Making your own washable breastpads is very simple and easy to do, follow our sew breastpads tutorial to learn how to make your own cloth breastpads.  Washable breastpads are fantastic when you are breastfeeding, as they are soft and reusable and you can make them as absorbent as you need them.

Materials to sew breastpads from

When you decide to sew breastpads, you then have to decide what materials to make them out of.  Usually you will need a layer to go against your skin, an absorbent layer and a waterproof layer.  The most simple construction would be a layer of pul on the outside, a layer of hemp, microfibre, bamboo or cotton on the inside and then microfleece next to the skin.  Some people like to use minky against the skin when they sew breastpads as it is so soft.  Another alternative is to use bamboo or cotton velour against the skin which will be both soft and absorbent.  I have also made them myself with wool as the outer layer, as it will act as a waterproof layer, but is more breathable than PUL.

How to make breastpads

The first thing that you will need to do when you decide to sew breastpads is to decide what size you want them.  I usually make them between 10 and 12 cm across.  The simplest shape is a circle, so the easiest thing to do is find something round that is the same size as you want your breastpads to be.  You can then draw around it onto your fabric as a guide for cutting out.

Once you have cut out your fabrics you will want to layer them with the PUL shiny side in then the absorbent layer and then the layer against to go against the skin with the side you want against the skin facing out.

PUL doesn’t like being pinned as it puts holes in the fabric, and the three layers may be difficult to pin through neatly.  I usually use clothes pegs to hold the three layers together before I start sewing.

The best way to sew the three layers together is with an overlocker, but if you only have an ordinary sewing machine, then you can go around the edge with a zig zag stitch.  If you don’t have a sewing machine at all, it will be slightly more time consuming, but you could hand sew around the edge using blanket stitch.

All you need to do now is wash them before use and you’re ready to go.  Do you sew breastpads? What do you use?

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