wool soakers

[momma E]

I am starting to work on my stash and am thinking about buying a few wool soakers.
With my first I used a diaper service and (being young and inexperienced) had a hard time. I hated waking up in the night and having a diaper leaking on me. Unfortunaly I did not know enough then to do the research and try to figure things out and I just ended up giving up.
This time though, I'm determined to make CD work for us!
So far I have 15 xs bum genius and fuzzibunz. 4 small fuzzi bunz. and 2 OS organic bum genius.
I'm thinking of getting some mother ease as well and my SIL has a ton of perfolds she is going to pass along.
So now I would love some suggestions for wool soakers. How many should I buy?

[echospiritwarrior]

if you are going to use them only overnight you can totally get away with just a couple.

since they don't need as much washing, just let one dry and use the next on the next day.

I've also had success reusing mine through out the day, just so long as they're not getting stinky (or soiled) and then you can hang overnight and voila, they're usually fine by morning.

Of course once I knitted up a bunch for my youngest, she learned how to potty! Think about used ones, mine are really like new!

[ShwarmaQueen]

No experience per say, but I've got two in each size range S, M, & L.

[poppan]

I think you need a minimum of three wool soakers in rotation -- one on the babe, one drying between changes, and one in the wash. Of course if you have some other types of covers or AIOs or pockets, you could get away with fewer.

[heidirk]

I'm knitting up one right now! I have two already, which I bought. I use them mostly at night, so two is plenty.

[momma E]

Thanks for the suggestions!
This may sound stupid but can you put a wool soaker on over a AIO overnight as a just incase kind of thing?

[echospiritwarrior]

nope an AIO is all-in-one. everything you need. cover & stuffing, but you have to wash it each time. pockets you can stuff with old rags, microfiber towels or they sell specific things to put in there. a soaker is just a lanolized knit wool cover that you put over a cloth diaper-cotton, hemp or whatever. you can pin your diaper or use snappis, these neat clasps they sell just for diapers (you only need a few). or some people go fancy with "fitted" diapers which is basically a cloth diaper sewn up fancy with snaps and such. they can be as inexpensive as $15 each and I've seen them insanely high too like upwards of $50 each (too much $$ for a poop catcher IMO, but I'm sure they're nice I just can't afford the fancy ones).

beware if you decide to knit your own though! knitting can almost become a bad habit!

ETA- I'm sorry I didn't read very carefully! YES you could put a soaker (or longies, or shorties whatever) over an AIO, to catch leaks that might seep through the AIO or pocket. I just don't think it's that common and it gets bulky. A good soaker and diaper with a pocket has always held it all in for my girls.

[momma E]

Thanks everyone!
I just ordered my first soaker last night, an Aristocrat. They sure are expensive. I'm not sure that I am an experienced enough knitter to make one of my own. But does anyone have any links to good (and somewhat easy) patterns for a soaker I could attempt to knit?

[Lisoula]

I agree that if you're only using them for nightime, you can get away with two. But, if you end up like me, you'll want to use them more often and then need more in your stash!!!!

In the winter, longies instead of jammy bottoms are the best!!!!!!!

Just keep in mind when deciding what to buy that wool has to be line-dried and it does take a while....

[Pat899]

Originally Posted by momma E

Thanks for the suggestions!
This may sound stupid but can you put a wool soaker on over a AIO overnight as a just incase kind of thing?

Yes, you can. You will not get the breathabity of a fitted diaper with wool. But you will contain any leaks from the AIO. Wool makes a great just in case cover.

[heidirk]

Originally Posted by momma E

Thanks everyone!
I just ordered my first soaker last night, an Aristocrat. They sure are expensive. I'm not sure that I am an experienced enough knitter to make one of my own. But does anyone have any links to good (and somewhat easy) patterns for a soaker I could attempt to knit?

I'm more or less a novice, but I'm finding this relatively easy.

http://community.livejournal.com/pun...rs/110889.html

you have to click that you are at least 14 before it will take you to the pattern. I'm using Paton's classic wool, and a round needle.

HTH

[battymama]

An even easier way is to make them from old felted jumpers/ sweaters. Just make sure you get one with a high persentage of wool and no cotton, to felt machine wash with hot, and detergent, only a little water, chuck a towel in to make sure it agitates, keep going until it is as felted as you would like, then dry on hot to felt a bitmore, or air dry. Basically do all the things you would never do to your best sweater.
http://www.borntolove.com/frugal-column2.html

I also make long pants out of sleeves from jumpers, they are great.

[Michigan Mama]

Originally Posted by heidirk

I'm more or less a novice, but I'm finding this relatively easy.

http://community.livejournal.com/pun...rs/110889.html

you have to click that you are at least 14 before it will take you to the pattern. I'm using Paton's classic wool, and a round needle.

HTH

That looks cute! Will you post pics once you finish? I'd love to see it on a babe!

I sorta made my own pattern that can be adapted to be a soaker, shortie or longie and have made a few, but my baby won't be here for a few more weeks. I'm dying to see how it fits an actual kid!!

[momma E]

Thanks so much for the links!
I have never knitted in the round before, but I'll bet my expert cousin can help.
The felted sweater looks really easy. I think I can pull that one off.

[heidirk]

I think there are some pics on that link, it pages down quite a ways, and includes tips on casting on to the legholes for shorties and longies.