|
| |
Cashmere Nursing Pads: Lovely concave shape forms to your body.
Use sportweight, 20% cashmere 80% virgin wool, Hook size F, 70 yards is plenty to make a pair
Sportweight wool is best for liners or light leakers. If you need more protection, see the instructions at the end.
Can’t find cashmere? Try baby alpaca or marino wool. Both are lovely and soft.
Finished size: 5” diameter
|
|
|
Foundation: Ch 2
Round 1: stitch 6 sc in second ch from hook, slip stitch to join to first sc.
Round 2: Ch1, 2 sc in first sc and in each sc around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (12 stitches)
Round 3: ch1, (sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (18 stitches)
Round 4: Ch1, (sc in first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (24 stitches)
Round 5: Ch1, (sc in first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (30 stitches)
Round 6: Ch1, (sc in first 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (36 stitches)
Round 7: Ch1, (sc in first 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (42 stitches)
Round 8: Ch1, (sc in first 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (48 sttiches)
Round 9: Ch1, (sc in first 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (54 stitches)
Round 10: Ch1, (sc in first 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (60 stitches)
Round 11: Ch1, (sc in first 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (66 stitches)
Round 12: Ch1, (sc in first 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (72 stitches)
Round 13: Ch1, (sc in first 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (78 stitches)
Round 14: Ch1, (sc in first 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (84 stitches)
Round 15: Ch1, (sc in first 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (90 stitches)
Round 16: Ch1, (sc in first 14 sc, 2 sc in next sc) continue around. Slip stitch to join to first sc. (96 stitches) Finish off. Weave in loose end.
Cashmere is wonderfully soft near the skin, and this wool blend makes it affordable. I found my 66 yard ball at our local specialty yarn shop for $5. It was called "truffles." Buying a pair of ready made Marino wool nursing pads runs about $15 a pair.
Wool nursing pads block moisture from reaching your clothing better than cotton, because wool can absorb 40% of its weight in liquids without even feeling damp. It is still breathable like cotton, but it also has therapeutic properties in its lanolin content and its ability to keep your breasts warm. This guards against mastitis and engorgement. Also wool is antimicrobial, so it won’t smell bad or breed bacteria. For this reason most women only need 2 sets of wool pads. They wear one, dry one and rarely need to wash them. Only wash them if they become stiff (crunchy) feeling. Then hand wash in a specially formulated wool wash containing lanolin to keep their waterproof characteristic.
Although this pattern is for sportweight wool. Use whatever wool you like in whatever weight it is available and adjust your hook size accordingly. Then repeat the pattern above until your nursing pad reaches the desired size. If you need to go more rounds just add 6 stitches each round. ( I think you’ll be able to see the pattern of increase.)
|
| |
| The heavier weight your wool is the better it will be at controlling leaks. Sport weight is wonderful for mothers who rarely leak, while worsted is better for heavy leakers. Also for extra protection try making 2-2" circles. Then finish the pad, by working the rest of the rows through the end rounds of both circles. When you are finished you will have a double thickness in the center where you need it most. (I used an H hook with my worsted alpaca yarn and could leave off the last 4 rounds.)
|
| |
| Note: Alpaca is wonderfully soft, but is shorter fibered than some other yarns. It tends to shed a bit like Angora, so watch your nipples for stray fibers before nursing.
|
|
|
|
|