my first time using them, and I haven't tried washing them yet. I don't know anything about dyes, so I'm no help there. Good luck!

ETA: You can order PUL fabric online, but I actually scrounged mine from some old Fuzzi Bunz that had worn out elastic and snaps - they were just the right size to cut an 8" circle!

[thixle]

I absolutely love this tute here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=34087.0
It is a pad that is flat, you fold it, and it has wings! I like making them with old towel and thrifted pillowcases for the top layers. Sooooooo soft.
Personally, I like snaps instead of velcro. Velcro has a way of scratching my leg.
I also like my pads to be multi-colored--> doesn't show stains as much.
Oh, dye them, then sew them, otherwise, it will never really get all the dye out and could irritate your bits!

[sunnysandiegan]

I agree with the PPs about snaps. I like them much better than Velcro!

Personally, I wouldn't dye at all. I would use multicolored fabric I already own. But...I have that already. If you do dye: dye first, then cut and sew.

[Ruthla]

Well, I already have stained white fabric cut into rectangles that I used last month just as folded rectangles placed in my underwear. So it would be incredibly wasteful to use different fabric- I woudln't use these for any other purpose now, not even dusting.

That circle pad is a neat style- if I'd seen that before cutting rectangles I might have gone with it (and I might use it if either DD wants pads for herself that are different from mine.) But I think I'll be better off sewing a rectangle with a separate piece for a "flap" considering what i'm already working with.

[Ruthla]

I dyed them today. I was too lazy to bother with a 2-step dying process, so I just "vat dyed" them in a dark purple. Only, I didn't stir up the dye as they were soaking, and the end result came out looking sort of tie-dyed; parts in a deep red and parts more bluish- the PERFECT colors and "waviness" to cover blood stains! They also seem thicker now than they did before dying, even after washing and drying before.

[fanniefarkle]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Only, I didn't stir up the dye as they were soaking, and the end result came out looking sort of tie-dyed; parts in a deep red and parts more bluish- the PERFECT colors and "waviness" to cover blood stains! They also seem thicker now than they did before dying, even after washing and drying before.

cool

[mk12]

I made my own liners last year for my Lunapads by cutting single layers of organic cotton fleece. (No sewing involved at all.)

I would love to use a natural fabric dye to dye them, but I don't know anything about it.

Are the dyes sold by Dharma natural and easy to use?

Can I use a stainless steel pot without ruining it?

What is the two step process, and what happens when you only do a one step process? (What is the difference?)

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

[Ruthla]

I dyed them in the plastic bucket we use for washing the floors. I rinsed it out several times before using it to wash the floors again!

By "two step process" i meant that originally I was going to dye them all over in a lighter color, then after it dried, tie-dye them with a darker color- so they'd be "not white all over" but still be a print, not a solid color. Then I got lazy and decided to just dye them the darker color all over, and was pleased that they ended up with a "marbled" look rather than an allover purple. I ignored the instructions to stir the "dye bath" regularly since I didn't WANT an allover solid color, and I was very pleased with the result.

The dyes I have are not all natural- the natural ones are more expensive and, according to the information at Dharma's website, not really any safer (since natural dyes need additional chemicals to help them set into the fabric properly.) I'm really not an expert on different kinds of dyes- but check out that link- there's lots of information there.

I still haven't gotten around to sewing any of them- funny how this thread got bumped up just as AF is due again! Right now I'm wearing a pad (really a folded up, dyed rectangle of fabric) because I started spotting last night, and at this rate I'll probably use them as folded rectangles of fabric again, then sew them up when AF is over.

[mk12]

Thank you so much for the information Ruthla! I'm sure I can find a bucket to use. Or maybe I can even use the plastic Rubbermaid pitcher I bought to soak my pads to dye them.