Matersum: Handmade Cloth Menstrual Pads

Matersum pads are designed by myself, sewn by myself, and sold by myself. I am a stay-at-home mom who sews in her spare time. I do this because it's fun and it's a nice hobby. I'm not out to become a giant in the pad world. I make my pads one at a time, with love and care by me and me alone. I do not use a production-line style of pad-making where I cut out large numbers of pads and then stitch them all one after the other. For me, that feels too cold, too impersonal. Pad making is an art, and so I prefer to work on a single piece until it's full completion.

I use a "turned-and-top-stitched method because I find it is more durable and more comfortable. True, it takes longer to see than a serged pad, but I find the end result more pleasing. I also devised a channel stitch which has become my signature mark. A few pad makers have since copied it, but it remains my tag that I use on special occasions. The stitch is a set of double crescents crossing the entire absorbent core. It is first and foremost functional: the stitching helps to prevent bunching and also channels the flow effectively around the pad. The stitching secondly is aesthetic: representative of our cycles, guided by the moon. Fun, no?

This is Matersum's most recent pad style. It is still a prototype and is the combination of two styles dating from late 2007-early 2008 - the very popular AngelHugs and the short-lived V.3.

Features of this pad include:
choice of toppers;
a core of unbleached cotton flannel and organic bamboo fleece;
and backed in black microfleece;
white thread and white professional KAM snaps;
gently flared;
signature double crescent channels;
off-centre wings for more comfort;
turned and top-stitched for durability

This is Matersum's experimental pad style. It is still an update version of the original Matersum Classic pad dating from late 2006-early 2007.

Features of this pad include:
flannel topper;
a core of unbleached cotton flannel;
and backed in black microfleece;
white thread and white professional KAM snaps;
gently flared;
zig-zag stitched;

This pad was designed for those who want to have a pad that is easier to thoroughly clean, all natural, and quicker drying.

Features of this pad include:
choice of cotton flannel or designer cottontoppers;
a fold out core of organic bamboo fleece;
coordinating thread and professional KAM snaps;
gently flared;
turned and top-stitched for durability;

These two pads are variations of each other. A lovely signature design here.

Features of this pad include:
choice of toppers;
a core of organic bamboo fleece;
and backed in coordinating fleece;
colour coordinating thread and professional KAM snaps;
gently flared;
signature double crescent channels;
original butterfly wingspan design;
turned and top-stitched for durability;

Matersum launched this original pad design in early 2008. It has since been discontinued.

Features of this pad include:
choice of toppers;
a core of unbleached cotton flannel and organic bamboo fleece;
and backed in coordinating microfleece or flannel;
coordinating thread and professional KAM snaps;
gently flared;
wider back-end for more coverage;
signature double crescent channels;
off-centre wings for more comfort;
turned and top-stitched for durability;

These pads were just fun to make. I took the pattern from the classic design and turned it into an envelope style pad. When I wanted something a little bigger, I made a "new" version.

Features of this pad include:
choice of toppers;
a core of unbleached cotton flannel and organic bamboo fleece;
and backed in coordinating flannel;
white thread and white hook & loop;
gently flared;
turned and top-stitched for durability;

These were the pads that started it all back in September of 2006. And to this day, they're one of my favorites. Now discontinued, unless by special request.

Features of this pad include:
cotton flannel topper;
a core of unbleached cotton flannel and cotton gauze;
and backed in coordinating flannel;
white thread and white hook & loop closure;
gently flared;
signature double crescent channels - this is where they originated!;
turned and top-stitched for durability;

Keep up-to-date with Matersum's going ons over at my blog: http://matersum.etsy.com

Check out some photos: on my Flickr site

Buy Matersum pads at my home on Etsy: http://matersum.etsy.com