By Corrine
Flatt, midwife, Las Vegas NV
corrine@nevadamidwife.com
Nearly any all-cotton material is fine for breast pads. Most of the commercial ones are flannel, so
let’s use flannel for this first set, but I have used old tee shirts, old
jeans, old towels, and anything else about to go in the trash or recycle
bin. You can also add a waterproof
layer, using those waterproof mattress covers or vinyl/flannel tablecloths.
Draw (with a washable crayon) and cut out four circles, 3
1/2 to 4 1/2 inches across.
If you are
using a sewing machine, set your machine to zigzag stitch. The stitches need to be narrow and tight,
10-12 stitches per inch, and 1/6 to 1/4 inch wide. If you are using a serger, set your machine up for three-thread
overlock stitch, 10 stitches per inch, and 1/6 to 1/8 inch wide/deep. I like to serge these, and I like to use the
soft wooley thread. If you are using a
sewing machine, use all-cotton thread.
You can make them shapelier by cutting out 1 to 3 little
triangle tucks, and sewing the “wrong sides” of the edges together. Do not cut (or sew) the tucks all the way to
the center of the circle.
Stack the little circles (with any tuck stitching on the
inside) so that the top and bottom of the stack have “right sides” out, and
stitch them all around the edges.
The sewed edges will be exposed, but the wooley thread or
all-cotton thread should not irritate.
TA
DAH!! Once you get started, you will be
able to make a dozen of these in about an hour.