Making cloth pads and liners

[Shanaynay]

Hi there,

I'm planning on making my own cloth pads and liners for myself.
Just wondering what materials I need.

For pads,
I was thinking PUL as the bottom layer, then either hemp or bamboo, followed by either fleece or flannel topping?
Would that work ok?

For liners, could I do the same but only have one thin absorbancy layer?

I'm new to this and just trying to work out what will work!
Thanks for any help!

[Zada]

ill pm u phineas

[Funkychicken]

Stellaj and I had a brief chat about this recently. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear some too.

[Oscar's mum]

I am going to attempt making some too:yes: I was thinking of starting with trying to make liners - I attempted a pattern today but didn't like the look of it so am back to still drawing up the pattern.

I was thinking of making my liners out of 1 layer of PUL with flannel then topped with suede;)

[Shanaynay]

I was thinking of making my liners out of 1 layer of PUL with flannel then topped with suede;)
As in suedecloth?
Hmmm.... yeah that would work well - nice.
I'll be doing liners first I think -

do you think it's important to have a 'stay dry' topping such as fleece or suedecloth, or flannel would be quite comfortable?

[Oscar's mum]

As in suedecloth?
Hmmm.... yeah that would work well - nice.
I'll be doing liners first I think -

do you think it's important to have a 'stay dry' topping such as fleece or suedecloth, or flannel would be quite comfortable?

Yep suedecloth:yes:

I think I personally would prefer a stay dry top myself but I may be the minority.

[ikis84]

Stay dry is nice... but i find fleece a bit bulky.

For liners, why would you need PUL? I wouldn't think it would need the waterproof-ness iykwim..

[Oscar's mum]

Stay dry is nice... but i find fleece a bit bulky.

For liners, why would you need PUL? I wouldn't think it would need the waterproof-ness iykwim..

Hmm good point - what would you use as a base?

[Shanaynay]

Hmm good point - what would you use as a base?
Mmmmm - could you just do flannel?
Maybe 2 layers of flannel topped with suedecloth?

[spring]

Hmm good point - what would you use as a base?

courdaroy or velvet so its a bit grippy IYKWIM???

[Funkychicken]

I am waiting on some bamboo fleece at the moment (thank-you TL!) and thought I would use bamboo with a PUL bottom as I have a bit of left over PUL. I think I would just feel 'safer' with a waterproof layer.
Does anyone have any ideas about press studs etc... or do you just go the old fashioned way of sewing the press studs in?

[ikis84]

I have a girly bits liner that has a cotton print, then 1 layer of hemp... it is good :) I certainly wouldn't need PUL on a liner... I would want it on a light pad though.

[floggadog]

OOO Pm me all free info , I'm gonna keep following this one!

[Shanaynay]

Does anyone have any ideas about press studs etc... or do you just go the old fashioned way of sewing the press studs in?
I'm about to buy my very own snap press :D
I'm sure I've seen a cheap little tool at the sewing shop they sell with the press studs for putting them in? Not sure tho...


I have a girly bits liner that has a cotton print, then 1 layer of hemp... it is good :) I certainly wouldn't need PUL on a liner... I would want it on a light pad though.
Hm - hemp would be 'grippy' to wouldn't it? I might try that - easy too - just hemp and flannel together......would it be too thin or ok?

[Oscar's mum]

Hm - hemp would be 'grippy' to wouldn't it? I might try that - easy too - just hemp and flannel together......would it be too thin or ok?

I think that would be okay.

[Zada]

have a look at bubbaearth theres a snapsetter tool if your using it for wings

[ikis84]

Hm - hemp would be 'grippy' to wouldn't it? I might try that - easy too - just hemp and flannel together......would it be too thin or ok?

I think that is fine for a liner! Are you putting wings on it? If not, then maybe a bottom layer of corduroy (how do you spell that, lol?)...

[Oscar's mum]

I think that is fine for a liner! Are you putting wings on it? If not, then maybe a bottom layer of corduroy (how do you spell that, lol?)...


Are there any other alternatives to cordorouy (sp)?

[bekkyboo]

i made up one the other day. All flannel- worked as a pocket, wasnt all that happy as it was a bit bulky, so back to the drawing board. It worked well tho.

I was reading that you can use a button instead of snaps, just not velcro - as it can lead to chaffing.

[Funkychicken]

Ouchy! I am now imagining being scratched by a piece of velcro! :p

I have some organic cotton pads that have a 'pocket' and a tri-fold insert but they are quite bulky.
I just had a look through my scrap material bag and I have some lounge suite swatches that are reasonably soft, so I might try one out with that as a backing.

[MCNmummyof2]

Would a button be a bit fiddly?

Im hoping to make some when I get my bamboo!! Started reacting to the normal bought pads, so hopefully I'll make them in time lol.

[bekkyboo]

i wouldnt think it would be too bad - but i used a snap, and it was good.

cloth pads are also said to reduce yeast infections and such, so its very good for you.

[HoopDeeDoo]

I'm going to try making some too, in fact I should stop dilly dallying and get one with that and my Australian themed nappy :p

[Shanaynay]

Hey if anyone is interested, today I went into my local sewing shop and they had a packet of snaps with tool in there to put them in with for $6.95
I bought it as I haven't ordered my snap press yet so I will use it tomorrow when I have a go at doing a liner :thumbsup:

[HoopDeeDoo]

:smiliedance: I cut out 13 day pads and 2 night pads today they are sooo pretty, and the best part is I had all the fabrics I needed in my stash. It's so nice to sew up something girly, and something for ME :D

I've sewn up 3 so far, I'll show pics when they are all done :D :D

[Shanaynay]

I did one the other day - it's cute - pink pigs :D

I'll take a pic and upload it when I recharge my camera!!

[MCNmummyof2]

phineas - what sewing shop was this?? my sewing shop doesnt know what snaps are lol.

[HoopDeeDoo]

OK I finished my pads :smiliedance:

I should be able to test them out this week. :fingerscrossed:

So this is what they look like:

13 regular 2 nights (http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r25/hoopdeedoo/web-1.jpg)

The first one I did the zig zag through all layers, but decided it would be better to do it just through the soaker and lining. Anyhoo, they look and feel great, I tested the first one while I was cutting out the rest to make sure it was the right shape etc.

[ikis84]

wow, they look great Emma... will you be making any to sell? How long are they? I am finding all the ones I have a bit long, and they are about 26cms...

[Shanaynay]

Oh they looks so great!!

Forgot to take a photo of mine - took a photo of the nappy I made tho!

I really like the print on the bottom far left, and the one on the bottom far right. They are beautiful :yes:

[Shanaynay]

Oh and did you overlock around them, or just stitch then trim closely?

I don't have an overlocker as of yet so I stitched round mine then trimmed closely. I'm not sure what they'll then look like after a few washes?

I'll take a pic tomorrow!

[HoopDeeDoo]

wow, they look great Emma... will you be making any to sell? How long are they? I am finding all the ones I have a bit long, and they are about 26cms...

Not sure about selling things just yet it's really hard to find the time to do these things, and when I do it I want to do it properly YKWIM. The regular pads are 22 cm, and the night ones are 27.5


Oh they looks so great!!

Forgot to take a photo of mine - took a photo of the nappy I made tho!

I really like the print on the bottom far left, and the one on the bottom far right. They are beautiful :yes:

Thanks, I'm really happy with them they are so pretty :D I love Japanese prints, I'd say about 1/4 of my fabric stash for quilts is Japanese, and thats after making 3 Queen size quilts :laughing: Plus a few bags and this n that....


Oh and did you overlock around them, or just stitch then trim closely?

I don't have an overlocker as of yet so I stitched round mine then trimmed closely. I'm not sure what they'll then look like after a few washes?

I'll take a pic tomorrow!

My overlocker is another couple of weeks away, Janome ran out of stock :( So I used my poor sewing machine that needs a bit of a break I think LOL.

I sewed the soaker pad onto the lining with a zig zag, then did the zig zag in the centre, then sewed the top of the wings onto the lining. Then put the right sides together of the lining and the backing. Sewed them together with a really small seam allowence (probably about 1/8 "). Turned them right side out, and top stitched them. And then snapped them. Very fiddley, and there was a bit of unpicking in there, but I'm really happy with the results. I just hope they work well

[Shanaynay]

I sewed the soaker pad onto the lining with a zig zag, then did the zig zag in the centre, then sewed the top of the wings onto the lining. Then put the right sides together of the lining and the backing. Sewed them together with a really small seam allowence (probably about 1/8 "). Turned them right side out, and top stitched them. And then snapped them. Very fiddley, and there was a bit of unpicking in there, but I'm really happy with the results. I just hope they work well

Ahhhhh - will try that way for a pad. With the liner I started to sew 2 layers of hemp and one layer of flannel together, right sides facing, so I could turn it inside out, but it was going to be just too thick - so I did it the other way. Might give a pad a go tomorrow night! (I'm taking this whole sewing thing veeeery slowly :o)

[HoopDeeDoo]

If you do the opening (for turning RSO) at the staightest (SP? :sleeping: ) part of the pad it will make it easier to close it up than a curve. The wings on mine are stright, so thats where I started, and then left the end open when I finished :yes:

[susiehomemaker]

Personally I like organic cotton flannel for mine, but suedecloth does clean up much better! Cordoroy is meant to be great to stop slippage, but mine have been fine with just the flannel- I make mine with wings that clip underneath iykwim
I also did up a booster (sort of) like you would to sew into a nappy and sewed it several times to compress the fabric to make it less bulky before sewing it onto the outer layer. Works a treat!