Making your own Cloth Pads - Fabrics

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There are lots of different fabrics you can use to make your cloth pads....  You'll probably be using different fabrics for different parts of the pad.  So I'll give a rundown on some of the fabrics you might want to use, and where you might be able to find some used fabrics to use.

There is a lot to think about.

Top Fabrics | Core Fabrics | Waterproofing fabrics | Backing fabrics

Top fabric
This is the part that will touch your skin, and the part you will most often see, so you might like to make this layer from a fabric you like the look and feel of.  Some women prefer this to be organic fabric for the least amount of chemicals.

Think about:
Which points do you consider most important.

Natural fibres (Cotton, hemp etc.).
Generally more breathable and can feel  cooler.  Made from plant or animal fibres they are more eco friendly.

Synthetics (Polar fleece, suedecloth, Minkee etc.)
These generally don't hold moisture, so  they tend to allow the blood to wick through into the core, and can then stay relatively dry on top. Synthetics can feel
hot and sweaty if you are prone to getting sweaty in that region. Some of the reason for feeling sweatier is because unlike an absorbant fabric, they won't absorb the sweat either (Plus the synthetic just isn't as cool to wear).  They are usually less likely to stain though, and as most of the blood is pulled through into the core, there tends to be less blood on the surface of the pad (useful for women who don't like to see it).  It can feel very soft.

Some popular fabric choices for pad topping

Other topping options - Silk, Poly Cottons, Polyester fabrics. etc.  - Pretty much anything can be used.

Core (Absorbent) Fabrics
This is the absorbent part of your pad.  Generally this is a natural fibre, but there are some synthetic options.  Generally the synthetic options work like a sponge, where they hold the wetness but can leak under compression, so personally I find natural fibres to be much better choices.  Sometimes it is better to buy a more absorbent fabric that you will use less of, than to buy a cheaper one you will use more of.  This part will determine how thick the pad is overall, and if you like thick pads, then that's fine, but if you would like to keep your pads as thin as possible, then the absorbency needs some careful thought.  On the surface, thin fabrics like jersey and flannel/flannelette seem like a good choice because they are thin - but the absorbency in a fabric comes from the thickness and density.  Also what the fabric is made of.  Hemp is more absorbent than cotton, and bamboo is more absorbent than hemp.  For example - one layer of a bamboo fleece, that is more absorbent than 3 layers of flannel, which are both the same overall thickness.

You don't have to have the whole winged shape being in a thick absorbent fabric like hemp or bamboo, as they are expensive.  Instead you can use a smaller amount just down the centre of the pad, which is more cost effective but also makes the wings less bulky.

Think about:
Which points do you consider most important

Some popular fabric choices for the absorbent Core


Waterproof/Water Resistant Fabrics
This is the part that is optional and gives leak protection to your pad.  A Water resistant fabric isn't completely waterproof.  Most women are concerned about the "breathability" issue of waterproofing.  Comparing a waterproofed cloth pad to a disposable isn't the same.  A waterproofed cloth pad isn't going to be as sweaty as a disposable.

The issue of letting the skin breathe is a debated one. It's not like covering your mouth with plastic - how much breathability does the skin actually need? (that's a rhetorical question by the way) If you suffer from thrush or excessive sweating then you might want to avoid synthetic waterproofing (and perhaps synthetics all together), and opt for something more "breathable" and natural.... but even with "PUL" its not like having plastic underpants on.  "PUL" is a fabric (usually polyester) that has been covered in a very fine film of polyurethene.  The other natural fibre layers in the pad will allow for some airflow through the pad.

If you imagine a cross section of a pad (as if it's been cut in half and you can see all the layers) - In a "turned and topstitched" pad, the waterproofing only comes halfway up the side (like a U shape).  So the other half, and the top allow for airflow.  In an overlocked/serged type pad, the waterpeoofing is only on the bottom layer, not into the sides at all.  Airflow doesn't have to be just from between the legs up (Mayrlin Munroe over a grate anyone?)... so a pad with waterproofing isn't like wearing a whole pad made of plastic.  Disposable pads often have a plastic top (pierced with many holes for the blood to seep through), so they are mush more plasticky than even a synthetic topped pad with PUL waterproofing.
Some women feel a difference in a PUL waterproofed pad over a completely natural one - others don't.  PUL is what they call a "breathable waterproof" fabric, meaning that it can allow a small amount of airflow (as in microscopic) - unlike PVC and other waterproof fabrics.  It was designed for uses such as raincoats, where the fabric is designed to allow enough airflow to prevent the wearer getting too sweaty inside the coat.

The more open weave a fabric is, the more "breathable" it will be... but that also means less waterproof.  So it is a trade off between airflow/natural/leak protection.  Because every womans flow is different this is a purely personal choice.  Some women bleed more in one day than others do over a 7 day cycle.. so needs can be very different.  If you only need leak protection for some of your cycle, you can make some of your pads waterproofed, or use a style like a pocket or boostable pad, where you can add waterproofing if you need it.

Think about:
Which points do you consider most important

Some popular fabric choices for waterproofing/water resistance Why do I keep mentioning "crinkly" fabric?  Because its something that many women are concerned about.... I remember reading an article in a teen magazine once that was being unkind to lots of different people, and had mentioned some TV star having a plastic bum because it was heard to crinkle.  I thought instantly that she was probably wearing a pad and to leave the poor woman alone!  I've made pads with a plastic tablecloth as waterproofing, which worked very well to protect against leaks, but every time the pad moved, the plastic crinkled.  Which got worse over time as the plastic got older, until I couldn't handle it any more, and pulled the pads apart to remake them.  So it is a factor to consider.... you don't really want noisy pads if you can avoid it.

Backing Fabrics
This is the part that is optional and is the bottom most layer of fabric - that goes against your underpants.  This can be the waterproofing, or can be over the waterproofing, in the case of PUL, to make a prettier looking pad.  You can also combine 2 waterproof fabrics to double the protection, such as a nylon and a fleece.  Wingless pads are often made with slip resistant fabric on the back, however in winged pads this is not as essential

Commonly pads are backed with:


These Cloth Pad making patterns and instructions are copyright Obsidian 2007, 2009
And may not be copied or redistributed without permission
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