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Making Your Own Cloth Menstrual Pads - A Guide to Fastenings

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Why waste money every month on disposable menstrual products that are only going to end up in landfill? Cloth menstrual pads are convenient, comfortable and empowering... and they're also fun and easy to make! This lens focuses on the many different types of fastenings that can be used for cloth menstrual pads, and their pros and cons.

Polyresin (plastic) snaps

KAM brand polyresin caps from Ar BrinicA favourite with professional pad makers, polyresin snaps are durable and come in a multitude of sizes and colours. They are made up of four components: two "pronged" caps, one socket, and one stud. To apply polyresin snaps, you need a snap press. These come in two types: an industrial, heavy-duty press, which is suitable for heavy use, or a hand plier version that is best suited to light use. In addition to the heavy-duty press, you will also need correctly sized dies, which hold the snap components in place. Sizes 16, 18 and 20 are the most popular for cloth pads.

While the initial equipment is expensive, the snaps themselves can be bought cheaply in bulk. If you plan to make large quantities of pads, it's an investment well worth considering.

Pros:

  • Sturdy and professional looking

  • Large choice of sizes and colours

  • Easy to apply with the correct equipment

  • The snaps themselves can be bought cheaply in bulk.


Cons:

  • Snaps can distort if tumble dried too hot or ironed over

  • Initial set-up is expensive

  • Snaps are not reusable or biodegradable


Summary:

A good option if you will be making a lot of pads; very expensive if you will only be making a few.

 

Where to Buy Polyresin Snaps and Equipment

Ar Brinic
European supplier of KAM brand snaps in a variety of colours and sizes, dies and presses. Based in France, ships internationally. Highly recommended.
The Snap Store
USA supplier of KAM brand snaps in a range of colours and sizes, dies and presses. Ships internationally.
Eco Earth Fabrics
UK supplier of polyresin snaps and presses. Size 20 snaps only, limited colour options.

Polyresin Snap Setting Services

Polyresin snaps come in lots of different sizes and coloursIf you want polyresin snaps but don't want to splash out on expensive equipment, some pad and nappy makers offer a snap setting service. This involves mailing your pads to somebody with the right equipment, who will apply snaps for a small fee. Luna Wolf offers this service in the UK, for 20p - 25p per pad plus return postage. Obsidian Star offers a similar service in Australia for 50c per pad.

It isn't difficult to find a pad maker who will snap a few pads for you, even if they don't specifically offer this service on their site. If you're not in the UK or Australia, try posting in Livejournal's Cloth Pad Community.

Metal Snaps

Snap pliers and metal snapsOne of the most versatile snap options available, metal snaps are ideal for people who want a professional look without spending a lot of money on equipment. Metal snaps can be applied with inexpensive hand pliers, which can be bought from most sewing or craft shops. They can also be applied with dies and a hammer, or dies and an industrial snap press.

Like polyresin snaps, metal snaps come in four parts: two caps, one socket, and one stud. The caps come in many different colours, and can be solid or "ring" style. You can also get faux pearl or jewelled versions. While most sewing or craft shops carry basic metal snaps, you will probably have to buy coloured or pearl snaps online.

Metal snaps are typically biodegradable, and can be removed and re-used after application. Unless you get a "long pronged" version, they can usually only go through two layers of fabric at a time. The more layers, the greater the likelihood of the snap not setting properly, or "popping" out later. Metal snaps are usually more expensive than polyresin.

Pros:

  • No expensive equipment to buy

  • Can be bought in most sewing/craft shops

  • Quick and easy to apply

  • Can be ironed over without damage

  • Biodegradable and reusable
.

Cons:

  • Will not set properly if there are too many layers

  • Snaps themselves are more expensive

  • May not be suitable for people with nickel allergies.


Summary:

Great if you're making a moderate number of pads and don't have nickel allergies.

Metal Snap Pliers on Amazon

Great deals on pliers for metal snaps.
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Sew-On Snaps

Sew-on snapsIf you're only making a few pads, or you just enjoy hand sewing, sew-on snaps are ideal. There are both metal and plastic versions, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Colours are usually limited. Each snap has two components: a socket and a stud. Sew-on snaps can be bought cheaply at most craft shops and markets.

Pros

  • Very inexpensive

  • Can easily be removed and re-used

  • More readily available than any other type of snap


Cons

  • Can be time consuming and fiddly to apply

  • Fewer colour options

  • Less professional looking


Summary:

Sew-on snaps are cheap, easy to get hold of, and a good choice if you're only planning to make a few pads.

Snap Tape

Snap tape consists of a row of (usually metal) snaps applied to a strong fabric "tape". While its design is intended for applying an entire row of snaps all at once, it's perfectly feasible to snip off one or two snaps and use these on your pads. The one advantage over sew-on snaps is that you can apply them with a sewing machine.

Pros:

  • Inexpensive

  • Can be applied with a sewing machine.


Cons:

  • Adds bulk to the fastening

  • Harder to find than standard sew-on snaps

  • Not as professional looking as other snap types.


    Summary:

    Ideal if you want an easier way to sew snaps onto pads, and/or are more comfortable machine sewing.

    Hook and Loop Fasteners

    Hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro brand, can be an effective pad closure. Hook and loop tape can be bought cheaply, and is easy to apply by machine or hand. However, this type of fastening can be problematic when used in pads. Hook and loop has sharp edges, that can poke tender places and make for an uncomfortable pad. The hooks can also tear up laundry, so you have to remember to fasten your pads shut before laundering.

    Pros:

    • Inexpensive

    • Easy to find

    • Comes in variety of colours, shapes and widths.


    Cons:

    • Can be uncomfortable to wear

    • Can damage laundry.


    Summary:

    Hook and loop can be an effective fastener, so long as care is taken to protect your skin and your laundry from its sharp edges.

    Buttons

    Buttons are cheap, cute, and easy to find - as well as being readily available at craft shops, you can take them off old clothing and re-use them. You can find them in virtually any shape or colour imaginable.

    If you have a sewing machine with buttonhole making capabilities (standard on most modern machines), buttons are easy to apply. Here is a good tutorial on creating buttonholes by machine. If not, making a buttonhole by hand can be quite cumbersome but is not difficult. This article shows how to do it - scroll down for the hand method.

    Pros:

    • Inexpensive

    • Easy to find

    • Come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes

    • Easy to apply with a buttonhole-capable sewing machine

    • Can be re-used.


    Cons:

    • Time consuming to apply by hand

    • Can be damaged by ironing or hot tumble drying.


    Summary:

    An inexpensive, attractive fastening. Best suited for small lots of pads due to the time consuming nature of creating buttonholes.

    Fabric Only Fastenings

    Fabric closures by Amy's Rag BagFabric closures eliminate the need to buy extra fastening components, so are ideal if you're on a tight budget. Amy's Rag Bag, who use a "loop and tab" fabric closure system for their own pads, will soon be offering a downloadable DIY kit, which will include instructions for this type of fastening. Laura of Amy's Rag Bag explains more about the fabric closures here.

    Pros:

    • Can be ironed or tumble dried without damage

    • No need to buy extra materials - can be made from small offcuts of fabric

    • Biodegradable if made from natural fabric

    • Ideal if you find snaps or buttons uncomfortable.


    Cons:

    • More labour intensive than other fastening methods.

    • The tab can tickle your thigh if fastened incorrectly, or you wear loose clothing


    Summary:

    Attractive and durable; the perfect fastening solution if you're on a tight budget.

    Other Fastening Options

    Custom made wingless pads by Luna WolfThis isn't an exhaustive list of possible pad fastenings. When I was an impoverished student I used safety pins on my cloth pads until I could afford to buy some sew-on snaps. While it worked as a temporary fix, I certainly wouldn't recommend it - too much risk of the pin becoming unfastened and causing an unwanted piercing. I imagine that a hook-and-eye fastening, such as that used on bras, would undo too easily, but having never tried it I can't say for sure.

    If you'd rather not mess around with fastenings at all, you might like wingless pads. These are great for cycling or horseback riding, where a fastening might be uncomfortable. They are held in place by snug underwear and friction. Just make sure you keep hold of them when you go to the toilet, so that they don't slip into the bowl. Unfortunately, I speak from experience.

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    Reader Feedback

    • huvalbd Apr 1, 2010 @ 5:39 pm | delete
      This is helpful information for more than making cloth pads. I thought a snap was a snap. I had no idea there are so many options, let alone what's good and what isn't about each of them! Thanks for the help!
    • lunawolf Apr 2, 2010 @ 11:54 am | delete
      You're welcome, I'm glad you found it useful!
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    Fastenings on Amazon

    1

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    Dritz(R) Black Sew-On Snaps - Size 4 4/Pkg

    Dritz(R) Black Sew-On Snaps - Size 4 4/Pkg

    These sew-on fasteners are, well, a snap!0 points

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    Dritz Snap Fasteners 7/16 Inch - 7 Snaps/Pkg White

    Dritz Snap Fasteners 7/16 Inch - 7 Snaps/Pkg White

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    Dritz(R) Black Sew-On Snaps - Size 4/0 12/Pkg

    Dritz(R) Black Sew-On Snaps - Size 4/0 12/Pkg

    These sew-on fasteners are, well, a snap!0 points

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    Dritz(R) White Cotton Tape/Metal Snaps - Size 4/0 18 Inch

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    Wrights Tape Snap 5/8

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    Clear Nylon Sew-On Snaps - 1/4

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