Question concerning core

[sewingmisfit]

I've finished all the pads I cut and prepped the materials for in my last post. I'll probably post a picture tomorrow if I have time. What I was really wondering, though, has anyone used just plain flannel for the core and how did that work out for them? I have some less than pristine, though still pretty, flannel that I've cut tops out of and I

Comments

[smplyscandalous]

I only use flannel for my cores, old flannel is perfect!
I only use 6 - 8 layers for a moderate flow pad and sew channels through it and that flattens it right down.

[sewingmisfit]

Ah, thank you! Just the feedback I wanted. :)

[littlravn]

I have made a few with just flannel (I also cut up an old sheet) but I prefer to alternate the flannel with hemp fleece so I have to use less layers overall and it goes through the sewing machine more easily than 7-8 layers of flannel by themselves. But if you dont' bleed like a sieve you may not need that many layers and in that case just flannel would work ok.

The nicest thing about upcycled flannel is that its already broken in so it is immediately absorbent so you don't have to wash the pad a bunch of times in order for it to reach its full absorbency.

One method to keep high absorbency without getting uber thickness is to cut your soakers in varying widths so you have some skinny strips toward the center and less bulk outside of the center.

[sewingmisfit]

Thank you for the feedback. You've just reminded me of a method I saw somewhere of a very thick pad, with each layer of the core being slightly smaller than the layer below. And it was sewn together so that you were never sewing through more than two layers, if I recall aright. I'll definitely have to try that out for a thicker pad.

[delqc]

I make my pads pocket style with terry cotton on top and a flannel absorbent layer in the middle. I make an insert of two squares of flannel zig-zagged together, and then fold it into thirds and insert into the pad. The bottom of the pad is also flannel or jersey cotton, so overall I have one layer terry, and 6-7 layers of flannel. I have a very, very heavy period, and generally a pad like this lasts 4-5 hours on a heavy heavy day. I also used similar pads for post-partum bleeding with a lot of success. I remove the insert to wash, and it makes them go much faster through the washer and dryer. The flannel insert also (IMHO) makes for a thinner pad than using terry cloth or hemp fleece for an insert

[sewingmisfit]

Thank you very much for the feedback. :)