Reusable Menstrual Cups

I have mostly made the transition to reusable (cloth) menstrual pads but I still have to sew a few more. I was waiting for my Moon Cup to arrive to see how many more I would need to make. I got it a few weeks ago but it wasn't the right time to test it out but now I can!

For those of you who don't know, the Moon Cup is a reusable menstrual cup. It's made of silicone and collects, rather than absorbs, the blood. This is much healthier for the body and because you simply rinse it out and use it again and again, it is better for the environment too. This is a good alternative to tampons, if you were looking for one.

I decided to give it a try (I should probably mention that I am in no way affiliated with this company. I am simply a person who was curious about it and wanted to tell you all my thoughts about it. I am not getting compensated for this review). Basically, it's amazing! When I opened the package, I was surprised at how small it was. I know that sounds odd because most people say how huge it is but I guess I thought they really meant big so when mine came, I was expecting like a...Dixie cup or something. It still takes some maneuvering to get in the right spot and there are several folds to help you do this. I'm not going to go into how to use it because there are so many different ways but basically, it will take a little bit of time so be patient and relaxed. You probably couldn't get tampons right the first time either.

Once properly sealed, there are no leaks! You can wear it for up to 12 hours, but even if it's full before then, you don't have to carry around any extra pads or tampons or try to calculate how many you'll need for the time you are away from home. Like I said before, you simply rinse it out and reinsert it! How great is that?! It's comfortable, once you get the hang of it and it really improves period life. It can be a bit messy, especially at first, but I don't find it any more messy than a pad or tampon once you get used to it all.

I have always been one of those girls who hates her period and tries to plan her life around it because it just seems to take over but no longer! My cup is great and reusable pads, whether as backup or an alternative, also seem to make my period more enjoyable. I really recommend trying either or both and see how your life can improve. I realize this sounds kind of fake and unbelievable but trust me, it's so true! Once I use up all my disposables, I will never go back. I also plan on introducing my daughter to all of this in 10+ years (when she's old enough--she's a baby right now).

My Official Reusable Pads

I have finally found the perfect combination of layers and absorbency for my reusable pads. I have discussed using them before but I never got it quite right. Then I took a hiatus on it for a while, got pregnant (rendering anything I made untestable), and just recently got back to it. So far, I only have 2 made, 1 one of each size (regular and overnights) but these are just so perfect! As I find more time, I will be sewing more. Although, I also recently ordered a Moon Cup so with that coming, I'm not sure how many more I'll need.

I know this probably grosses out some readers but you would not believe the difference reusable pads make! Even if you ignore the money you'll save, the environmental factors, and the fact you can make them to your specific needs, these are great! They are more comfortable, I have heard they shorten your cycle, you're not putting chemicals anywhere near your body, they are cute, and I just find them a huge improvement! You can google more about it if you are curious about the other factors.

Since I only have one for now (for daytime), I am still using disposables. I can tell there is immediately a huge difference when I switch from my reusable back to my disposable or vice versa. Mine are just about as thin, don't make that awful crinkly noise, don't have the wings stick to my legs (I can't be the only one with that problem), and just feel more comfortable!

I made my daytimes 10in x 4 in but that includes a 1/4 in seam allowance (and some room for trimming since my layers didn't end up exactly even). It is very important to prewash all fabrics you will be using or you will experience some shrinkage in the wash, and all the fabrics will shrink down to the same size.

I have a flannel layer on top, then a layer of t-shirt (literally, I cut up an old t shirt), followed by a microfiber cloth (like the kind you get the automotive aisle), a layer of vinyl-y type stuff, and lastly a layer of pretty polyester (I'm sorry I can't get more specific than polyester but it's thin and reminds me of a linen). I know that sounds like a lot of layers but since most of them are really thin, I promise these pads won't feel bulky. So you cut all of those layers to 10x4. Then layer it all out and sew with your polyester layer and your flannel layer right sides together (so you can sew all the way around, leave a gap, and flip it out with your seams on the inside). Sew closed your gap. Then figure out how long you want the wings (I measured what I would need using my underwear). I used a flannel layer for the top and a polyester layer on the bottom. Right sides together, sew, flip, sew closed. Attach wings to the back of the pad by pinning and sewing the square where they overlap. Add a snap to the wings and boom! You're done! I do take it one step farther because I have a problem where mine like to slip around so I write something (usually my name) in puffy paint on the bottom.

The only difference between my day times and my night times is length. My night times are a couple inches longer and the back flares out just a bit, giving me more coverage. If you are a sewer, these are so simple to make. They are also easy to care for. I wash mine like how I wash everything else but then I hang them up to dry instead of putting them in the dryer. I also know some people soak them in cold water between the time they are done using them and the time they do laundry and the time they do laundry and then use the water as fertilizer for their flowers. It's actually a really healthy thing for the plants.

I can't rave about these enough! I hope you enjoy them just as much as I do. Of course if you don't sew, you can always have me sew you some (for a fee of course, but I will try to be as cheap as I can about it) and just let me know in the comments what you're looking for!

Wet/Dry Bag 2

Once again, I am inspired to make my own pads (and maybe actually do it this time!) but first I needed a place to put them. So I made a wet/dry bag because I ended up using my divided one for nursing pads. I used this tutorial with a few minor changes. This was a really simple bag and I could easily make a lot of them (or more in different sizes!). In my previous post, I had mentioned I had learned how to do a boxed bottom by using the seam and cut method and it was with this project!

My outside was part of a cotton fat quarter and my inside is a vinyl-y type of fabric I got at a fabric garage sale a while ago. I figured both of these make the bag washable, which may come in handy if I really do end up storing used reusable pads in it for on the go.

I did make mine a little smaller because I wanted it to fit in my purse, plus the zipper I had was only 9 inches, rather than 10. Then I had intended to leave out the part of the zipper to make a cute little tab for it but for some reason, mine didn't work out that way. I think it had something to do with my sewing over the little metal pieces at the end of the zipper. This also causes not only a broken needle (boy, was that a mess to fix!), but also the end of your zipper doesn't line up so there is a teeny tiny gap when you close the zipper (meaning it doesn't close 100% of the way). That's okay though. It's good enough for me! Plus, it's easy enough I could make another one if I wanted.

As you can tell from my size comparison with a computer mouse, this is a small bag! But I think it'll be perfect.

Getting Back to Reusable Pads

I would love to get back to making my own reusable menstrual pads but I am currently stuck. The plastic disposable ones from the store have sticky backs so they stay in place. Without having special underwear with velcro or something sewn into it, I am not sure how to make mine stay. I started using some of my prototypes and my free trial one from Party In My Pants, and both slide around. I tried to look it up online and see what other people do but most people say this doesn't happen to them. Anyone with advice, please comment below.

I have also wanted to try the reusable cups for a while too but they are rather expensive. I know in the long run they will save you money over buying tampons but it is a big initial investment and I'm not even sure what brand to buy since they differ so much. I did find a website that teaches you how to knit your own tampons that I'm pretty excited about. Some people think this is going too far but if you look at the amount of waste from tampons, that's more extreme than making your own.

I will advise you that if you make your own, make sure the yarn is undyed and preferably organic hemp or cotton. I think this is one use where organic actually makes sense.

I will try to post more when I get farther but in the meantime, this is all I have thought up.

Goodbye For Now

After 3 time changes, my c-section is (hopefully) officially tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30pm. I have to be there at 11am and can't have anything to eat after midnight tonight. I can have sips of clear liquid until 6am. I'm really mad about this because when my c-section was scheduled for 7:30am (getting there at 5am), I couldn't have any food or drink after midnight tonight. So instead of going 7.5 hours without food, I am now going 13.5 hours without food. I don't get it but I'm going to starve! I'm sure the baby will be worth it and everything but still. I'm not sure why that didn't get changed. Plus, sips of clear liquid (examples given were water, apple juice, and 7 up) isn't really going to do squat because I can't have enough to equal anything worth having but I suppose anything could be better than nothing.

Anyway, rant over. Since I will be in the hospital a minimum of 3 days and unable to stairs, bending over, etc plus I'll have a new baby (and my mom here to help out, although David is also taking off of work), I will not get to blogging (or doing anything worth blogging about) for a while. I'm not sure when I will make a come back but I am fairly confident that this isn't good bye forever.

I have been nesting a lot lately. I've been making more burp cloths, nursing pads, and a crib sheet. I never did get around to making enough cloth reusable pads (for bleeding, not nursing) but everyone always says that there will always be things you wanted to get done but didn't, even when you know exactly when your baby is coming (of course, there is still a chance I could go into labor before then but I really highly doubt it. Teeny has shown no signs of coming anytime soon--which makes me wonder if I wasn't having a c-section when Teeny would come.)

So for those of you who have wished me luck, thank you and I will try to keep everyone updated as soon as I can but please bear with me and understand it may be a while, even months. 

Water Resistant Fabric

I am getting frustrated at my fabric. There were some specific ones that I bought as the top layer of my reusable pads. Some are cotton, some are flannel. Currently, if you pour water on them or lay them in a puddle of water, the water beads up and pools or runs off instead of being absorbed into the material. This is true of new things, especially towels. So I washed them. I tried hot water. I tried cold water. I tried using (homemade) detergent. I tried using no detergent. I tried a vinegar rinse. I tried no extra rinse. I tried using dryer balls. I tried air drying them. These things got washed a LOT. If washing them was going to help, it would've by now. We never use fabric softener (which is what most people online seem to think the problem is). I also tried beating them up (twisting them, rubbing them, crumpling them). I am seriously out of ideas.

I am very disappointed because for once, I had a specific use for my fabric and it just isn't working out. Plus, I'm now not sure what to use to top my pads because this isn't working out. They're all different brands. They're from different stores. They weren't all bought at the same time. I truly don't get it. Some of the flannel topping I used for the burp cloths are from this bunch and after my excessive washing, they got absorbent. I'm not sure what makes those ones different from these ones. They were even washed together!

If anyone has ANY advice, I would really, greatly appreciate it because I am at my wit's end. I'm going to end up having to use this fabric for something else and I really don't want to.

The one thing I haven't tried is sun drying them (but that's because it's winter and we don't really get sun here in winter. I'll have to wait til spring).

Wet/Dry Bag

Do you remember way back when in March or earlier and I was working on making a wet/dry bag for my reusable pads? Well, I finally finished it this weekend! The project was started on my old sewing machine and it was basically my first machine project. It was also my first (and so far, only) project with a zipper. I was getting the instructions as to how to make it from David's mom. Then we kind of forgot about the project and by the time I rediscovered it, it had been months and I still didn't know the next step. It turns out, all I had left to do was sew along three of the four sides (not the zipper side for obvious reasons) and I was done. It literally took about two minutes to finish and I had been waiting months to finish it. Kind of funny. It definitely feels good to have it done though.

So the basic design is based off a bag I already have but this one has a liner (for the dirty pads) and a center piece (kind of like some wallets have) to keep the clean from the touching the dirty. The final bag only measures 8 x 5 but I think it is a handy size for even a smaller purse. I also had the option to square the bottom but decided not to since squaring the bottom on my tote bag was such a pain.

Obviously due to being pregnant, I haven't been able to try it out yet. I'm still excited for it and I think it's awfully cute. You could also use this design for anything else that you want two compartments for.

The outside takes less than a fat quarter and that's all you need if you don't want to line it. If you do want a liner, that'll also be less than a fat quarter but since I used a different fabric, I'm not sure if one fat quarter would do the job or if you'd be better off with two. The divider part also has interfacing in it (what doesn't?) to make it stiffer. It doesn't really matter what thickness you use since you'll be folding that piece in half anyway.

I'm not going to put all the details here but if you are interested, let me know and I'll see what I can help you with. This type of bag is very easy to make, not like the tote bag.

I apologize for the blurry, dark pictures. I was kind of in a hurry. Also, for the one with the center thing, it actually is the right size and doesn't bend like that naturally. I just bent it so it was easier to see.

Recent Sewing Projects

I have mentioned some sewing projects I have been working on in previous posts but I haven't updated you all on them for a while now. The first, is the coasters (you can find the link under my crafts and projects tab). I'm actually almost done with them. I would've been done a long time ago but I am hand sewing them. When I started, I didn't have a sewing machine. Now I do but I'm still kind of timid with it (still trying to get the hang of it) so I don't want to mess up what I've already started. They're very cute and I'll be sure to post pictures when I'm done. I did make a few changes to the original but that was only to make it easier to hand sew. We have been needing coasters for a long time. I know we could buy them at Goodwill or some place but it seemed like a good project to start with.

The second thing I am working on is a wet/dry bag for my reusable pads. It's about 8x5 and has a zipper across the top (my first zipper!). My mother in law is helping me lots with it since I wasn't really sure how to get started. The outside is cotton (fat quarters actually) and the lining is a polyester something (for water resistance). It will have a divider in the middle to keep the clean ones separate from the dirty ones. I'm about halfway done with it but I haven't worked on it in a while because I have been doing this one with my machine and I've already had to rip open a bad seam (which meant I got to buy a seam ripper! I love getting new supplies).

For my birthday from my mother in law, I got a couple books about sewing and things to do with fat quarters (which are pretty much the only fabric supplies I have right now) so I am excited to get started on new projects. I should probably finish what I've started before I move on though...

Making a Bag

I am in the middle of a couple projects right now but I wanted to blog about making a bag for my reusable pads. Right now, I am using a ziploc for my dirty pads but that seems to defeat the purpose so I am in the process of making a bag that will be able to hold the dirty pads and have a divider in the middle so I can have some clean ones in there too (and this way they won't touch or get mixed up). I'm pretty excited about it and my mother in law is helping me because she is experienced and I am not at all. This will also be my first zipper! Of course, I will post pictures when I'm done but it's going to be a bit because my next step is to attach the zipper and my sewing machine doesn't have a zipper pedal. I do have the choice to buy one but she (my MIL) already owns on and I would need her help anyway so we will have to find a time to get together. It's gorgeous fabric on the outside (a geometric paisley, colorful) and a pink polyester satin on the inside. The zipper is black. The bag is 8 by 5 and modeled after a bag I already own but has a different purpose. I'm so excited! Once I have my bag, I will be more inclined to make more pads. I only have two so far and of course they're my first ones so they're more prototypes than anything. But I have some ideas for new ones (and can post those too if people are interested). I love sewing!

Reusable Pads

I was unsure whether or post about this or not and after a lot of debating, I decided to go for it. My first sewing project since getting married has been to make my own reusable menstrual pads. It's actually a lot easier than one would think (and believe me, I have no sewing experience!). There are many pros to using them and you don't even have to make your own because lots of companies sell them online. However, if you want something more specific to your needs, then the best thing to do is make your own. There are many websites with patterns and tips on what to do but the one I personally found most helpful was this one. On that site, they also do a great job explaining the pros and cons. Once you get past washing them yourself, they can be really nice. Because of all the waste disposables cost, I highly recommend looking into these. Also, if you don't use pads they have reusable cups, sponges, etc on the market that you may be interested in.