Crafting is a great way to be creative and take your mind off of world events, particularly during grad school. I especially like when my crafting can be useful in my life and the lives of others.
About a year ago, I decided I wanted to be more sustainable when it came to my personal health. Disposable pads and tampons are a burden on the ecosystem and not to mention expensive! It was at that time I bought a Diva Cup, which was awkward to use and figure out at first. Not to mention the look on my boyfriend's face when he saw me boiling it the first time (sorry Matt!).
After a cycle, though, I was so happy with my cup. It felt cleaner than tampons and pads, and there was so much less waste. At the same time, I saw posts on Pinterest about "unpaper towels" and shampoo bars and all sorts of other eco-friendly alternatives to disposable products we use every day. I also was hearing more about the lack of access to period products across the United States and the world. The cup was great, but sometimes you just need a panty liner. So I looked up a pattern to make my own reusable pads and liners!
I found a couple of patterns online, but the gist was to trace a pad (with wings!) on soft flannel, and then the pad (without wings) on a filler fabric and a special wicking fabric used for burp cloths and reusable diapers. You quilt the pieces together and then added a snap to the wings to hook under your underwear.
My first time wearing my own homemade pad felt a little silly, I mean I picked the fabric because it was a cheap remnant that had sharks on it and that made me giggle, but it was so comfy! The flannel wicks away moisture better than the plastic material of disposable pads and it felt more like just soft undies than a diaper. At the end of the day, I could just throw it into my laundry basket and it would be there for me next time.
Now that I'm working from home for the foreseeable future and have no weekend plans, I've dug in deep to crafting. I'm making plenty of reusable pads for my friends and will probably find a way to donate them to women in need as well. It's a great way to do something for myself, both my mind and my body.
Thank you to Liesl Krause for today's post about sustainable crafting! Follow her on Instagram & Twitter at @SourKrause94.