In the article Food Storage Basics: Step 4 — Non-Food Items I explained the importance of storing non-food items as part of your emergency essentials. However the ultimate long-term solution is learning the skills to be self-reliant. That way you’re not dependent upon your supplies.

For example, a very important part of many women’s monthly routine is the use sanitary pads. But what if there were no stores available to get them? Well, since I’m definitely no expert on this myself, I thought I’d pass the baton to some of the ladies out there that have some experience with this. Not only do they claim that they are more comfortable and perform better than the disposable ones available, they’re also tons cheaper and safer for the environment too. Here’s a list of resources that provide all the instruction and tips that you need (I would recommend making a supply of these or at least printing some of the instructions out in case the internet isn’t available to you):

Free Patterns: Homemade Menstrual Pads and Instructions

Keep in mind that the link descriptions are snippets taken from the webpage directly and are not mine

• How To Make A Circle Pad: When the sides fold in they make a wing unlike any other pad out there. There is no way they can leak!
• Cloth Pads: Winged snapped cover with folded liner insert.
• Beveled Pad Tutorial: Several layers sewn together for inner liner, has wings.
• Homemade Sanitary Pads: Making decisions between groceries or sanitary pads is not a pleasant place to be so I was tickled when another mom shared a link to homemade pads. I ran some simple ones up on my sewing machine that day and have pretty much been a convert ever since.
• Cloth Pads For Dummies: They do take a bit of effort but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
• Cloth Menstrual Pads: Once you try a cloth menstrual pad, you will never go back to plastic again. Don’t you deserve to wear cloth too?
• Make Your Own Cloth Pads: Cloth pads designed for custom absorbency and there is no need to have a serger machine to make them. These are turned and topstitched pads with custom absorbency sewn in, and you also have the ability to add in extra inserts for heavy days.
• Pauline’s Free Cloth Menstrual Pads Sewing Pattern: These washable cloth menstrual pads are quick and easy to make, and very comfortable to use. Plus, they’re cute!
• Many Moons Pad Pattern: This page is dedicated to providing instructions on how to sew your own washable pads. They have been redesigned several times over the past years to provide maximum effectiveness and ease of use. Give them a try, make as many as you want – use them!…give them as gifts!..most importantly, have fun!!! The more cloth pads out there the better for the health of women and our planet!
• Instructions for Cloth Menstrual Pads: Design with snapped wings (or buttoned if you prefer), also details a pattern layout for getting the most pads from fabric that you can.
• Washable Menstrual Towels (pdf): Includes instructions for how to wash and care for fabric menstrual pads. Patterns include a winged wrap and liner.
• Menstrual Pad PatternsThese pad making patterns are provided here for use by the home sewer to make pads for themselves.

• Posted in Self-Reliance