sewing machine overlock stitch for diaper making?

[Lunaria]

Hi

I just discovered my sewing machine has this really cool overlock stitch. I am about to make up a massive batch of very baby flannel dipes for my new baby due in May. And I was wondering how you all feel about using this stitch instead of the t and t method.

My questions are: do the diapers still have a nice looking finish?
are they still quite durable?
which method do you find more time consuming?


I'm so excited to get started sewing but I would really like to not have to sew each diaper twice(wouldn't it be nice to own a serger!).

Thanks!

Jenny

[jessielove]

The overlock stitch ~ aka the faux serge ~ will work for that just fine, but the edges might ravel a tiny bit for the first few washes and they might look a bit raggy around the edges faster than T&T would. IME it holds just fine and is much faster than T&T. I would say to sew up one using the overlock stitch, give it a wash and decide for yourself what you think of how it holds and looks. That way you don't waste time and materials on a bunch of them if you decide that you don't like it and you've given the method a fair shake enough to know if you do. Me? If I didn't have a serger I probably would use the faux serge because T&T is so time consuming. I did the overlock with flannel wipes before buying a serger and they worked fine. They ravelled a touch in the areas where the thread wasn't right on the edge and they weren't as tidy as serged wipes, but they were perfectly functional and lasted just fine.

One thing to remember ~ when using a faux serge, remember not to add a seam allowance to the pattern and to cut away the seam allowance if it's already included in the pattern. With a regular serger you would be cutting away the seam allowance and with T&T you're sewing in the seam allowance, but with a faux serge you're not doing either.

[sewchris2642]

For me, the overlock stitch on my sewing machine is very slow to stitch. I find it faster to stitch and turn the diapers. I don't like the unfinished look of serged edges. I can sew up a fitted diaper in about 20 minutes not including cutting out. I use velcro instead of snaps. The fit is more customized that way.

[Lunaria]

Thank you ladies for giving me the low down on overlocked diapers!

I think I will do as sewchris said and make one diaper this way(without seam allowance, that's an awesome tip!), wash it and see how it looks. I'll also see how long it takes to sew one up compared to t&t.


Jenny

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by Lunaria

Thank you ladies for giving me the low down on overlocked diapers!

I think I will do as sewchris said and make one diaper this way(without seam allowance, that's an awesome tip!), wash it and see how it looks. I'll also see how long it takes to sew one up compared to t&t.


Jenny

I use a 1/4" seam allowance on my flannel diapers. Stitch and turn. Then top stitch the opening. On knit diapers, I don't add the 1/4" seam allowance but cut the diaper on the stitching line and sew 1/4" in from that.

[Lunaria]

I tried overlocking a diaper and it was a pain in the butt! It didn't look so great either. Just in case anyone was wondering!


Jenny