How to Sew a Feminine Pad Pouch

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Today I'm sharing how to sew a feminine pad pouch. Whether you're a traveler or just out and about in your own town, having a nifty feminine pad pouch to carry your essentials is helpful, as well as super discreet (and kind of cute, too). See the entire tutorial below.

If you're like me, you may need some extra protection from light bladder leakage. I always carry TENA intimates® with me wherever I venture. I created a couple of these feminine pad pouch bags to make carrying my TENA products a bit more on the discreet side. I've got the complete tutorial for these below, plus a little story to share, as well.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

I've been wanting to share this for some time, to kind of bring awareness to a recent diagnosis I received (that I honestly didn't even know existed prior to that).

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with a condition called Pelvic Organ Prolapse. This is usually a condition that occurs in women over the age of 75, however, after much research and finding a lot of online support, it became clear that I'm definitely not the only person in my 40s who is dealing with this issue. There are a couple of ways to treat this. Right now, where I'm currently at in my process with Pelvic Organ Prolapse, I had my doctor place a device called a Gelhorn Pessary in my pelvic floor.

This was a life-changer and made walking and exercising (and well, life, in general), much more do-able than without the pessary in place. However, I quickly realized that having this device in place meant I was dealing with a significant amount of incontinence. I was warned this could be a possibility, but didn't know how severe it would be until I lived with my device in place for a bit.

A friend of mine told me about TENA intimates® when I mentioned my situation to her. I was having trouble leaving my house for any stretch of time, for fear the incontinence would strike without warning (which is how it happens, and I honestly don't even realize it's happening, which can be a bit unsettling). She assured me that TENA intimates® were a great solution...and she wasn't wrong.

Since I travel a bit and feel like I'm always having to remove the contents of my handbag for airport and other security stops, I wanted to create a simple little Feminine Pad Pouch to house one or two of my TENA intimates® Ultimate Pads that I can keep with me all the time. The pouch I came up with has a ribbon-topped closure, to avoid catching the packaging of the pad in a zipper. Plus the ribbon adds a fun element of texture to the bag and makes it quiet to open and close (which is nice when you're in a public bathroom stall trying not to draw too much attention to yourself...yeah, no velcro for sure on this one).

One or two of these TENA intimates® pads can easily slip in and out of this little pouch. Be sure to hover on the above image so you can shop for your own TENA intimates®.

I've used both the TENA intimates® Overnight Pads and the TENA intimates® Ultimate Pads, which is the product I designed this pouch around. These both offer fast absorption to keep skin fresh and dry due to the use of ProSkin Technology™. It helps to maintain your skin’s natural balance.​ All of these products offer triple protection from any leaks, odor, or moisture (I even wear them with my white jeans without worry!). TENA helps protect and care for your intimate skin.

How to Sew a Feminine Pad Pouch

I designed this pouch to be used inside of a purse or daily bag. I carry a crossbody bag when we travel (and honestly, almost every other day of the year, too). So, I only take one extra pad with me to save space. So, the main tutorial below is for a singular pouch. But, I'm also sharing how to make it a bit larger for more than one of your TENA pads.

Supplies for a Feminine Pad Pouch

The pad I designed is lined in an alternate fabric and also has a bit of fusible fleece inside, as well. This gives the piece more body and makes it easier to take your pad(s) in and out of the pouch. The below supplies are for a pouch holding one pad. To increase this for two pads, add two inches to the widths of both fabric pieces and lining. For one pouch, you'll need the following (as pictured above):

• 1-14x6" rectangle of fabric (this is your outer lining)
• 1-12x6" rectangle of fabric (this is your inner lining)
• 1-12x6" rectangle of iron-on fusible fleece
• 2-9" lengths of ribbon (your pick, I prefer grosgrain)
• other sewing items not pictured:
  • thread
  • clips or pins (I prefer clips)
  • iron/ironing board
  • sewing machine
  • scissors

Sewing Your Feminine Pad Pouch

• Start by ironing your fusible fleece to your inner-lining fabric's wrong side. Follow the instructions on your particular brand of fusible fleece to adhere it properly to your fabric.
• Allow the fabric to cool to the touch, so you can handle it.

• Lay your fleece-lined fabric on top of your longer piece of fabric (wrong sides together), so one inch is hanging out on either side (as pictured above, on the left side of this piece of fabric).
• You'll do a double fold on your extra lengths of fabric (as pictured above on the right side of the fabric). Start by folding your excess fabric towards the other fabric a half an inch and iron that fold into place. Then fold it again (another half an inch) on top of the lining fabric. This piece will be used to hold your ribbon in place.

• In the above photo, please take note of the ribbon in the top of the image. You'll want to fold the tip of your ribbon down half an inch. Iron that in place.
• That folded part of the ribbon will slide under your ironed/folded part of the fabric (that's the ribbon I'm holding above).

• Clip or pin those ribbons in place (as pictured above).
• You'll be sewing the folded fabric down to catch the ribbon, so pin or clip the folded parts on both sides.

• I prefer to use my zipper foot on my sewing machine to sew these pieces down. I can run the edge of the foot right along the fold for the perfect seam allowance (roughly 1/4").
• You'll use a basic stitch and do a small backstitch when you start and stop, on both of these folds.
• Remove your clips or pins as you sew.

• You can see above how the finished edges on each side look, with the ribbon tucked under and sewn in place.
• The reason for tucking that ribbon under the edge of the fabric is so it is caught twice in the stitch...kind of reinforcing it.

• Now, fold your pouch in half with the outer lining on the inside (you can press it with your iron so it stays folded neatly). You will then sew up each of the sides (the ones without the ribbon pieces) to close your pouch's sides.
• It doesn't matter if you start sewing from the folded side or open side. But be sure to give it at lease 1/4" seam allowance.
• Use a basic stitch and do a small backstitch at your start and stop on both sides.

• Simply turn your pouch right side out through the ribbon side.
• Be sure to push out your corners and give your pouch a press of the iron.

These are seriously easy to make and kind of addictive to sew, too.

Simply slide your pad(s) inside the pouch. These are also great for those instances when you don't want to lug your handbag to the bathroom with you. Grab your cute feminine pad pouch and off you go!

And the pouch fits perfectly even in a smaller crossbody bag like I often carry.

Look for TENA intimates® products at Walgreens in the incontinence aisle. Or, find them online at Walgreens, too. Be sure to look out for the following offers, available in upcoming Sunday papers:

• $3 off any TENA product in the paper on 10/6, expires 10/20
• $3 off any TENA product in the paper on 11/3, expires 11/17