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Thoughts and Reflections - a quick ramble
Well, I got my period the other day, which was a huge surprise in one way (I was expecting it a week later) and a huge NOT-surprise in other ways (massive mood swings, going from *sob sob so sad* to *hey, a tree! Trees are cool! I like trees!* in the space of 2 seconds).
So, having been productive all morning I thought I would sew up another 4 or 5 pads. Next month I probably will have made enough for a whole cycle! :-) In the intervening month since last installment, I have bought a $35 sewing machine, mostly so I can do small sewing jobbies on the once in five years occasion I have to sew.
It's a very cute little thing, it looks like a kids toy, and can even take AA batteries. And so began my exercize in frustration. I moved the table against a wall in case V woke up and wanted to "help". Then set it all up. The tension was out, so I corrected it. I put my foot on the thingy, it did nothing. Ok, I lied. It went "eerrrrrrr" and tried, but nothing happened. I adjusted everything again without really changing anything. I tried again, and it sewed. It went fine for a bit, and then the material started bunching a tiny bit despite being very flat and pinned in place. I managed to sew a gap into it despite the material being flat and the top peice smaller than the bottom and it was all pinned in place. Anyway. I am sure by now you get the drift. The sewing machine itself worked fine.It was noisy, annoying, and fast.
But really, one of the reasons I was getting frustrated? I could have pulled out the needle and thread and been half way through one by the time it was working. I wouldn't have sewed holes into it if I'd been doing it by hand. I was hunched over an annoying noisy machine. I missed the quiet contentment I got from sewing by hand. QUIETLY. Where ever I felt like sitting. At my own pace. I did complete the sewing for five of them in the time it may have taken me to sew one. But I still have to turn them the right way out, stuff, and then finish them off with handsewing.
I just found it interesting that the device designed to save me time instead left me stressed, crankier, and took away the sense of relaxtion and completion I was getting from hand sewing. I know this is just a point of view; perhaps if I was more at home with a sewing machine it may have been less annoying. But it did highlight to me that sometimes our appliances which are supposed to help us are not as helpful as we might think.
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once again, me is intrigued.
details?
manufacturing details, I means. It's not like *I* would have a need for them, but I have a girl who might.
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But basically, you can get the shape for day ones from tracing your current pads and then drawing all over them to fix any problems you already have, ie length or width.
It needs courderoy on the bottom, as it sticks to other materials best. You want a flap on each side to attach a press stud to. The top layer can be anything you like if it feels comfy. There are silk ones out there, I'm using craft material I've had for ever and needed to find a use for.
Inside, a waterproof lining is suggested, though some people don't bother. This batch I made today don't have lining but the previous ones did - I used some old shower caps, cut the elastic off them, laid them flat, and cut them into shape. For the absorbent layers I used three layers of old nappies. Old towels, teatowels, that sort of thing is fine.
Ok, will find the links in a bit. I failed to record them at the time (already been caught out by this once) and not sure if I bookmarked them.