Yay, I just got a serger! Now I want to make cloth diapers, but I need your imput first

[fawnanddoe]

I need to learn how to use it though!

Once I practice some I would like to start trying to make some diapers. I have been reading a lot of tutorials and looking at diaper fabric and notions websites. Now I am just confused, there are almost too many choices. I would like to make a cute diaper with a knit print on the outside and a natural fiber snap in liner.

Can I make these waterproof so I don't need a cover? How? How many layers of fabric do I need? What kind of fabric should I use?

I guess I would just like to know how many layers, where, and favorite fabrics.

[Faliciagayle]

Congrats on your serger FTR you can make excellent diapers with your regular machine, too. All my diapers are turned and (moderately) topstiched. And remember that serging a rounded edge is trixie, so practice practice practice on fabric you don't really care about.

To make an AIO (all in one, or something with a cover) you have to use a water proof/resistant fabric as your outer. This could be fleece, minky, PUL. If you have a cute knit print in mind and you want to waterproof it, your best bet is looking to join a PUL coop and get people together for a DIY PUL fabric of your choice. Otherwise, you have to settle for a fitted with your cute fabric on the outside, and whatever inner you want. You can make these pockets to cute down on drying time.

Speaking of insert, soakers, layers - snap in, lay in, or top sewn inserts are great because they reduce drying time. Internal soakers are, IME, a pain to sew enough layers and depending on your dryer, can take a LONG time to dry.

Layers depend on the type of fabric. ZORB and microfiber are thin(ner) than cotton and theoretically require less layers. I've done tee shirt diapers with 6 layers of cotton tee shirts as the inner.

Mostly I sew pockets with PUL outers and OBV inners. For stuffing I've got a collection of cheap microfiber towels from Walmart, CPFs, and random name brand diaper inserts. Cool tip: Serge the top of your tri-folded towel/CPF and you always have a perfectly folded insert for your dipe!
I've got a pile of fleece and a bunch of flannel waiting to be turned into pockets as well (fleece outer, flannel inner).

oh yeah, ZORB is a brand name for a super absorbent material that some diaper sewers prefer. PUL = polyurethane laminate. OBV = organic bamboo velour. CPF = chinese prefold/diaper service quality prefold

As for snaps, you have a snap press or resin snap pliers? Because the crop-o-dial from Joanns or Walmart isn't going to cut it as far as snaps go.

Good luck! It's lotsa fun

[fawnanddoe]

Thanks for the great reply!

I just bought a snap press and snaps from the snap store. I researched it a bunch first! I should be getting that in the mail sometime in the next week or two.

I bought an assortment of fabrics to try out so I can figure out what I like! I figured if I didn't like any of it I could just make mama cloth or breast pads with.

I got a few different colors of PUL, OBV, cotton sherpa, hemp/cotton fleece, burley terry and french knit terry, oh and some merino wool interlock for some longies and shorties!

I got a bunch of different thread for my serger, fold over elastic, elastic for the leg gussets and back.

I really want to make pocket dipes, and dipes with snap in soakers. I bought one AOI when DS was a newborn and I hated it. I had to dry it like 3 times for it to be fully dry, it was a big pain in the butt.

Thanks again, your reply was very helpful!

[Faliciagayle]

NP

The owl longies in your shop are adorable!

Not all AIOs are hard to dry (Sposo Easy's dry super fast - afaik they are the only 100% cotton AIOs on the market, excepting of course, the PUL outer). And some fitteds can take eons, as my kissaluvs did in our old dryer... anywho, you can obviously sew well, have fun and experiment Very baby has a good (free) pattern for fitteds and the Rita's Rump Pocket is a great free one size pocket pattern that's easily modified. I use mainly the Darling Diapers Unlimited and KCK One Size patterns (I prefer the DDU). Also check out the Diaper Sewing Divas board - many many many very talented, experienced mamas and lots of great advice/inspiration.

Not only can you make nursing pads, but you can use all the same material for mamacloth!!!!!! Squee!