I was talking with a friend who was looking for a good cloth pad pattern. I offered to help, and because I am frugal – I wanted free. I was browsing the internet for free patterns to make cloth menstrual pads, and while there are some great patterns out there, I wasn’t finding quite what I was looking for. I decided to grab ideas from a few patterns and products that I saw to make my friend a pattern more like what I was looking for.
Always needing a distraction, I ended up sewing seventeen pads and making two new patterns. I thought some of you might also be interested in using it, so I’ve uploaded them in PDF form for easy printing. The patterns include seam allowance; just cut and sew! I added extra stitching on the pads to keep the fabric from bunching. I’m not sure if this is needed, but I also liked how it looks.
Materials for Making Cloth Menstrual Pads
Fabric
I used flannel for the tops and fleece for the backings because it’s what I had on hand (old receiving blankets work great!) For a leak-proof period-proof pad you can use PUL, TPU, or wool backing. Natural fibers are great for absorbency, like cotton, hemp, or bamboo for the tops. Some synthetics also absorb well and do resist stains a bit better. They can be less breathable though, so keep that in mind.
As for layers — if you need a thicker pad, use more layers. If you just want liners, use less. The beauty is that making your own pads means that it’s fully customizable to your needs.
If you’d like some menstrual themed fabrics (and more), be sure to check out my Spoonflower shop! I recommend Performance Piqué if you’re interested in a stay-dry, moisture wicking material, Cotton Jersey for a natural fiber, or Minky for fluffy softness.
Snaps (Optional)
I used my snap press to apply the snaps. The large snap press model I have is a bit pricey, but worth it if you plan to make a lot of items in the future (I’ve used it for diapers, bibs, clothes, pads, masks, fixing backpacks, and a lot more). They can, however, also be found in smaller handheld versions for less. If you don’t want plastic snaps, you could always use the metal ones.
Snap Note: For this pattern, each wing has two snap spots. You can use the one closest to the edge or both to have the ability to snap it smaller. You can also choose to not use snaps and/or wings at all. It’s all up to you, your comfort, and your needs.
The Cloth Menstrual Pad Patterns!
As promised, here are the free patterns! If you make pads with them I would *love* to see them. If you are inclined to share this free pattern, it’s the internet and clicks matter, so I appreciate linking to this post and not to the files directly.
Download the Regular Day Pad / Liner Pattern (free!)
Download the Heavy/Nighttime Pad Pattern (free!)
Alternatively, you can purchase the Updated Cloth Pads Pattern Pack including Postpartum Pattern for just $5!
Copyright © Amanda Hearn – TheEcoFriendlyFamily.com
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is not permitted. Personal use only.
Please be respectful and do not distribute these files.
A license to sell products using these patterns may be purchased by emailing me.
