This pattern has been a long time coming. I started on it months ago and because I have project ADD… it has taken me forever to finish, but it is done! I am including a tutorial on how I made my mama cloth and with what materials for this pattern, but feel free to use your creative liberty with it. There are a variety of materials that can be use and the amount of absorbent layers used can be adjusted to fit individual needs.
Pattern Pieces:
- Absorbent Core for all sizes
- Panty Liner – about 7″
- Regular – about 9″
- Overnight (Page 1 | Page 2) -about 12″
Print all pages in portrait mode on 100%. Measure the 1″ square with a ruler to make sure they are the correct scale.
You will need to print the absorbent core for all sizes page AND the size pad page(s) you need.
Fabric suggestions
In this tutorial, I used a bunch of bamboo fleece and terry scraps I had left over from diaper making. The patterned knit pieces were from a PFRE full of scraps I bought from a WAHM. Sometimes you can find these in the BST’s or on Etsy. They’re great because you get a lot of variety!
I topped all of mine in black cotton knit from The Purple Seamstress Fabric. She has the best solids that wash the best in my opinion. I did black because I was concerned about staining, but since then I have bought two printed, light colored cotton topped mama cloth from a WAHM and I have not had an issue with staining. So feel free to use something exciting on top if you so wish. Some people find they like a “stay dry” micro fleece, minky or CBI top. I have not found the cotton knit to be “wet” feeling, and I think it absorbs nicer. I also find the fleece to be hot.
The bamboo core I used is 280gsm bamboo terry, 320gsm bamboo fleece and 500gsm bamboo fleece. Most of the panty liners are just one layer of 280gsm bamboo terry and I have found this to be sufficient. The regular pads and over nights are different combos of the three as I didn’t have a whole lot of larger pieces on hand I just did whatever worked. They all work great and don’t leak, so unless you’re a very heavy flow, you likely won’t need as many layers as you would think. Other options for absorbent core’s are birdseye cotton, flannel, microfiber, hemp, and cotton fleece.
I did a hidden layer of PUL. I do not like PUL as my bottom layer as it slides around too much for my liking. Blizzard or Anti-Pill fleece is another option for a water resistant layer.
For the bottom, I found using a cotton knit layer on the bottom keeps any sliding from happening. But again, you can use whatever you want!
Experiment with different fabrics and layers and find what you like. These are just my personal preferences and personal opinions on mama cloth definitely varies!
Also, I HIGHLY suggest washing your natural fiber fabric at least twice! I washed my knits twice and my fleece three times as natural fiber fleece shrinks a lot and the last thing you want is a warped mama cloth. Washing the fleece also rids it of all it’s natural oils and will be nice and absorbent first use.
Other variations and notes
Instead of top stitching, you could also serge! It would reduce as much bulk as possible and probably be a lot faster. Perhaps in the future I will add photos of a serged variation when I add more to my stash.
As for the fit, I can wear the regular and the panty liner and they cannot be seen through jeans. Now, this can obviously change depending on the thickness of the fabrics used.
Why cloth pads? No disposable pad smell, no paper sound, no itch. They are much more comfortable! Also, cheaper. This entire stash I made with scraps, except about 1/3 yard of PUL I did have to buy.
Washing them and storing dirties
Dirties I store in a small swinging lid trash can next to my toilet. When I’m out, I have a small PUL Planet Wise wet bag that I use for my pads. I usually just wash them with my diapers. They will not stain your diapers (I know it’s shocking! I was terrified of this too) and I have yet to have my not black topped ones stain (also shocking!). If you’re not a cloth diaperer (is that a word?), prewash with a line 1 of your detergent (I recommended tide). After that cycle is done, toss in your bath towels to fill your machine the rest of the way, add a water softener if you have hard water, use a line 3 to a full cap/scoop of detergent and wash on your longest cycle. I use hot for both my pre wash and main wash and I add biz to help keep any stains at bay. Dry in the dryer or on the line. Super simple!
Whew, I think I covered all the questions! Let’s get down to business!
The tutorial
Cut 1 bottom layer fabric, 1 top layer and 1 water proof layer, then cut as many core layers as are needed. Here I did two core layers for an overnight pad.
Pin the core layers onto the center of the top layer.
Sew around the core using a 1/4″ seam.
Sew the channel, using a 1/2″ seam.
Top layer with core attached.
Layer the pieces together in this order: PUL shiny side facing up, bottom layer right side down, top layer with core attached right side up as show below and pin. Try to keep pins as near the edges as possible as too many holes can possibly cause leaks.
Sew around the edges using a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving a 1-1.25″ hole for turning. Trim the excess fabric around the seams to about an 1/8″, this will cut down on the bulk when turned. Don’t get too close though, or the seam could come undone, and that sucks. I may have done that once… Or twice.
Hole for turning before the edges were trimmed, photo below. (Some of these I had an issue with sliding. Hence the sloppiness in this photo… haha. I have been told that a washable glue stick keeps this from happening so much, so that’s something to keep in mind if this issue arises.)
Turn inside out. Use a crochet hook, knitting needle blunt end, pen blunt end, whatever you have near you that’s similar to push the corners of the wings into as much of a pointed shape as possible. Just don’t push too hard or you may rip your wing. And that would that sucky.
Snip any extra PUL.
Fold in fabric and ladder stitch it closed.
(Ladder stitch is a skill I need to work on, obviously.)
Starting at the corner of a wing, top stitch around the perimeter 1/4″ or less from the edge.
All that is left is to add your snaps and you are done! Note that I did not add snap markings to the pattern. I did this because I am pretty narrow and I am guessing my snaps are probably a little farther into the wing that most will like. Just fold your pad like you would if you were snapping and mark how far in you want them. This is totally up to you!
Pretty easy right? There are so many variations that can be done here, so have fun with it! Leave me a comment and tell me what materials you used or what changes you made! Also, feel free to share in your groups on Facebook or pin on pinterst!
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