Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Sewing machine & more

Thank you for the suggestions.  I  called White and got the information that I needed.  I then was able to find a place that may have the bobbin case that it needs.  Once it is fully functioning, I am going to start collecting the parts to convert it to a treadle machine.  I am looking forward to having a treadle.  I learned to sew on one and I also love the thought of being able to sew on a non-electric machine.  Yes, I could sew by hand, but with the amount of sewing that I do, it would take forever.

Slowly, I am getting my homemaking tasks adjusted to being able to do nearly all without the use of electricity.  I am really happy about that.  When we are able, we will be converting our home to a wind powered system and I want to be able to manage with using as little as possible from the system.  We will still be on-grid which means that the electric company would pay us for any surplus energy that we produce above the amount we use ourselves.  I also am enjoying knowing that if we have a power outage, I can still do all the tasks that I do now.  The lack of electricity really would only affect one area - our refrigerator. Other than that, we have light, heat in the winter, a wood cookstove for meal preparation, and laundry can be done by hand.  It feels great not being as dependent on electricity.  We will never be fully without it, but I feel good about the fact that I can do so much and not have to use it.

I am working on the kids' winter clothing today.  I am cutting out & pinning together a stack of pants & knickers.  It may take a day ot two to get them all cut & pinned.  After I get all of the pants & knickers ready, I will spend a day sewing them all at the same time.  Doing the clothing in stages like this makes the job go faster.  The cutting and pinning stage takes the longest.  I am also going to cut out and pin Abbie's hooded fleece scarves.  Those will take only a few minutes to make since the fleece doesn't need to be hemmed.

I have been thinking ahead towards the holidays.  I am wanting to make the ornaments and decorations.  If we have a tree, it will be a small one on top of a table or something.  With small rooms and 2 little ones, a large tree just isn't practical.  I am hoping to make the ornaments in a homespun style.

Sewing machine help!!!

I have an antique White Rotary sewing machine that I need help identifying.  Here is the only picture that I could find online that looks like the one I have.

My beloved, Joe, bought it for me last winter from a thrift store.  The machine works, but I found that the bobbin case assembly is missing.

I don't know how to locate the model number or any information that would help me to find the replacement parts for the machine.  I am hoping to eventually turn the machine into a treadle type.  Currently, it is in a cabinet that has a lever that you work with your knee to make the machine run.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Free Sweater Soaker patterns

I love the way these look.  I am going to work up a few pair for Micah.  Not onlly to use as a soaker, but to have to use this winter to help kep him warm.  I may even look for sweaters in the larger mens sizes to make Abigail a few pair to wear at night under her nightgowns. 

These are simply little knickers & long pants made from recycled old adult sized sweaters.  Those are so easy of find at thrift stores and yard sales.  I am thinking that you can also use the same basic instructions to make the long pants from old sweatshirts.

Born to Love has a simple pattern that makes 2 pair of infant knickers from one sweater.  Kidcentrix has a easy to follow picture tutorial on how to make the long pants from sweater sleeves.  If you were to make your own ribbed cuffs from ribbing fabric, you could easily make of pair of long pants and 2 pair of knickers from a single sweater!

I can't wait to get started on these.   Come winter, they will be a welcome addition to the little ones' wardrobes.

Winter Preparations

Lately, I have been taking inventory of the kids' clothing.  I needed to see hwere things stand so that I can make certain that they have enough warm clothing for winter.   We heat only with wood, so we have to keep plenty of warm outfits on hand.

I have been drafting patterns for both of the kids.  Abbie will be needing new jumpers.  I love making her winter ones from fleece to wear over a long sleeve shirt.  Along with heavy tights and pantalettes, she stays nice and warm.  For Micah, I am making some pants from old sweatshirts and fleece.  I may go ahead and make him a couple of pair of fleece overalls to wear. 

I have been saving Joe's old jeans and have found that I can make Micah a pair of jeans from Joe's old ones.  From one old pair of Joe's jeans, I can make Micah 2-4 pair of infant sized jeans depending on where Joe's jeans are worn out.  I will be using the pant leg of the jeans to make Micah some pants.  When I get a chance, I will take pictures to do a tutorial of how I make them.

I have 2 patterns for socks & slippers for winter.  One is a simple fleece sock similar to the one Kwik Sew sells, pattern number 2725.  It is very fast and easy to put together.  The other slipper pattern is a very nice one you can buy through Candle on the Hill, it is the Homespun Slippers pattern #FAV059. 

When I look at my list of sewing to be done, it seems daunting, but I know that it will all be done before it is needed.  Basically, both kids need a complete winter wardrobe sewn up.  I am doing much of the clothing on my serger which makes the job much faster and easier.  My Beloved and I also need some winter clothing.  That too will be done in time.

I am gearing up to have a specific time each week that is dedicated to sewing for the family.  I am cutting out the fabric one day and then will be able to sew the rest of the week in the evenings.  I am finding that for some of the kids' clothing, it takes me longer to cut out the patterns than it does to assemble them. 

The other major sewing going on is in preparation of the holidays.  This Christmas will be our first real celebration since Joe and I got together.  In previous years, it was just a small celebration.  Now that Abbie is old enough to know what is going on, we will do more this year to celebrate.  So, I have to make all of the decorations for 2 small trees.  One is the Christmas tree, the other is an Advent activity called a Jesse tree.  The Jesse tree will be a nightly devotional activity where each night during the 4 weeks of advent, we read a story from the Bible and place the cooresponding ornament on the tree.  The devotionals start with the Creation and lead up to the birth of our Lord.  I am considering using a homemade clay to make the Jesse Tree ornaments.

Thank You!

Need help finding pattern for my baby boy

Dear ones, I am reaching out to you.  My 3 month old son is already wearing 6 month sized clothing and I am in need of a resource for plain style clothing patterns for him.  In checking the pattern books I was discouraged to find that the few infant boys patterns were for either overalls or gathered leg sweat pants style.  Do any of you know of a pattern for a simple pant or something like a broadfall style in an infant size? 

I am trying to save money by recycling fabric and making his clothing.  Going to a store to buy clothing (even at a thrift store) just isn't an option.  Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

May the Lord's blessings be with thee.

Today's Sewing Projects

Today, I finally got to do some sewing again.  I made a new baby ring sling for carrying Micah in.  I had some moss green linen fabric that I had originally bought to make a dress with.  The fabric was a perfect weight of linen to make the baby sling from as it is strong enough to hold Micah securely, yet light weight enough to not be too warm in the summer.  The sling instructions came from Sweet Things Baby Slings website.  Leah, the owner, used to make and sell baby slings as a home business but as of May, 2008, she has closed her business and began offering her sling instructions on the webpage for free.  She has instructions for making and using both the ring sling and the pouch type.  The ring sling took very little time for me to make.  I serged all the edges before hemming them.  Leah's instructions were very easy to follow and I now have a new sling for Micah that I can't wait to try out tomorrow.

Another sewing project was making a stack of new diaper soakers.  A while ago, I had been given an interesting diaper soaker.  Made of a doubled layer of terry cloth, the soaker was shaped like a cloth diaper buyt without elastic or closures.  The soaker had an additional rectangular piece or doubled terry cloth with rounded corners that was sewn down the center of the soaker to give additional absorbancy.  I love this soaker over any other type I have used.  I wrap it onto Micah, then wrap a diaper cover over top.  At night, I can use it inside of another diaper to give extra absorbancy as a night diaper.  Using the serger, I was able to sew up a stack of these soakers in very little time.  The one change that I made to the soaker was the way the extra layer was sewn in.  On the original one that I was given, the extra soaker layer was stitched down the middle with a single line of stitching that went down the length from one short end to the other.  When I dry this soaker in the dryer, it takes more than one full cycle to dry it thoroughly.  To solve that problem of drying time, I instead stitch the extra soaker across the short end at the back of the diaper only.  This makes a "flap" that will allow the soaker to dry faster, whether it be in the dryer or hung out on the clothesline.

Tomorrow, I hope to get some more sewing finished.  It seems that the list of clothing and other sewing projects never ends when you sew for your family.  I love it!

Crochet Wash cloths

Lately I have been crocheting wash cloths.  I love using them.  They are soft, yet have just enough texture to gently exfoliate the skin.  Normally, I make the square/rectangular ones.  They seem to be the standard type that most people like.  Last night I made a round one with a ruffled edging.  It looks really cute.  I may go ahead and make up more like it to see if they will sell also.

I started thinking about all the baby weight yarn that I have.  Today, I am making some cloths from the baby weight yarn to use for our little one.  I think it would work great not only as a wash cloth but also for baby wipes. 

This is opening up another whole area of possibilities for earning a little income from home.  I have already been sewing some things to sell.  These little cloths however are going to be a nice addition to the inventory I have on hand.

Cloth Sanitary Pads

The reaction when many women hear the words "cloth sanitary pads" is ICK!  It is one of those topics that can bring shudders to a woman who has no problem cloth diapering her little one.  I think in part, the reaction comes from the fact that many women were taught as young girls that their "time" was nasty or dirty. 

Recently, I found a website that has alot of great information and styles of free patterns for making your own cloth pads.  What a great resource!  On this site, the author of the site breaks it all down for you.  She explains the advantages and disadvantages to each style of pad.  There are also printable patterns for making your own and links for those who want to buy them instead.  Of all the websites out there that teach about cloth pads, this has to be the most thorough one I have ever found. 

Of my own experiences with cloth pads, I have found them to be far more comfortable.  I have never had leakage problems.  The ones I make are the all-in-one type that have a water barrier fabric to prevent leaks.  The fastest & easiest way that I have found to make the AIO pads is to use the washable bed pads that you can buy at a store or hospital supply.  These are the quilted pads that have a water barrier fabric on the back that are laid on top of the bed sheets.  You can also find similar bed pads in the baby area for laying in the infant's crib.  The purpose in using these inside your cloth pads is that they are leakproof, washable, cheaper and much easier to buy than finding water barrier fabric online.  I sandwich the bed pad in between 2 fabrics and sew them together on my serger in moments.

Make Your Own Picnic Pack

This is a simple sewing project that you can make in time for summer picnics & BBQs.

I have seen similar totes for sale and they are very pricey, but you can make a set for the cost of one purchased tote!  The tote is simply a rectangle shaped piece of fabric with little pockets sewn in to hold your knife, fork, spoon, and napkin.  It has ribbon ties that hold it together once rolled up.

The base of the piece is a fabric placemat.  Choose a complimenting fabric to make your pockets & napkins.  For a binding across the top of the pockets and to make the ribbon tie, I use bias tape.

Start by making your napkins.  You can do this by simply cutting your fabric in a square 1 inch larger than the finished napkin size.  I cut mine 18” square to make a 17” inch finished size napkin.  You can either finish the edges with a narrow rolled hem or serge the edges.

To make your pockets, cut a piece of the fabric 6” x 6” square.  Trim one edge with the bias tape to make a nice finished edge to the pocket top.  Fold under the other 3 sides a quarter inch and press in place.  Position the pocket near the right hand lower corner of your placemat.  Topstitch along the sides and bottom to attach.  Repeat to make a pocket for the lower left hand corner.  To make the little pockets for the knife, fork, and spoon, divide the pocket into thirds and topstitch.  Place the napkin & utensils into the pockets and roll up the placemat starting on the right hand side.  Cut a length of bias tape long enough to wrap around the placemat and tie shut.  Unroll the placemat.  Fold the length of bias tape in half to find its center.  Finger press to mark the center of the bias tape.  On the left hand edge of the placemat, find the center.  Tack the center of the bias tape strip to the back edge of the placemat.  Add your utensils and napkin, roll it up & tie to secure.

Viola!  You are finished!  Make one of these little totes for each family member. 

I am making these to carry with us when we go to church or out running errands.  We usually carry a picnic lunch with us so that we can stop at a park or somewhere that our daughter can play.  You can keep these totes along with some plastic dinner plates and bowls in a backpack, a basket, or other container large enough to hold them. 

These are great for everything from picnics away from home or backyard BBQ’s.  I love them, as they are also reusable.  Just wash them up when you get home, then repack them so they are ready for the next time.  Having little ones, I add to the pack right before we leave, a little rectangular container with some fabric wipes that are already wet with a solution of water with a drop of baby wash. 

Enjoy!

Flannel Baby Wipes & Prefold Diapers

Two years ago, when we had our daughter, we soon learned that her skin was very sensitive to disposable diapers and wipes.  Once we began using cloth diapers on her, the diaper rashes went away.  The disposable wipes however were still making her sore, even when using the types without alcohol in the solution.  I came across a website that talked about making your own baby wipes.  Since then, we have used cloth wipes almost exclusively. 

Cloth baby wipes have a few advantages.  Cloth wipes are much less expensive.  You can buy flannel on sale and make a stack of wipes that will last several years.  The flannel is much softer on baby’s sensitive skin.  We use a solution made of water and a couple drops of baby wash to soak the wipes in.  Once you no longer need the wipes as a baby wipe, you can continue to use them as little wet cloths to carry with you for quick clean-ups away from home.  You can fold a couple of the wipes in half and stack them inside a cloth diaper to give it a little extra absorbency.   When they get worn-looking, you can use them as dust rags or for cleaning.

Baby wipes are easy to make. I make ours from a double layer of flannel.  The finished size is about 8” square.  You can make these several ways depending on what you have to sew them with.  I use a serger to make ours, overlocking the edges to prevent unraveling of the fabric.  You can also make them using a zigzag stitch or use a straight stitch and trim the edges with pinking shears.  If you want a no-sew wipe, buy a soft, thin polar fleece fabric and cut out the squares.

Another easy project is to make your own prefold diapers.  One advantage to this is that you can make the middle absorbent section as thick as you want.  You can also custom make the size to fit any size diaper from newborn through extra large.  Prefold diapers can be used alone or folded in thirds and placed inside a cloth diaper as a soaker to increase the absorbency of the diaper.  As with wipes, these can be used for multiple purposes such as burp cloths or cleaning cloths.  You can find a nice online tutorial on how to make these at Fern & Fearie Prefold Diaper Tutorial.  In the tutorial, they show how to turn old t-shirts into diapers.  When I make prefolds, I prefer to use a heavy weight flannel.  Whatever fabric you choose, the main thing to remember is to use a fabric that will hold up well to multiple washings.

Cloth Diapering

Cloth diapers have changed.  Years ago, the cloth diapers were a flat large piece of cloth that you had to fold a particular way to get the absorbancy and fit needed.  Next came the prefold diapers, a piece of cloth with a thicker layer in the middle.  You still needed to fold it somewhat to get a good fit.  Problem I always had with both of these was the lack of getting a good fit in the legs to prevent "diaper blow outs" which always seems to happen when baby is wearing their newest dressy outfit or you are somewhere in public. 

Today, you can still buy the prefold diapers but there are better solutions available.  Cloth diapers have stepped into a new era with the fitted cloth diapers.  What a blessing!  These diapers are similar in shape to the popular disposible diapers.  They have elastic in the legs, some also having gussets, that provide a much more secure fit.  For closures at the waist, you can use hook & loop tape, snaps or diaper pins. 

The fitted cloth diapers come in 3 basic variations that seem to be the most popular.  Your typical fitted cloth diaper is made with the elastic legs, sometimes elastic across the back for a snugger fit.  You can find these made in a variety of fabrics, the most common being flannel, fleece or terry. Most styles come with an absorbancy layer built into them.  They don't have a moisture barrier fabric so you need to put a diaper cover over them to prevent leaks.  The All-In-One (AIO) diaper is the same as the basic fitted one with one major difference.  AIO diapers have a moisture barrier fabric either layered inside the diaper or used as the outside layer of fabric.  The most common that I have seen are made with PUL fabric. PUL is a fabric that has a coating applied to the right side that prevents the moisture from leaking through. The AIO diapers have an advantage in that you do not need a diaper cover.    The pocket diaper is a simple fitted diaper "shell" with a pocket opening into which you place a soaker. 

I have used cloth diapers on Abigail since birth.  I started making my own and found that each of the difference styles had it's benefits and drawbacks.  It was a process of trial and error to find the diaper style that worked best, not only in the fit & absorbancy but in the care and laundering of the diaper.  Now we have a new baby in the house and he will be reaping the benefits of the work I did with our daughter's diapering.  Each person who cloth diapers will have their own preferences.  Here I will explain what I learned and what works best for us.

Basic fitted diapers without the moisture barrier layer are easy to use but with one drawback.  Many times the diaper would still leak even with the diaper cover.  Many diaper covers are too small in one area or another to properly fit over the diaper.  To guarantee the best fit you pretty much have to purchase the covers from the same company who makes the diaper.  The main problem are is in the height of the diaper.  Any area of the diaper that is not covered by the diaper cover is prone to leaks.  Another disadvantage is that the diapers, because the absorbancy layer being built into the diaper, take much longer to dry in the dryer.  With the AIO diapers, you also have the problem that depending on the moisture barrier fabric used, you may not be able to dry the diapers in the clothes dryer.  PUL fabric can break down in the heat of the dryer and over a short time lose it's water barrier quality.  If the diaper has a layer of ProCare or other water barrier fabric you may be able to use the dryer without any problems.  The primary advantages to these dipaers is that you don't have several parts (diaper, absorbancy layer, cover) to keep track of.  The diapers, especially the AIO, are ready to use.  The AIO diapers are great when away from home or for use as overnight diapers as you don't have to worry about leaks in the carseat or bed.  A free diaper pattern for these can be found at:  Mama Bird's Diaper Pattern

The pocket diapers are alittle more work to use, but many find them to be easier in the long run.  The diaper shell is made similar to the fitted diapers but without the built-in absorbancy layer.  Most have a pocket opening in the back into which you place the soaker or a folded up prefold diaper to give the diaper the absorbancy level needed.  The outer shell has a water barrier either in the form of PUL fabric or a layer of water barrier material sewn to the back fabric during construction to allow you to use the diapers without needing a diaper cover.  The soaker is simply a rectangle of fabric made from a very absorbant fabric such as fleece, flannel, hemp, or terry.  The advantage to the pocket diapers is that they are very fast to dry in the dryer or clothesline.  You also have the ability to adjust the absorbancy layer's thickness to fit the needs of your baby.     Here is a link to a free pattern for this style:  Ritas Rump Pocket Diaper Pattern

When making diapers for Micah, I have found a balance between the diapers styles that works very well for us.  I took the Mama Bird pattern and made it without an absorbancy layer inside.  The inside fabric is made from either a heavy flannel or a fleece, depending on what I have on hand.  In the middle, I placed a layer of ProCare to prevent leaks.  The outside layer is made from any cotton fabric or fleece.  I made the diaper with the elastic in the legs and back.  Once made, I attached tabs on the sides for closures.  NOTE:  here is where I altered the pattern a bit.  I made the tabs about 3 inches long.  On each tab, I  placed a square of hook & loop tape.  The "hook" part is placed near the end of the tab and the "loop" part is placed near the diaper. When you launder the diaper, you fold the hook tape to attach it to the loop tape.  This will help prevent the hook tape from getting pieces of lint or threads caught in it during laundering.  On the outside of the right hand tab, I placed a long piece of loop tape.  On the front of the diaper, I place a long piece of loop tape across the entire front of the diaper.  The longer the loop tape is in the front, the more adjustment you will have.  To close the diaper, I first attach the right hand tab to fit.  The left hand tab is then placed over the diaper front.  This is where the loop tape on the right tab is important.  If the diaper is alittle large for your baby, you are able to snug up the diaper's waist by overlapping the tabs.

For absorbancy, I make separate soakers.  I measure the soakers to fit the size of the diaper.  The soaker is simply a double layer of fleece that are stitched together either with a zigzag stitch or serger.  You can make 2 with one being slightly smaller.  These are stacked together if needed.  The advantage that I am finding is that I am able to make diapers 1 size larger than the baby's size and get more use from them.  By having the soaker layer separate from the diaper, the drying time is shortened and I am able to adjust the absorbancy needed.  ProCare inside the diaper allows me to machine wash and dry the diapers without worry that the water barrier will fail over time.

I also make my own baby wipes.  Simply cut pieces of heavy weight flannel to the size desired with pinking shears or you can serge or zigzag stitch the edges to prevent unraveling.  Place in a container with a mixture of water and a couple drops of baby wash.  You can also recycle old receiving blankets to make the wipes.

Enjoy!

Nursing Shawl / Poncho

Have any of you ever made a nursing shawl or poncho for discreet nursing in public?  I am trying to find a pattern for something lightweight enough to be used on a hot summer day, yet discreet enough that I would be able to nurse the baby in public without anyone noticing.

In teh meantime, I an trying to come up with something myself.  I will post here when I find a solution.  Until then, and suggestions would be appreciated.

Getting into the Sewing Groove

With the summer's heat, I find myself going through alot of changes.  One being the shifting of the types of work that I am doing.  In part, this is because of the pregnancy.  I can't work outdoors in the heat & I am having to slow down abit.  The timing is wonderful though.  The summer garden is nearing it's end.  The plants are wilting and not producing as much harvest.  I am letting the last of the harvest dry on the vine so that I can collect their seed for next year.  The temperatures are starting to ease enough that I can put the fall garden plants into the garden.   I have a sprinkler in the garden now that I can use to water each morning and late afternoon.

In the hot part of the day, as Abbie is napping, I am getting back into my sewing routine.  I am starting to get more orders as people learn that I sew from home.  I have finally come into a routine that makes the work much faster & more efficient.  Typically, I am washing & ironing all fabrics on Monday in preparation for the week's orders.  On Tuesdays, I cut out all the orders.  On Wednesday, Abbie is visiting her Grandparents all day.  This gives me the uninterrupted time to get most, if not all, my sewing done.  Thursday, I finish up any remaining sewing.  Friday, I mail all finished orders out.  Using this schedule, I am going to be able to get most orders out in a fast amount of time.

I have been working on designing and choosing clothing items that are one size fits most so that I am able to make up a ready-made supply.  Many of my home sewns however, are items for the home. 

Over the weekend, I drafted a pattern for Joe's Mom.  She needed a smock-type apron that provided more coverage than the ones found in the store.  I was able to draft the pattern and make her one.  It works great!  She was very happy with the finished apron.  I am going to be adding that to my offerings.  The smock is a front & back panel that has ties on the sides and generously sided pockets in the front.  I made it so that the panels wrap around the sides more to give much more coverage to your clothing.  I am now working on making a child sized one for Abbie.  My idea is to have matching Mother/Daughter aprons.

I am so excited about the sewing.  It is such a blessing to be able to work from home to help earn more income for our family.  It is moving us closer to our goal of supporting ourselves from the homestead.  The goal of Joe being able to come home and not have to be gone for a month at a time is becoming a reality.  Though we are not ready for him to do so yet, I can see that this goal can be met. 

I am so grateful to the Lord for His guidance and direction in our lives.  He has blessed us so much.  I pray that His spirit be with each of you.  And am so grateful to Him for leading those to me that have helped me to make the home sewing work as a way to provide some income.  Thank you to everyone who has ordered from me.  I pray that the home sewns are a blessing to you as your friendship and support has been for us.

Quilted potholders

I have been having fun making quilted potholders.  It gives me the chance to make a variety of pieced blocks that can be both used when I am cooking, but also can be hung up on the wall of the kitchen for decoration.

If anyone would like to make a quilted pot holder and do a one-on-one exchange with me, let me know.  I would love to do that.  The only thing that I ask is that you use Insul-bright (or similar product) in them as a batting.  Insul-bright is sold in the fabric stores.  It looks just like quilt batting, but has a material sandwiched in the center that makes it protect your hands from heat.  Regular quilt batting doesn't protect your hands, I learned the hard way.  If you cannot find the Insul-bright, you can substitute 3 layers of terry cloth to give enough thickness to protect hands from burns.

I typically make my potholders using a block size of 8 inches (22cm) square.  This makes a very generously sized potholder that is sure to cover your entire hand... something important to me since I cook on a wood cookstove in the cooler months!

If you are interested, let me know.  If you need inspiration, here are a few links to pages with free printable quilt blocks:

http://www.free-quilt-patterns.net/index.html

http://www.quilterscache.com/

Quick & Easy Pads

I have been wanting to sew my own cloth menstrual pads, but after trying several of the free online patterns, I realised that they were not very dependable.  I tried the suggested flannel and fleece, but didn't like the end results.

 I found that though flannel does have some absorbancy, it wasn't absorbant enough.  The fleece was great for absorbing, but it would wick the moisture too well, causing it to wick on the sides and around to the backing fabric.  I finally came up with an idea that works well for me.  I thought I would share it here for anyone else who would like to try it.

 At the WalMart, I found a 18 count pack of inexpensive terry cloth washclothes for under $5.00.  I already had some ProCare waterproof fabric left over from making Abbie's diapers and some assorted fabrics from my scraps.

 To make a pad, I folded a washcloth in half, then in half again to form 4 layers, pin together.  Lay the fabric scrap, wrong side up, on a flat surface.  Next, stack on the waterproof fabric, then the folded terry cloth.  I lay as many of the folded terry cloth pieces as I am able to fit and pin them in place.  Next, using a zigzag stitch or a serger, stitch around the edges of each folded terry cloth.  Then, I simply cut them apart.  I am able to whip up a batch of these pretty fast.  If you want to make "wings" for them, here is a very easy idea.  Measure the width of the crotch area of your panties.  Take this measurement and double it and add another 2.5 inches.  This will give you the measurement all the way around the crotch + 1 inch overlap + seam allowance.  This gives you the length of the strap.  I make the strap 2" wide, which ends up as 1.5" wide when finished.   For the straps, you will need to cut 2 pieces for each strap.  Lay the fabric, right sides together and stitch all the way around, using a 1/4" seam and leaving an opening for turning.  Turn to the right side and topstich edges.   

Now, here is where you can get creative.  You can attach the pad to the strap one of several ways.  I sew these into place, centered on the back of the pad.  You can use hook & loop tape or snaps if you don't want the strap attached permanently. 

I love these as they are absorbent and comfortable.  They are also very inexpensive to make.  You can also adjust the size or layers of absorbency by the way you fold them or folding 2 washcloths together.  If you have a need for heavier pads, you can take some preshrunk thick cotton batting and wrap the terry cloth around it.  The batting is very absorbent and holds the moisture very well. 

I hope that I have explained it well enough.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Quilting

The time has finally come

I get to Crochet Tonight!

Shortcuts in Modesty Clothing