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1) Drawstring Back Pack

 A simple sewn drawstring backpack using fabric and cording.  Please use high quality quilting cotton or lightweight canvas, Please don't use heavy fabrics like decorator fabrics, or denim as it is difficult for us to fold and ship. 

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DON'T:

 

Please don't use camouflage fabric on the backpack as this only used by military in Ghana. 

Let's not use Christian holiday fabric, or other Holiday themed fabric. (like Easter bunnies, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Santa, etc.) These bags are to be used year round and many girls are Muslim. 

 

DO:

They LOVE LOVE LOVE soccer and fabric that looks like you got it in America. They are very excited to get something made for them in the USA. (Don't make it out of American flags, but fabric that is from our culture is amazing!)  The novelty fabrics at our fabric stores are full of great ideas. They have loved  tie-dye, super heroes, Neons, Bright colors; (dark and solid colors have not been favorites). Things get dirty, avoid predominantly white prints. 

2) Hand Made Reusable Menstrual Pads. Without these essential items, girls miss school. 

 

We are putting kits together that include 2 medium and 2 heavy pads per kit. Ensure your topper fabric is dark, colorful, patterned or busy to help camouflage stains. White/light/pastels are not good choices for toppers. We need a variety of lengths. so feel free to use any template size from the 8.5 inch length to the largest 10.5" length or any size in between. Please label the pads by their absorbency and length prior to shipping. to help us at HQ put them in to the right aged group kit and get each girl 2 of each absorbency. 

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We only accept pads with 1 or 2 layers of Zorb and pads made using a bottom layer of PUL. 

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We have a lot of resources below for constructing menstrual pads. Please read through the Project Overview Sheet first and then review the other resources. If you have questions, contact us. We also have discounted wholesale supplies available for you to get direct from us. Please visit our Keep Girls In School Campaign Page for info. 

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Requirements for snaps: We now require that each pad regardless of length or absorbency has 2 snaps. If you apply your own snaps test the snap at least 3 or 4 times to ensure it functions. If you don't have a Kam-snap machine, ship them to Crafting Change HQ WITHOUT the snaps and we will apply them for you! 

 

Have a question about Menstrual Pads email our Executive Director Tiffany Tiffany@craftingchange.org

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3) Wet Bags- These essential items have two main functions. To hold the soiled pads and serve as a vessel to clean the pads. These must be waterproof. We have one approved pattern for these bags. It is a tried and true method for making a waterproof bag. Please watch the video. If you have questions about constructing this pattern, please contact Martha martha@craftingchange.org

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4) Menstrual Pad Drying Strap- The menstrual pad drying strap is easily constructed with a 24" piece of grosgrain ribbon. These straps will make it easier for the girls to hang their pads to dry just about anywhere and get good ventilation. Please follow our instructions in this short video tutorial here: https://youtu.be/sL8WBiyEPa8 

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5) Sewn Soap Sacks - We have designed a specific pattern for The Yonkofa Project! The Sewn Soap Sack from a wash cloth is perfect for the Menstrual Hygiene Kits we distribute. It closely resembles a wash cloth so it is familiar to the girls but still has the twill loop so girls can hang it so the soap dries. This is the ONLY pattern we will now be putting in our kits. 

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6) Crochet & Knit Bandages- We are making cotton bandages for a clinic Ghana. We have 5 approved yarns and a very specific pattern approved for this project. You must be an experienced crochet or knitter to participate and be able to check your gauge. It is a simple pattern but consistency and gauge are important. You can order 2 skeins of yarn for your first set to get quality checked by our medical advisor then you will be approved to order multiple skeins. Everything you need to know can be found on this information sheet.

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7) Receiving Blankets for the NICU- We are making swaddling/receiving blankets for the NICU at Half Assini Government Hospital in Half Assini, Ghana. These should be between 38x38 and 40x40 inch square. Whatever style you make, they must have finished hems, narrow rolled serger hems are wonderful on single layer blankets if you have a serger. 

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• single layer flannel

• 2 layer quilting cotton

• Single or Double layer jersey

• Single or Double layer Double Gauze

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MORE NICU PROJECTS ARE COMING SOON! 

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UNDERWEAR: We do put 2 pairs of underwear in each kit. We use girls size 12/14/16 in our kits. We provide extra pairs of size 10 and women's size 5 to the schools for girls that fall outside of this standard size range. We have underwear on our Amazon Wish List, but often Fruit of the Loom has great BOGO sales as and your local retailers like Target/Walmart will have some on clearance! We are always accepting underwear for our kits. We mainly need size 12/14. 

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***PLEASE NOTE: we can NOT accept any menstrual pads made with VINYL or other material that is not  PUL or pads that do not have waterproof PUL covering the entire underside of the pad. PUL is the only fabric proven waterproof and SAFE. We also require all menstrual pads to use Zorb as the core. The girls have placed their trust in us to have the pads work. Therefore pads going into kits from Crafting Change must meet our specifications: PUL + Zorb.

 

We have provided lots of resources to help you craft the best pads possible and have the approved supplies available, please contact us for help or to obtain the proper supplies.***

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