FAQ

• What do I need to do for material preparation?

Material does not need to be pre-washed. To save on time; ironing and pre-cutting can be done at home, but is not necessary.
 

• How long will I be expected to stay?

Our circle meets for three hours at a time on One Thursday evening and one Sunday late afternoon each month. You are welcome to come to one or both days. Feel free to stay for the three hour block or just for a short time. The core members will stay for the whole three hours. We appreciate any time you have to fellowship and serve with us.
 

• Will there be food and drinks?

Members of the team will provide light snacks. You are more than welcome to bring a snack for yourself or to share.
 

• What supplies will be on site for us to use?

Two large cutting boards, 2 rotary cutters, 2 ironing boards, 2 irons, and extra material to share.
 

• What should I bring?

If you want to sew: a sewing machine, materials you plan on using, thread, and scissors.
 

• How can I be involved if I am unable to attend any of the meetings?

You can donate materials. You can visit the blog for detailed instructions and patterns; then make them from home and drop the finished products off at church.
 

• I want to be involved with the sewing circle, but I don’t know how to sew. Can I still come?

Absolutely! If you want to learn-a core member will gladly teach you on their machine. Also, there are other things that could be a great help to the sewers; such as cutting materials, pinning, turning rags right side out and ironing.
 

• Will I have a specific task assigned to me?

Whatever you want to work on will be your task. We will be working on one specific item at a time; with each member working on one specific step. Like an assembly line.
 

• What if I am unable to bring material to sew or to donate...can I still be involved with the sewing circle?

Yes! Please come...even if you are empty handed. We have extra material on site for everyone to use. We have an extra sewing machine as well for your use. All we need is you.

 

• Do I need a sewing machine?

If you want to sew or teach someone else to sew: Yes, it would be best for you to bring a machine. Though, we don’t want you not to come because you don’t have one. We can find something for you to do. Also, we do have an extra machine for someone to use.
 

• Is the sewing group suitable for younger girls?

Definitely! Please use discretion on if this will be a suitable setting for your girls. This is the perfect opportunity for you to teach your girls about sewing and to fellowship in a serving environment. If they don’t want to sew, but want to help in some way; then they could help you or the other women.
 

• Why is this particular pattern being used over other ones?

This is a multi-purpose rag that will accommodate various flows. Because it folds out, it has a quick dry time and will enable the user to keep more stock in her ready to use bag. The rounder is a waterproof base that does not need to be changed when the rags are wet. With the PUL , a rounder insures there will be no mess or leakage. In an all in one pattern, they do not have the waterproof materials inside and have a greater chance for outflow. If the PUL was to be added to each pad, then the cost would dramatically go up and the pads would also take a lot longer to dry.
 

• What happens to the sewing circle when we have met our goal to supply all the girls at God Cares School?

That is what we are hoping for! Every year, there are new girls coming in to the school who will be in need and many other girls are approaching their cycle for the first time. There will be a continuous need. At some point, we hope to reach surrounding villages and possibly our own community.

Material List

Each age appropriate girl at the God Cares School in Uganda will receive a storage bag filled with:

•  12 Rag Pads
•  12 hygiene wipes
•  2 Rounders
•  1 wet bag

 

Purchasing all materials on the list will provide one complete set for one girl.

	FLANNEL Dark colors and patterns	RIBBON (3/8 inch thick)	PUL polyurethane laminated fabric	RIPSTOCK NYLON water resistant fabric	100% COTTON old sheets orquilting material
12 Wipes & 12 Pads	3 yards	3.5 yards	X	X	X
2 Rounders	¼ yard	1 yard	¼ yard	X	X
1 Wet Bag	X	1 yard	X	¼ yard	X
1 Dry Bag	X	1 ½ yard	X	X	2 layers: 12x15

When Picking Out Materials:

Flannel material: should be on the darker side or have busy patterns. Patterns with signs or symbols could be offensive; such as peace signs, skulls, or Chinese markings and the like. Please use discretion when picking out your materials.

Ribbon: projects work best with a 3/8 inch thick ribbon and can be purchased on large spools. Left over ribbon can be used for other products.

PUL material: comes in several colors. Because it is hidden-any color can be purchased. From your ¼ yard purchased-you will have enough extra material for the inside of two more rounders.

Ripstock: is a water resistant and light-weight nylon fabric, perfect for carrying soiled wipes and rags. Black ripstock will be best for this purpose.

100% Cotton: 100% cotton material works best in making the bags and can take the heat from ironing. There is a huge variety available and can always be found on sale. We will also be re-using materials from old sheets and pillow cases.

Rag Pad

A Rag Pad is a simply made re-usable menstrual pad to be used with a Rounder. It is a 14 ½ x 8 rectangle made with super absorbent flannel, double stitching, and a ribbon loop to hang dry. When used with a rounder; the Rag Pad will last several hours during a light cycle and about 2 hours with a heavy flow. Rag Pads can also be doubled up for extra protection. Once Rag Pads are washed; they can be hung on a line and will be completely dry in full sun within 3 hours. Rag Pads can also be used as a hygiene wipe or cleansing cloth.

Materials needed for 4-6 pads (left overs to be used for hygiene wipes)

• 1 yard flannel
•  1 spool of matching thread for sewing machine
•  Ribbon for loop

 
1. Lay flat 1 yard of flannel longs ways-with pretty sides facing each other and iron.
2. Lay material on cutting board. Note that you will have two layers.
3. Measure on the folded edge: 8 ½ inches across and cut all the way to the edge (going up) with a rotary cuter. Do this 4 times. You will end up with 4 long pieces.


 
4. Using a ruler and rotary cuter: measure 14 inches away from fold and cut all pieces across. At this point you will see if the length in material will be enough to make more 14x8 ½ rags. If you come up to short, then hygiene rags can be made with the left over ends. Sew as you would the rags.


 
5. With pretty sides still facing each other; use four sewing pins to attach both layers together at corners.

 

6. With fold positioned furthest away from you: start your straight stich, about 1 ½ inches down from fold on the right side, line the edge of material to your footer and stitch around the three opened sides. Don’t forget to back stich when starting and ending. Your top right side edge will be un-stitched.

7. Cut corners-without getting to close to stitch line.
                   

 
8. Turn material right side out with pretty sides showing.


 
9. Shape material and iron flat. Taking care to iron under the un-stitched section.

10. Place a piece of 5 inch long folded ribbon into the opened edge: leaving about a 1 inch loop hanging out. Pin in place.

 

11. Starting at the un-stitched seam: sew (don’t forget back stitch) around all four sides. Ending at the stich you started. Stitching close to edge will ensure the seam allowance on the inside will be stitched and reinforced.
     

 
12. Fold over once. Then into 3rds. You are done!
                   






Rag Pad and Hygiene Wipe:

 

Rag Pad in use with a Rounder:
       

Rounder

The Rounder is the waterproof base for the Rag Pad. The Rounder wraps completely around a pair of panties and snaps securely closed; it acts as a waterproof barrier, and houses the Rag Pads. It is an 8 inch circle made up of three layers. The middle is made of a material called PUL- polyurethane laminate. PUL is a 100% polyester knit fabric laminated with 2 mil of the polyurethane film. It is completely water proof, super thin, and durable enough to be used in the medical field with multiple washings. The Rounder’s other two layers are made with flannel and incase the PUL. Two center strips of ribbon sewn to the top and bottom hold the Rag Pad in place. The Rounder can also be used as a waterproof panty liner.

Materials needed for 2 circle pads

•  2 9x9 pieces of flannel for top and bottom
• 1 9x9 piece of PUL (waterproof fabric)
•  Sewing machine thread
•  Ribbon (will hold rag pad in place)
•  Circle pattern

1. Layer all three 9x9 pieces of material.

i. Bottom layer: flannel-pretty side face up.

ii. Middle layer: flannel-pretty side face down.

iii. Top layer: PUL-shiny side, face down.

2. With your pattern laying firmly on the PUL: trace the circle onto the PUL.
     

 
3. Pin around the inside circle (About 1 inch away from line), taking care to not allow bunching of the materials.

 

4. With all three layers of material: sew directly on the line around the circle, leaving a 2 inch opening. Back stitch when starting and ending.
     


5. Cut PUL close to the sewing edge as possible, without cutting sew line.


6. Trim the two layers of flannel, leaving about a ½ inch all around.



7. Find your opening and grab the first two layers of material and turn right side out.

8. Fold under opening and iron seems flat.

9. Find the top side of material by locating the rough side of PUL. That will be your top. Pin opening closed.

10. Sew around the circle close to edge. Don’t forget to back stitch.
   


11. Using your pattern and the top side of circle: mark with a pencil or chalk the snap holes.


12. With pattern still in place: cut a 5 inch ribbon piece and fold under the ends until it lines up with pattern. Pin both edges into place. Do the same with the second ribbon. Carefully pull pattern off.
     




13. Holding firmly onto ribbon edge or keep pin in place: sew the edging with a forward and back stitch. Do this with the remaining three edges. Take care that the ribbon doesn’t shift. Cut excess ribbon off.
    


14. Find pre-marked snap holes: clamp in snaps. You are done!


***This is a pattern for The Rounder that can be enlarged (7.75 inches diameter) and printed. They will also be available at our sewing circle meetings.

Bag

This will be a bag to deliver, carry, and store all hygiene products that we will be supplying. This is a perfect project to bring out old shirts, sheets, pillow cases, and the like to reuse, reduce, and recycle.
Materials needed for one bag
· 2 - 12x15 pieces of material
· Thread
· Ribbon
 
1. Rotary cut two pieces of material into 12x15 rectangles.

 

2. Put the two pieces of fabric together, wrong sides touching, so that the 12″ sides are across the top and bottom and the 15″ sides are on the left and right. Measure down three inches from the top right corner and mark the spot with a pin. Do the same on the top left corner. These pins will tell you where to start and stop your sewing. The top 3 inches on both sides will not be sewn.

 

3. Start at one of the pins and sew along the two sides and bottom of the fabric, leaving the top (and the top three inches of each side) open; trim the seam allowance close to the stitching.

 

 

4. Turn the bag inside out .Press with an iron and sew again along the same three sides. Be sure that you sew in far enough to encase the edges from the first seam, which are now inside the bag. The reason for this double-sewing is to create a “French seam”, which completely hides any frayed edges and gives you a pretty seam, inside and out.

 

5.  With the bag still inside out; fold down the very top edge about 3/8″. Iron this fold flat. This will create a pocket that will hold the ribbons.

 

6. Fold the top down again so that the ironed edge comes down to where the stitches start on the side (remember our 3″ mark with the pin?). Pin in place.

 

7. Then fold the sides of the flap in so that the fabric edges aren’t showing and pin them in place. Do this step for the front and back of the bag. As you do this, be sure that you don’t pin the front of the bag to the back of the bag — just pin the flaps in place to make a pocket. The bag should still open with the pins in.

 

 

8. Sew along the BOTTOM edge of the flap, where the pins are. When you get to the opening on either side-keep sewing straight (backstitch to reinforce). You need that gap on each side of the bag for the ribbons to go in.

 

9. This is what it will look like.

 

10. To put the ribbons in: Lay your bag flat with the two openings on the right and left side.
 
11. Cut two pieces of ribbon 30 inches long each. Attach a safety pin to the end of one ribbon. ****I have used two different colors to better demonstrate****
12. Insert the pin into the opening on the right side of the bag-into the pocket on the front of the bag until it comes out on the left side.

 

13. Then feed it right back through the left opening, this time into the pocket on the back of the bag, and push it through until it comes back out the opening on the right side of the bag. The cord should have made a loop around the whole top of the bag and both ends should be hanging out the openings on the right. Remove the safety pin from the end of the ribbon.

 

14. Now take the other ribbon and put the safety pin into the end. Mirror the technique you just completed on the right side…. this time starting on the opening on the left side of the bag. Tie both ends.

 

 

15. You should be able to pull the ribbon on the right side and the left side and have it close shut.