Making your own Cloth Pads - Pattern layout

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How you layout your pattern pieces depends on how much fabric you have and the shape and size of your pattern.

A normal wingless shape, such as you could use in a pad or as the core, will be easy to layout, and doesn't waste much fabric.

 
Shaped patterns are harder to layout, but will generally slot well into each other - even if you have to put some pieces upside down to make them fit. 

Pocket pad pieces can fit together like the picture to the far right.  Remember you'll need 2 back halves for every pad top.


How Much fabric will I need?
How much fabric you'll need depends on the shape and size of your pad obviously.... but if you want to figure it out before you go shopping, you'll need to work out the best layout (like above), and work out how many pad pieces you can fit along the width and length of the material.

So if your winged pad has a front and back width of 8cm/3in, and your wingspan is 18cm/7.5in, and can fit together like the first image, then 2 rows of pad shapes would require about 30cm/12in of fabric... and to work out how many pads you'd fit along the width of the fabric, simply add together the lengths of the pads (including any gaps you might have to get the layout right.  So in a 110 wide fabric with a 25cm long pad, you'd get about 4 pads on the first row, and 3 on the second.  With the core, you'll need less fabric if you go with plain oblong shapes.

This depends entirely on your pad pattern and fabric width of course.

Remember you'll need several layers, depending on your pad style and preference.  Generally a top layer, a bottom layer and a core/"soaker" part, which is often just an oblong of terry or other absorbent fabric sewn to the top or to hidden internal layer.
You can use offcuts from cutting the pad shapes for your core too.


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