I know, weird first DiY, right?! 🙂
I have to tell you– I received 2 pair of cloth nursing bra pads with my nursing cover. Ever since then, I’ve been in love. These things are the best!!! Not only do they  soak up my embarrassing breast milk leaks before the public see my glaringly wet headlights, but they also protect others from witnessing an awkward marble-in-the-shirt look when I teach my group fitness classes. Nothing is worse than having everyone’s eyes on you for the WRONG reasons! These aspects are great, but what really adds to their value is that they can be washed, dried, and reused! What? No buying them over and over? No trying to put wet ones back in your bra because you swear there is a dry spot on it and, therefore, it hasn’t been used to its potential? No! The only problem is that I lose them. I always end up finding them, but there’s no telling when or where!
In efforts to always have a pair I can find, I ventured into making them on my own. I felt the pads and thought about what would be absorbent and then I went to Joann Fabric store. Pretty much every time I go they are having a sale on flannel, so either that will be the case when you go, or you can pick up their circular at the front of the store and use the 40% off coupon that is normally in there. If you are really savvy, you can also use the digital coupon from the Internet on your phone or their app and now you have two 40% off coupons you can use in one visit (yes, they let you use two!)
If you know how to sew (with or without a sewing machine) even just a little, this will be a breeze for you.
WHAT YOU NEED for ONE:
-Flannel, pattern/color of your choice (you’ll need about two 4″x4″ squares for one pad–feel free to make them bigger, but I wouldn’t go smaller)
-Cotton batting (you’ll need one square the same size as your flannel)
-Any color thread
-Sewing machine or just a needle
-Sissors
-Something round (about 4″ in diameter) that you can trace – a kid’s snack cup, a large cup, a bowl, a vase, etc.
DIRECTIONS:
1) Trace your circle onto your material (2 flannel and 1 batting). The flannel can be doubled up so you only have to cut it once. Make sure to draw on the non-pattern side of the flannel. It doesn’t matter which side of the batting you write on.
2) Cut your flannel and batting into the circles you drew. You can cut both flannel circles together, because they are thin.
3) Stack your fabric: place one piece of flannel pattern-side down, put the piece of batting over it, put the 2nd piece of flannel on top with the pattern facing up.
4) Pin your circles together. Try to avoid creating many bumps.
5) Start sewing in a circle around your pad. I used a zig-zag, but it doesn’t really matter what you use. It’s ok if you mess up, because it’s just for you!
6) Once you complete the circle, trim your thread, wash, and wear!
Now you know what it looks like under my shirt!
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