Hello!
I propose you again a zero waste DIY to remove another element of your trash, and not the least for us women, the sanitary napkin. ological gesture, these homemade protections limit the allergies and irritations to the periodic towels. They can be used for daily protection or menstrual periods, whatever your flow.
To make this DIY washable sanitary napkin, you need:
- organic cotton, preferably dark in color for the outside of the towel (in contact with the skin),
- organic terry cloth for the insert of the napkin, it is an absorbent fabric,
- PUL, waterproof fabric which will be in contact with the panties,
- fabric clips to avoid piercing the PUL,
- snap fasteners to close the towel,
- thread,
- a sewing machine,
- two sheets to make the pattern of the sanitary napkin and its insert,
- a classic sanitary napkin,
- a pencil,
- scissors.
#1 The pattern of the washable sanitary napkin
- Glue the classic sanitary napkin on a white sheet of paper and draw the pattern around it.
- Add 1.5 cm on each side of the wings to obtain a width of 18 cm.
- Trace the middle of the model and cut out the shape.
- Fold the model in half along the middle and readjust the shape so that it is symmetrical.
#2 The pattern of the insert
- On the classic sanitary napkin, fold over the edge or cut it out (there is about 1 cm of thinner paper border around the napkin).
- Transfer this shape to a new blank sheet of paper.
- Trace the middle of the shape and cut out the pattern.
- As for the pattern of the sanitary napkin, fold the pattern in half and readjust the shape so that it is symmetrical.
- Transfer this pattern to the pattern of the sanitary napkin by placing the middles one on top of the other and 1 cm apart.
You then get two patterns
#3The Insert
Cut out the shape of the insert from the organic terry cloth as many times as you like. It depends on the flow, the more it is abundant, the more thicknesses of this fabric are needed.
If light flow: one layer, if medium flow: two layers and if heavy flow: three or four layers.
If you have several layers, sew them together with a zig-zag stitch at the edge of the fabric.
#4 The outside of the napkin
- Cut out the shape of the sanitary napkin on the back of the organic cotton fabric and transfer the location of the insert.
- Also cut out the shape of the sanitary napkin on the back of the PUL (plasticized part).
#5 The assemblage
- Pin the organic sponge insert to the back of the organic cotton fabric in the designated area.
- Sew at the edge.
- Using the fabric clips, hold the organic cotton fabric and the PUL fabric right sides together (the right side of the PUL is the unplasticised part).
- Leave an opening of 5 cm to allow the work to be turned over later.
- Sew at 1 cm from the edge.
- Cut the entire seam allowance to 0.5 cm and notch the rounded edges.
- Turn the napkin over through the 5 cm opening.
- Bring out the seams with a sharp object (I used my sewing ruler).
- Gently iron the napkin with a damp cloth so as not to burn the PUL.
- Stitch along the edge of the napkin.
#6 Closing the napkin
- The napkin is finished, just place the snaps: simulate closing the napkin and draw a mark where you want to place the snaps.
- Follow carefully the indications integrated in the box to place the buttons, I believe that it is the most complicated part of this towel :D. Be careful, the snaps should not be on the wings in the same direction to allow the closure.
#7 The Pouch
- Cut two rectangles of 32 cm length and 14 cm width in the organic cotton fabric.
- At 4 cm from each side, draw a mark. Also draw a mark in the middle of the width. Join the marks with a ruler and a pencil, then cut.
- Place right sides together and sew 1 cm from edge. Leave an opening of 4 cm.
- Remove the corners.
- Turn fabrics right side out and iron.
- Topstitch all around.
- Fold this rectangle in three.
- Draw a mark on the top of the pouch.
- Put a snap to close the pouch.
I hope this DIY to sew a washable sanitary napkin and its storage pouch will be useful for you. This DIY is not original, you may have seen several on the web. It is mostly about sharing what can reduce our waste and do something for the planet 🙂
Feel free to comment and/or share.
