Making your own cloth diapers and diaper covers (sewing & knitting) « Back to Group Discussions

[Eilis]

Well, I'm going to start this thread about diapers with a NON-diaper post! :)

This is a nifty looking pattern for sewing homemade contoured nursing pads, using layers of flannel and fleece. I don't have a serger (just a sewing machine), so I appreciate that this pattern doesn't require serging. 

http://walkingwithdancers.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-contoured-nursing-pads.html#more

For those who have BTDT, how important are nursing pads? How many do you like to have on hand? 

[wrenmoon]

I didn't use nursing pads, they seemed puny compared to the gallons of milk I was leaking. I just used diapers (pulled the tread on track right there) stuffed in my shelf bra until things slowed down.

I have some knitted covers that I have made but not used- they were too small for my last babe, but what I really made a ton of were the longies. I almost have that Picky Pants pattern memorized. (I think it's from Little Turtle Knits) It was well worth the purchase.

http://www.littleturtleknits.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=213

I really want to make the recycled clothing diapers from Fern and Fairie... Has anyone done that here?

http://hyenacart.com/FernandFaerie/10/445/gallery_open

I'll post some photos as soon as I can take them. I'm so excited to not be sick all the time, my creative juices are flowing again.

Edited to add links.
Edited by wrenmoon - 1/26/13 at 7:29pm

[talldarkeyes]

Wrenmoon could you post links to the patterns you are referring to?

Eilis, I did use cloth nursing pads but I didn't have an overactive letdown either. I never really soaked them. I didn't make mine though, I bought them so I don't know how helpful I can be.

[wrenmoon]

I added links to my original post, Fern and Faerie shop is listed as inactive though.

[talldarkeyes]

The picky pants look interesting. Did you use this as a cover? Did it work? I am nervous about knitting my own woolies because I have heard they don't work as well.

[zeeohee]

Wrenmoon, Fern and Faerie has a how-to site, too: http://fernandfaerie.com/sewing_fitteds.html

I have started making a few t-shirt diapers. I've made a few prefold-style, and three newborn size winged prefolds from this tutorial: http://adventures-in-fluff.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-sew-your-own-recycled-t-shirt.html Those are SUPER cute and tiny and make me feel so happy to sew up! :)

I already had a bunch of already-cut t-shirt squares, so I've just trimmed those down to a prefold size from Green Mountain Diapers' website, added a center layer of terrycloth, and zig-zag stitched around the outside and then straight-stitched along the sides of the terry. These take *maybe* 10 minutes from start to finish, and even though they don't look *as* nice as the turned-and-topstiched newborn ones I've made, I feel pretty pleased! Plus the t-shirt material is SOO soft.

[heyitskalista]

I love knit covers!!

I really like the Evie Pants pattern.  I can only find the seller's version outside of ravelry for some reason though...

For soakers, I've done evie pants and also this one: http://www.curlypurly.com/pdf/soaker.pdf (though I alter it a little because I like drawstrings).

I haven't sewn diaper before...I'd like to though!
 

[talldarkeyes]

Kalista, what is your night diaper routine? Could you also post the mods for the drawstring? What yarn did you use? The pattern maker said not to use 100% wool but how do you lanolize with a blend and does it even work as well?

[rainbownurse]

my only worry with crocheting my covers is how to make them waterproof?

[wrenmoon]

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 

The picky pants look interesting. Did you use this as a cover? Did it work? I am nervous about knitting my own woolies because I have heard they don't work as well.

I just realized that my response about longies never posted... I tried using them with my daughter but really, once she peed, nothing could stand up to it, fleece, wool, fuzzi bunz, bum genius, disposables...etc so I made the longies for both kids for sleep pants and winter pants- big ones for outer layer winter and trimmer ones for everyday/sleep. They never wear out unless I felted them by accident. Which did happen. At least they stayed warm when the did get wet.
Other moms I made them for did use them as covers with reported success. I lanolized them before giving them away/using them too.

Originally Posted by zeeohee 

Wrenmoon, Fern and Faerie has a how-to site, too: http://fernandfaerie.com/sewing_fitteds.html

I have started making a few t-shirt diapers. I've made a few prefold-style, and three newborn size winged prefolds from this tutorial: http://adventures-in-fluff.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-sew-your-own-recycled-t-shirt.html Those are SUPER cute and tiny and make me feel so happy to sew

Thanks for that link.
I can't wait to get my hands on the diaper making! I'm still catching up on Christmas presents that fell by the wayside cause I was so sick. Valentines day gifts?

Originally Posted by heyitskalista 

I love knit covers!!

For soakers, I've done evie pants and also this one: http://www.curlypurly.com/pdf/soaker.pdf

 

I've been eyeing the curly purly pattern for awhile, I really think I just want the yarn with that long color run! My mom just gave me a ton of OLD wool yarn skeins (79 cents for 4 oz) that had been donated to her care agency and so I have lots of wool to play with in colors I don't love love but will make fine diaper covers. I might even venture into the felted ones this time.
Three cheers for second trimester and getting something done! (And much support for those who are almost there! )

[heyitskalista]

Originally Posted by rainbownurse 

my only worry with crocheting my covers is how to make them waterproof?

They'd have to be wool...and then lanolized!

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 

Kalista, what is your night diaper routine? Could you also post the mods for the drawstring? What yarn did you use? The pattern maker said not to use 100% wool but how do you lanolize with a blend and does it even work as well?

Our night time and day time routine are the same.  Motherease one size fitteds (or a pre-fold if it's getting close to laundry day and we're running low) and a wool cover.  I usually like to use our woolybottom covers at night because they are bulletproof but the hand knitted ones work really well too. 

For the drawstring mods:  I skip the fancy ribbing she does and do a basic 2x2 k/p rib. 

On the 8th round: *K2, P2Tog, YO* repeat to the end of the round

Continue in 2x2 ribbing for another inch or so. 

(I like a pretty high rise so you could definitely alter it to fit your liking!)

I've always used 100% wool because I know it works the best.  I've heard that as long as it's 70% or more wool, it will work but I haven't tested that.

Originally Posted by wrenmoon 




I've been eyeing the curly purly pattern for awhile, I really think I just want the yarn with that long color run! My mom just gave me a ton of OLD wool yarn skeins (79 cents for 4 oz) that had been donated to her care agency and so I have lots of wool to play with in colors I don't love love but will make fine diaper covers. I might even venture into the felted ones this time.
Three cheers for second trimester and getting something done! (And much support for those who are almost there! )

That's yarn she used is gorgeous, eh?  I would love to dye some like that but can't figure out how to make it work...and am afraid to mess up because its so expensive to buy wool around here!

I've made felted longies and soakers out of felted sweaters...here's the tutorial if anyone is interested!  It's super easy!!!

http://sewingdork.blogspot.ca/2009/08/how-to-make-wool-soaker-pants.html

http://sewingdork.blogspot.ca/2009/11/how-to-make-wool-diaper-cover-from-wool.html

I've finally cast on my first project for the baby!  I'm so excited to get all those tiny clothes made!!

[zeeohee]

Kalista, I love the felted sweater diaper covers/longies! I'm glad to hear that they really work. It's not too awkward/too messy to pull the soaker on and off? That has been my only hesitation to cutting into my felted sweater stash...:)

[heyitskalista]

zeeohee- not at all!  They wick away moisture really well so they're rarely wet at all.  And as long as there's a good diaper under there, no poop should get on them either! ;) 

Here are some pictures...as long as you promise not to laugh.  I attempted to blog and was really, really bad at it! 

http://whenwereathome.blogspot.ca/2012/03/crafting-on-upcycled-sweater-longies.html
 

[zeeohee]

Kalista! Thanks for the link -- those look great and your baby is RIDICULOUSLY cute!! 

[heyitskalista]

Thank you!! She was so tiny! She's almost 2 now. Crazy!

[wrenmoon]

I can't post pictures! I have pictures! Anyone else having this trouble?

[Eilis]

Wrenmoon, I don't know about posting pictures here... hope it works out though because it would be fun to see your photos!

Yet ANOTHER cloth diaper question from me. :)

I have Amanda Soule's ("Soulemama" blogger) book "Handmade Home" which includes a pattern for sewing very basic prefold cloth diapers. Finished size for infant diaper is 12" x 13". She uses old tshirts for the soaker layers and flannel bedsheets for the outer layer. Sounds good to me because I have these materials in my sewing stash. However, I vaguely remember reading online somewhere that some people don't recommend using flannel for outer layer. I don't remember why, or what the preferred material would be. Any thoughts on flannel for outer layer? (If it worked for her I assume it's fine but wanted to see what your experiences were.)
 

[wrenmoon]

Hey! It worked! I guess my cell service is too slow lately...
This soaker is from punk knitters journal via ravelry. The author is Cynthia Combs. I can link it if anyone is interested.
Edited by wrenmoon - 2/1/13 at 7:25pm

[heyitskalista]

wrenmoon- CUTE!!!!!  I'd love the link! 
 

[wrenmoon]

http://punk-knitters.livejournal.com/110889.html

You might get a warning about adult content but its for the journal site, not her page.