Daughters of the King Red Tent Project—Washable Sanitary Pads for Sudan Women

Pattern pieces:

  1. Liner (outside at crotch and inside as liner)
  2. Pad shape for absorbent area—pattern not included make 3-4 layers 3” x 10” rectangular shape
  3. Back pocket style flap opening

Recommended fabric: 100% cottons, unbleached muslin, flannel, old t-shirts, old terry toweling. Be sure to WASH new fabric before beginning. Liner, outside at crotch recommended either flannel or T-shirt fabric. I think the t-shirt jersey fabric is awesome for near the skin. I found that if I used a flannel on the crotch side and a t-shirt liner on the inside it really made applying the absorbent pad layers to the liner easier. (see construction)

  1. For the absorbent pad layers choose highly absorbent terry toweling or 100% cotton batting (if used in states this is acceptable). I used old bathroom towels, old t-shirts (do not use the decal portion of the shirt as it has too much plastic in it). I discovered that if you cut open the t-shirt sleeve you can get at least two pad sized cuts from each sleeve, and I cut the liners from the body of the shirts.
  2. Back flap opening required either flannel or other 100% cotton fabric. T-shirt fabric does not work for the flap.
  3. Cutting method for each sanitary pad:
  1. Cut at least two of the liners
  2. Cut several layers from your choice of fabric for the crotch shape pad layers. I used at least one layer of toweling, and augmented it with t-shirt jersey, 100% cotton.
  3. Cut two of the back flaps of 100% cotton or flannel. T-shirt jersey will not work for the pocket style flap.

Construction method for each sanitary pad:

  1. Hem each of the back flap sides.
  2. Lay the collection of pad shapes of the various fabrics onto the choice for crotch side of the liner, placing the pad shapes on the WRONG side of the liner. Then place the inside liner atop the stack, lining up the crotch liner and the inside liner. If you use a white 100% cotton liner or t-shirt liner you can see and feel the pad through the layer.
  3. Stitch around the ABSORBENT PAD area through all the layers. Stitch about ¼ inch from the outside edge of the pad area. I did this by feel mostly and it works, the pad should be enough that you feel the ridge.
  4. Lay the two back flaps on the crotch side liner, right sides together, lining up the outside cuts.
  5. Sew through all layers around the outside of the liner patterns.
  6. Clip the curves slightly, check to see that all the layers have been sewn together, trim where necessary, and turn.
  7. Use your fingers and “press” out the curves stretching out the seam, and make a top stitch about ¼ inch all around the outside of the pad liners in order to hide and protect the loose seam fabric.
  8. Make a button hole in the outside narrow edge of the finished pad and sew a button on the other side. This will button around the crotch area of the underpants. Snaps may be used as the closure rather than buttons.

Check online directions for visual aid:

For patterns, cut a pattern at the Sudan booth or go to the web site: