Crochet Tampons…Really?!
Of all the things that I find online, yes, I found a crocheted tampon!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the idea of crocheting a tampon and reusing it makes me cringe! I’m sure at some time before tampons and pads were invented, women must have used something and probably did reuse them. But today, when we do have nicely engineered things to stick in specific places, why in the world would you want to crochet one? Maybe to prove that anything can be crocheted? Or to save the environment from waste? To save money?
Whatever the reason is, I’ll stick to the store bought ones, I like those!
By the way, sorry for grossing you out if I did.
Some people actually do find this environmentally friendly, but i think the water used washing — and the bleach — must be equally bad for the planet. BTW, Rachel, it was mid-20th cent. when all the disposable stuff came in; prior to that it was a cloth diaper-like thing that had to be washed and re-used — triple yuck!!
Very interesting! Thanks for the info Meg!
thats grim, I’m all for the environment but thats one step too far. I thought those moon cup things were grim enough!
Sorry world but I will use disposable.. I’ll make it up to the planet in other ways heh
Just when I think I’ve heard everything! Too gross.
wow…and I was cringing at finding cloth ’sanitary napkins’…I applaud people’s attempts to go green, but that is too yucky for me
Hey! Don’t diss reusable menstrual pads until you’ve tried them. While I admit that the idea of crocheted tampons sounds a bit gross, reusable menstrual pads are the BEST THING EVER! Before you discount me as a crazy hippie (which I’m not!), do listen to this.
When I read an article that said how great they were and I was very sceptical about the whole thing and thought – “reusable? YUK!” However, I couldn’t believe that the author of the article would think they were that amazing if they were actually all that disgusting, so I bought a couple to try them out. They were so brilliant that I have no intention to use disposable ones again. I didn’t think I found disposable pads awkward or uncomfy. I only realised how wrong I was when I tried cloth pads. They are so soft and comfortable! You can get them all kinds of patterns (this really makes me smile when I have my period). They don’t stick to you – there’s nothing worse than getting a pad stuck to you then having to rip it off – OUCH! And you know what? They don’t smell! It turns out, the reason disposable pads smell so much is because of the chemicals they put in them to “make them smell sweet”. All you have to do with them afterwards is soak them in cold water and then throw them into the washing machine with everything else. I thought dealing with that part could be a bit icky, but it’s really easy and takes no time at all – you can soak them in a wee plastic box or a cute pot with a lid – it can be very discrete! There is nothing negative to say about reusable menstrual pads AND it’s environmentally friendly! They are truly fantastic!
Well there you go, those are my thoughts on reusable menstrual wear. Even if one more person decides to give them a shot, this won’t be a lost cause!
Cool! Glad to have a first hand experience to read about Kate
In my book, this is certainly a YUCK topic but I would rather read about it because I clicked on it. Rather than have it streamed into my living room via TV commercials at dinner time.
Remember the good old days when they advertised tampons on TV, without showing one or even really alluding to what they were or what they did! Everything is WAY to graphic for me these days! My mother had to make her own pads and wash them and all when she was young, and she quit doing that when the disposable ones came out….so, I guess SHE didn’t think it was such a good deal! Of course they didn’t have the state of the planet to worry about back then. (I’m 66, and I wasn’t born till my mother was 39, so, do the math!)
hmmm were these for actual use or just a novelty thing? i would deff. make one for fun and some giggles, but never for use! thats just weird. lol
p.s. rachel, you should make up a pattern for crocheted earrings! (im very into these lately) using thread and a teeeny tiny hook :]
Hey Missy, there were for actual use. Although making them for giggles would probably be fun too, lol. I haven’t tried making earrings yet, that would be an awesome adventure
Gotta go get some supplies.
Not gonna use one… YUCK-O! But what a fun gag gift. Just might have to make a couple…
Ok, I googled , I gagged lol and I said noooooooooooo way GROSS!
Okay – I’m all for the environment too – and I’m all for comfort, but I’m also too lazy to handle reusable sanitary napkins OR tampons! I don’t need one more chore around the house – plus it being one that most certainly NO ONE will do accept for me, lol!!!
Love the idea if I could get around the “ick factor” but I have to say I don’t think I could pass on the convenience of just tossing away my used one…
Hey Rachel,
This made me think of my Granny. She was born in 1899, and used to regale me with tales of her childhood. When a girl came to the “time she became a woman”, her mom and sisters would help her sew pads. They washed them and reused them. This always sort of freaked me out. But your post today reminded me of Granny, so even if I would never ever use a crocheted tampon, I thank you for the post.
I agree with Nancy, Grandma would sew the pads out of rags (hence the phrase “on the rag”, and soak them in cold water. When washed, they were hung on the inside of bushes so the “men in the family” would not see them. I was with her my first time, so got the benefit of her wisdom. I also have heard of American Indians using the “fluff” from inside the cattail plants that grew in MI, but no proof.
Thanks for the post…but I will stick to the commercial products!
Interesting thread, I remember an older friend saying on laundry day, she was mad that women had to scrub those pads and men didn’t have to do that. Jealous of the boys!
I am thinking of using some washable pads to keep my undies clean as I am inbetween -and -going into menapause so never know what to expect these days!
Also my hubby is older, just retired, & our budget woes are ‘impossible’ so actually can’t afford to buy as much of anything after bills are paid, so washable is just what i need, to step back into time, and use the old way, but maybe with a fun fabric as I have lots of fabric to make them from. Always have to do laundry anyway. So I’m going to give the pads a try, but make them myself. Would never use a tampon anyway.
But a wonderful topic to remember the past & the coping skills of ladies of all generations. And I too, wish TV would stop being so graphic about sensitive topics of all kinds, it just isn’t necessary. BTW, I just turned 50.
Hi Rachel
My grandmothers also were doing her tampons (here in Brasil, ‘absorbent hygienic’).
We cannot deny … everything that goes, one day returns, but I never imagined the turn of original tampons.
Please, excuse the possible mistakes in your language. I don’t speak English … I use translators.
Have a happy new week!
Hey, I’m only 31 and I have been using cloth pads for almost a year now. I was using enough pantiliners that the pads have actually started saving me money, and since I put them in with other loads of laundry do not cause me much extra work. I have never been a big tampon fan and started to hate throwing all the plastic away day after day. (So I am not sure if I would try a crocheted tampon, but when that last box of them I got to go swimming runs out I will be tempted.)
My experience matches Kate’s in that they are much more comfortable. It is also easier to wash and dry them than go out to the store when you run low. I use more water with mine because I rinse mine out- but you are NOT supposed to use chlorine bleach with them because it will make the fabric break down and not absorb as well. So I am not poisoning the earth for them.
Now, for the ick factor. Really. This is something that is supposed to come out of you, and is infinitely cleaner than the other two things that come out of the area. I have spent almost all of the past 8 years changing diapers (3 kids will do that to you), sometimes several times a day. Rinsing my pads is a lot less icky than that- or the accidents I have to look forward to as I potty train kid #3. Menstrual blood does not carry bacteria, and surfaces it touches do not have to be bleached afterward.
I rinse mine to prevent staining. It works well for the most part, but does use more water.
Travelling can be easier or more complicated, depending on if you are staying with your in-laws! I have momentarily considered crocheting pads, but want to get better at crochet and investigate more first.
If you still consider the concept icky, think on this: Those pads and tampons you buy may be individually wrapped, but in no way at all are they made with sterility in mind, much less to actually BE sterile. It is possible that the cloth could be cleaner, even after it was used and washed. Your clothes are clean, right?
To those who are interested: Shop on Etsy over eBay. The materials are better. I would suggest you get a variety of styles and materials to see what works best for you. After you examine what you already buy to see what you already like! If you are on Ravelry, there actually is a group discussing this sort of thing called Period Pieces.
I hope this helps and that I have not further grossed anyone out! (or gone on too long, which I tend to do….)
I was at an anime convention this weekend and one of the Artist Alley tables was selling crocheted tampons. Though they were just for entertainment purposes, not for use (They had cute little faces on them:-D)
Thanks for the information on reusable pads. I’ve seen them and never heard anyone’s opinion about how well they work. Kate and Carmel’s experiences were well written and gave us a lot of unasked answers – thank you, ladies!
One other thing Carmel mentioned I agree with wholeheartedly. Sadly, we were taught that menstruation was something to be disgusting, inconvenient, “the curse”. For me, I’ve come to discover that it’s a way to affirm my femininity, my place in the world as a woman and it is another way for me to be comfortable in my own skin. I hope I’ve taught my daughter, and my soon to be menstruating granddaughter, to be comfortable with how our bodies work.
And…when I’m crampy, I try to envision my son or my husband dealing with cramps! I feel better right away…
now Rachel, did you think you’d inspire this type of conversation when you made your posting?
i can definitely see using the reusable pads if you have a light flow or in place of panty liners, but would they work well for someone with a heavy flow? i would think that the disposable kind might provide more confidence/comfort in that regard…or would it?
Hi Charlotte,
Reusable pads are also great for people with a heavy flow (I have a heavy period). You can get/make ones of different thickness and width and they don’t leak! – I was so impressed. You can buy them with wings attached, which have a wee popper that joins them in the middle – you do not notice this once you have attached the pad to your knickers. I thought it might be uncomfortable to sit on, but you don’t notice it at all. The wings ensure that the pad stays in place – unlike the wings on plastic pads, which did little else apart from sticking to my legs!
I bought my pads from Renee in Canada –
She is fantastic and responded very quickly to my emails. It’s also great to be able to support a stay-at-home-mom rather than an anonymous company benefitting from the money on plastic pads you’re going to throw away.
Renee has different sizes available: Maiden, Moon Light, New Moon, Full Moon and Sleeper. I use Full Moon and New Moon and haven’t had any problems at all. With plastic pads, I always found that I was worried about leaks and, especially at night, the pad seemed to curl up/move which led to leakage. Renee’s pads are actually quite long – almost 11 inches – which, at first, I thought was a bit excessive, but actually it ensures that there really are no leaks and they are soooo comfortable I won’t be parted from them! On the confidence front, reusable pads win hands down!
I would really encourage you to have a look at Renee’s website and see what you think. If you have any questions, I’m sure she would be happy to answer them – she answered mine! They may seem a bit on the expensive side, but if you factor in that they last for 10 years, it’s really an economical option!
The final thing, perhaps what I love most about reusable pads, is something nobody ever talks about…so here goes. I, like all other women who have been through puberty, am hairy. I found that every time I had my period, my pubic hair would, well, get all matted. It really annoyed me and is actually quite uncomfortable, but I just assumed this was the way things were. Not so! Reusable menstrual pads are made of fabric, not plastic, so your hair stays soft and un-matted. There! I said it. I am just so passionate about reusable menstrual pads and horrified that I bought into the disposable ones for so long!
Rachel – what an inspiration you have been for an interesting debate!
I just love seeing different points of view, especially if I can learn from them
I think the idea of homemade pads is growing on me. I might have to try it out soon! I love experimenting. But reusable tampons is still in my yuck category, I’ll have to think about those some more.
Hi girls!
Sorry!
I committed a mistake. My grandmothers were doing her pads, not tampons.
Problems with the language…
Happy Thursday for all