What is up with flannel? Absorbancy

[Squeakster]

OK, so I was trying to make some lap pads/changing pads and trying different things. My husband really likes some burp cloths we were given from Babiesrus because the soak up a lot of pee and doesn't leak through when she pees while changing her diaper. I was trying to make something like this with flannel and PUL. However, the flannel didn't soak in, it pooled on top. NOT AT ALL HELPFUL. So I did some experiments with different flannels I have by pouring water on them and seeing what happens. Some soaked up the water, and it pooled on others.

So my question is, is there good flannel? (Why did one color of flannel soak up and a second color not, they were the same flannel!) If you are buying flannel how do you know what will soak up wetness?

Do I have to carry a bottle of water to the fabric store. Yes, I prewashed my fabric. I even sent the "bad" flannel through the washer again.

[cristeen]

When you buy 100% cotton dipes, they have to be prepped before using - washed 4 or 5 times in hot water. Without that, they don't absorb worth crap. It's a combination of the naturally occuring oils on the fibers, and the chemicals used in processing that prevents absorption. So if the fabric has only been washed once, it may very well just not be prepped enough.

[ramama]

Are you using diaper flannel? If not, that might help. Most of the flannel sold in fabric stores is meant for sewing clothes and quilting, therefore is heavily treated so that it maintains its shape, doesn't warp, and doesn't hold too much water. If that's your only choice, washing like cristeen described would help a lot.

[Nicole730]

All of our diapers are flannel pockets and I haven't noticed any absorbency issues. We buy flannel from all sorts of places, but mostly the snuggle flannel at JoAnns.

We recently made the pads for the carseat with pul (joanns) and flannel. There is an inner layer of 100% natural cotton batting to help absorb.

[elanorh]

It sounds to me like you may have the flame resistant flannel (the stuff that IS 'intended for sleepwear.') It's not absorbent at all.

Check the top of the bolt before you buy the fabric, you are looking for 100% cotton flannel, NOT intended for children's sleepwear. All of that should be on the top of the bolt (and perhaps stamped along the selvedge line too).

[Squeakster]

OK, I have Joann fabric. The big thing seems to be washings. How many times do you wash your fabric?

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by Squeakster

OK, I have Joann fabric. The big thing seems to be washings. How many times do you wash your fabric?

I only wash once before sewing and then once before wearing. I stuff them with lots of other fabrics though, so maybe I wouldn't even notice if they weren't as absorbent the first time around. They definitely get wet though.

PS - if anyone finds the poly - sleepwear - flannel can you let me know? JoAnns doesn't carry it anymore. I love using it for the inner of my diapers as a stay-dry inner.