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Absorbent core fabric for sewing cloth menstrual pads, and cloth diapers. How to prep before sewing, and what GSM to buy. Bamboo Fleece (400 GSM) Nature's Fabrics listing Bamboo Fleece Info Absorbent fabric used as core material for cloth pads and diapers. It feels distinctly silky and floppy. 2 layers of this is GREAT for a heavy cloth pad core. Texture The knit side is smooth The brushed side is fuzzy After washing, the fabric edge will curl toward the smooth side. Sew close to the edge to prevent curling inside of your pad. Weight (GSM) Common weights to buy for cloth pads are 300, 400, and 500gsm. I personally enjoy working with the 400gsm weight. Prepping the fabric My most recent yard of bamboo fleece had a shrinkage rate of about 14%. This is normal. To avoid a finished pad wrinkling after sewing, make sure to fully "prep" the fabric. Wash and dry on hot 3 times, before sewing. Performance Bamboo fleece makes very thin pads. Highly absorbent, and stays soft/floppy longterm. Absorbency layers 1 layer = liner/moderate absorbency 2 layers = heavy 3 layers = very heavy/postpartum It might be tricky to sew 3 layers, so it might be good to use a graded (stepped) core approach. Where to buy I love buying pad materials from Nature's Fabrics. They have excellent customer service and stock consistent fabric styles. Not just for cores Lots of people love having the top layer, next to skin, sewn with 300-400gsm bamboo fleece. It's adds a lot of absorbency over the entire pad, instead of just in the core section. Whether you have the smooth or fuzzy side facing out, is up to preference. Dye your bamboo fleece This fabric dyes beautifully with fiber reactive dyes! You can ice dye or liquid dye bamboo fleece.

How to sew cloth menstrual pads. This step by step process can also be used for incontinence pads, and postpartum pads. Sewing your own washable cloth pads is a fun project and also environmentally friendly, by reducing waste from disposable pad products. Snaps for pads Keep that pad from shifting with some snaps on the wings! where to get plastic snaps Plastic KAM snaps are a very popular closure option for the wings of your cloth pad. This is the brand used by cloth diaper makers, which requires stricter regulations for safety.

How to use soda ash, sodium carbinate, for tie dye and ice dye. Sodium Carbonate (soda ash) 1 cup of soda ash + 1 gallon of water Before you dye, here's what you'll need: Get soda ash and then proceed. One cup of ash, one gallon warm, will make the mix in proper form. Just stir it well with gloved-up hands, till every clump dissolves as planned. Now soak your cloth right through and through, then wring or spin (what works for you). It won't get old, won't go to waste. Add water if it's lost some space. Wear gloves and mask when mixing in. Keep covered well from nose and skin. Your colors now will bond for good. The ash has worked just like it should. How much sodium carbonate do you mix with water? For tie dye, mix 1 cup of powdered soda ash (sodium carbonate) with 1 gallon of water. It dissolves faster with warm or hot water. Enjoy a soda ash poem below. What does soda ash do before dyeing? It makes the fabric ready to grab color. The soda ash raises the pH so the dye will chemically bond to cotton instead of just washing out later.

Event photographer documenting local events, community spaces, and everyday life in Elkhart, IN. Photos, guides, and practical info for people who want to know what things are actually like. About Corky Lorenz Corky Lorenz is an event photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana. She documents local events, vendors, and community spaces in the Michiana area. Work Corky provides photograhy and documentation of local events, for press, marketing, and social media use. Location Corky is based in Elkhart, IN, and travels to large regional events in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. Site Content Everything here is written and photographed by Corky, unless otherwise noted. Educational topics include tie dye, sewing, reptiles, and plant care. Links Primary accounts: Instagram , Facebook , Youtube , Tiktok , Pinterest Contact: corkylorenz@gmail.com

See highlights from the Goshen Reptile Expo, including local breeders, exotic reptiles, and event photos. Articles feature vendors, snake morphs, and care insights from Indiana’s reptile community. Goshen Reptile Expo This is a monthly event occuring most of the year at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. Vendors bring a wide variety of reptiles and other unique animals, as well as feeders and enclosures. Address Elkhart County Fairgrounds 17746 CR 34 Goshen, IN 46528 The Goshen Reptile Expo happens most months at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana. It’s usually the first Saturday of each month , except during the summer when the Elkhart County 4-H Fair takes over the space. Event Organizer & Info The expo organizer, Tony, manages updates and vendor info through the Goshen Reptile Expo Facebook page . That’s where new dates, building changes, and table info get posted. The event takes place in one of the main livestock buildings on the fairgrounds. It's often in the Sheep and Swine Arena , but can move depending on space. Expect local breeders, feeders, reptiles, amphibians, and exotic pets, plus enclosures and supplies for sale.

Vendors, reptiles, and guests photographed can access their images on this site. To know when the photos are ready to view, submit your email address to get an alert. Get an email when expo photos are up. Leave your email below and I'll send you a heads up when event photos are ready to view on the Reptile Expo page . They should be up 2-3 days after the expo. If you are a vendor and you see a photo you'd like to use for your own business, you are welcome to. For press or PR use, please contact Corky Lorenz . Email Submit

How to sew your own cloth menstrual pads, with a serger. This step by step process can also be used for incontinence pads, and postpartum pads. Sewing your own washable cloth pads is a fun project and also environmentally friendly, by reducing waste from disposable pad products. coming soon: After a lot of tinkering, I've landed on a new pattern and process tweak for overlocking pads. Once I figured out the trick to getting nice inner corners, with a serger, making pads this way got so much easier. I am working on finishing the pattern and written instructions. If you want to know when it's ready, submit your email below for sewing pattern updates.

Get those crispy lines, and smooth colors. Geology inspired dyed garments. This is a tie dye technique that uses artificial sinew to create crisp lines and bands of color. Geode tie pairs wells with ice dye. Geode Tie Dye To see examples of what other people are making, here's the facebook group. How to use soda ash . This is a step in the process of tie dye that you can't skip. When dyeing natural fiber fabrics, with MX procion dyes, you have to use soda ash. When dyeing geodes, most people will tie the shirt, and then soak it in soda ash solution, before applying dye. PDF Tutorial for download. You can find most of this info in my videos and website, but if you want a PDF to download and read in one place, you can get it on Etsy. Crisp tie lines with geode style If you are drawn to the look of the geode style because of the lines, you'll need to use a thick waxy thread called "artificial sinew." Some people have success using rubber bands or zip ties, but I ran into more problems with those alternatives. The goal is to wrap the sinew around a bunch of fabric, and then pull it really tight. You don't need to actually tie any knots. The thread locks down on itself once it's pulled tight. Just wrap 4-5 times, pull tight, then move on to the next bunch. You also don't need to cut the sinew between bunches. basic tools You need artificial sinew, a puller, and a pre-washed shirt. sinew, waxy thread Look for waxy, flat artificial sinew. Both Amazon and Dharma Trading Company stock reliable options. spacing between ties Place ties at least a 1 inch apart for proper dye saturation. More space allows dye to fully saturate between ties, creating distinct lines. keep it neat Start with four wraps, pull tight, then add three more for nice line definition. Too many wraps will results in a mess that isn't very tight after you pull. protect your hands Use the puller (pvc pipe for me) and palm pressure instead of finger strength when tightening. You can place your pulling hand on a shirt or towel to slide on a table while you pull. planned placement Start with back of the shirt, then shoulders, then front for balanced design. 4 bunches contain the top half of the shirt. These 4 bunches look great when they are positioned toward the top when applying ice and dye. mess it up a little Make some of the fabric messy under the tie without overcrowding the tied sections. This helps to get some jagged, interesting lines. wrap, but don't make knots Pull until you feel resistance, but not so tight that the sinew breaks or frays. The sinew holds without requiring knots. build confidence Keep it simple the first time you try it. Start with three ties per bunch while learning the technique. If you get results that you like, you can try adding more detail, if you prefer. Geode Steps Tie Presoak Setup Add Dye Batch Help

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Details about the Northern Indiana Event Center in Elkhart Indiana, including location, office hours, parking, event types, and its connection to the RV Hall of Fame. Updated information during the current website transition. Northern Indiana Event Center What is the Northern Indiana Event Center? This is a large venue and event space in Elkhart, IN, right off the Indiana toll road. It hosts private events, church services, wedding receptions and RV industry events. What is the East Wing Convention Hall? The East Wing is a new event space within the Northern Indiana Event Center. At first, I was confused looking at the website for the Hall of Fame, thinking that the East Wing was a rebrand for the NIEC, but it appears to be it's on space under the umbrella of the RV Hall of Fame and event center. Relationship to the RV/MH Hall of Fame The Northern Indiana Event Center and the Hall of Fame are located at the same address and are in the same building, but they do have separate entrances and parking. They have separate Google profiles and social media accounts. They are closely connected in the audiences they serve in the RV industry, though. The Northern Indiana Event Center does serve people not affiliated with the RV industry. Event Types Hosted From the images posted to the new website, it is used for large round table events, conventions, expos, and private wedding receptions. When I was there on November 16, 2025, there was a convention happening for trading cards. Location + Parking Address: 21565 Executive Pkwy Elkhart, IN 46514 When you arrive at the front of the building, if you are attending an event at the event center, you might need to turn right and park on the right side of the building. For large events they usually have an attendant direction guests in the right direction. Office Hours For info about upcoming events, or hosting your own, you can contact the office during normal business hours. Phone number: (574) 293-1191 Hours: Monday thru Saturday: 9am to 5pm Sunday: 10am to 3pm