Mama Cloth Swap (EDITED)

I'm glad you posted this swap. Started a good conversation between me and my daughter. We've never tried cloth pads, But I like the idea. I'll watch while I check out some tutorials.

My daughter and I had that talk and she began on them. She loved picking her own fabric and learning to sew them herself! There are TONS of tutorials out there! They go by Mama Cloth, Mama Pad, Cloth Menstural Pad, Cloth Pad, etc. If you google it you'll find tons of sites!

I was looking at these patterns online and am going to make a bunch for myself. I realized that using cloth diapers was not enough to reduce my footprint!

I found a tutorial I like. Can someone tell me if it is a good one? http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/organiccotton/clothpads.html

@LadyStephanie That is a great tutorial. There is really no wrong way to make them. I've edited and added some websites in the swap description.

I'm going to try the pantiliner pattern you've listed.
I've made a few others to practice and I like this pattern as well: http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/crafts/pads/pads.html Here is the pdf of the pattern: http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/crafts/pads/paulinespadpatternbw.pdf

I would love to see all the 'watchers' sign up for this swap. I think its going to be a great one, which will inspire many more to come.

Lady Stephanie, that tutorial is great. I might try that pattern this afternoon.
On another note, my daughter asked me the other day what I was making at my son's naptime (also called 'crafttime') and when I told her she made a face. I explained that if I use cloth for the baby, why not cloth for me? I might be able to coax her into it eventually, but she's just naturally squeamish. lol

That's so funny! My daughter is pretty down to earth. If I offer it to her, say this is what I'm going to 'try' then she will usually try it too. We'll see. I'm signing up for the swap!

I just sewed up a couple of the first pattern that you posted (Pantiliner) and its fantastic! I added a layer of terry cotton and a layer of PUL and its thick, but still sews up great. I made 2 in an hour, while my son was napping. The layers go like this (when sewing & cutting out the pad part): pad bottom (face down) pad top (face up) terry cotton (or absorbant layer) PUL (with plasticy side down)

GREAT! I am so glad to see interest in this. One thing that grossed me out enough to make the switch to cloth was when someone said to imagine how many USED diapers and menstrual pads archeologists are going to find 500 years down the road...EEEEEWWWWW! Grossed me out so much that I quit disposeables cold turkey, LOL!

Another thing is this...if your disposeable pad or tampon or cup leaks on your panties...do you throw them away? Most of us just wash them and call them "period" panties. So, why not enjoy the comfort (and health) of cloth. If it is good enough for our babies, then why not us? I have also made cloth nursing pads for anyone who is interested...

By the way, my periods have become lighter, shorter and with less cramping since making the switch. For someone with endometriosis like me, that is PRICELESS!

I am no good at sewing pads- I have tried- but wanted to comment on this swap anyway. I made the switch cold turkey 3 years ago and haven't looked back! I agree that my periods have become shorter, lighter with way less symptoms- backaches and cramping, since switching. My daughter is only 10 but she is already asking for a stash to be purchased for her to be prepared when the time comes! My sister has fought the idea of cloth but after having a baby she realized she has touched way worse so now cloth diapers and mama pads are slowly being incorporated into her life :) Have a great swap ladies!

I've never made a cloth pad but I'm definitely going to give it a go! Here's a cool pattern link I found: http://www.wen.org.uk/sanpro/reports/makeyourown_web.pdf

@crazyda79 That is cool. My 10-year-old daughter is asking for her own stash as well. My 13 year old had a stash but got lazy with washing the pads and well...she gradually threw them away (much to my horror!)

I love love love my pads!

Im so disappointed to have missed this swap. I really hope you'll do it again soon because I really love this!