Up-cycled Cloth Pads {Part 2}: Pattern Making

{Buy My Cloth Pad Pattern HERE.}

How to make a cloth pad pattern.

A note on pattern paper: 

You can use almost any kind of paper to make your pattern out of. I have used newspaper, regular printing paper, and brown paper (old Aldi bags). I am sure cardstock would work well.

Method #1 Using A Disposable Pad

• Trace the shape of your disposable pad onto pattern paper. 

• Use a ruler to add 1/2 an inch around the border of the shape you have traced. This is the seam allowance.

• Cut along the outside line of the pattern shape.

• Cut the wings off of your disposable pad that you are using as a template.

• Trace the wingless pad onto a new piece of pattern paper.

• Cut out the wingless pad shape that you have just traced.

• You can now label the wingless pattern piece 'A' and the winged pattern piece 'B'.

Method #2 Using A Quarter Folded Paper

• Fold a piece of paper in half and then into quarters.

• Decided how long you want your pad: divide that number in half. Take that number and mark where it lands on the long, folded, edge of the quarter folded paper.

• Decide how wide you want your pad in the center: divide that number in half. Take that number and mark where it lands on the short, folded, edge of the quarter folded paper.

• Draw a curved line connecting the two points. (As seen in the picture)

• Cut on the line, through all the layers. Leave the cut out piece folded.

• Fold a second piece of paper into quarters.

• Lay the already cut pattern piece onto the new quarter folded paper, carefully lining up the folded corners.

• Trace the shape onto the new paper.

• Add a tab to the traced shape. As shown. This will be the wing.

• Using a ruler draw a line 1/2 inch from the original shape, including the wing. This is the seam allowance.

• Cut out the winged drawing, through all layers.

• You can label the wingless piece 'A' and the winged piece 'B'.


I carry my pattern in several sizes on my Etsy store, if you are interested you can click HERE.