Rowena I have Questions for you

[DandK]

I've seen post mentioning your soakers that you made and I was just wondering if you could give more detail. What are they made of? # of layers? Are they holding up well? Can you give me deminsions? What do you recommend for newborn or small soakers?

I had kind of a simular idea a few weeks ago and made some that basically look like a postpartum momma pad. I was pretty much just eyeballing it but I'm wondering if maybe I'll end up with bm on the cover because it's not wide enough? I made these with flannel topped with microfleece because I bought the flannel so cheap and was just using up the rest of what I had. Is this going to work?

I did put one on my niece last night as added protection in case she had an accident but she didn't so I really don't know how well it will work.

Sorry for all the questions. I hope I'm not being too much of a pest.

[rowena___.]

Originally Posted by DandK

I've seen post mentioning your soakers that you made and I was just wondering if you could give more detail. What are they made of? # of layers? Are they holding up well? Can you give me deminsions? What do you recommend for newborn or small soakers?

the pockets/sleeves are made of powerdry or fleece, and the soakers are microfiber towels. they are doing very well! the towels started out 18"X18" but that was too big so i cut down the first set to 12"X12" and the second set to 12"X14". the longer ones are great for night. i use the pieces i trimmed off as boosters. i fold the towels into thirds and stuff them into the sleeves (they were originally pockets--one end closed--but i quit doing that and just make them open on both ends--couldn't be easier!).

the size of sleeve depends on the thickness of your soaker. sometimes i fold two towels together so i need a slightly bigger sleeve. i just lay the folded towel on the cutting board and measure it then cut a piece to fit.

if i had it to do all over again, this is probably the system i would use from the start. i can't think of any drawbacks. these are trim, they take very little time and materials to make, they are straight line stitching only, and they open flat for washing and drying.

I had kind of a simular idea a few weeks ago and made some that basically look like a postpartum momma pad. I was pretty much just eyeballing it but I'm wondering if maybe I'll end up with bm on the cover because it's not wide enough?

my solution has been to lay a liner UNDER the soaker, next to the cover.

I made these with flannel topped with microfleece because I bought the flannel so cheap and was just using up the rest of what I had. Is this going to work?

yes, at least it does for us.

Sorry for all the questions. I hope I'm not being too much of a pest.

not at all! i have some more ideas about these that i just haven't had time to test out, when i do i'll post more about it.

[DandK]

Thanks for answering all my questions.

When you mentioned a liner do you mean the disposable liners or something you've made?

[Mickiswing]

So Rowena, bear with me, I'm trying to make sure I understand. You just use your cover, then lay in your sleeve with the stuffer in it, right? Is it a snug fitting cover? Any problems with shifting?

Also, do you just use the one tri-folded mf towel for regular use, and two for longer occasion? Is your dd a heavy wetter? The reason I ask is because my dd is a super soaker, and I have to use two trifolded towels in our pockets or she leaks. I'd love to try your way!

BTW, where do you find powderdry and what kind of fleece do you use?

Thanks!

[Kari_mom]

Here is a link with pictures on how to make a similar pocket of fleece for soakers or whatever: Karen's Cloth Diapering Pages

[rowena___.]

angela, the liners i use are just pieces of fabric--fleece, jersey, etc--just stuff i pulled out of my scrap box.

micki, here is a link to a description of my soakers, and a link to an album that shows them in use:
http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitcher..._brillian.html
http://rowena.typepad.com/photos/soaker_sleeves/

all my covers fit snug, they fit so close that even without the soaker, they are not baggy. people literally do not realize she is wearing cloth if she is in pants or otherwise has her diaper covered.

i do use only one towel most times, although i have started using the cuttings as boosters because ella is experimenting with potty learning which means she sometimes holds it too long and then soaks the entire towel all the way to the ends. for night, i sometimes use two towels--it depends on what time she goes to bed (theater schedule is varied)--if it is a dark night then she gets a longer night's sleep than on a show night.

i get powerdry from co-ops, i only use white so i have to get it from whatever co-op is doing that color. i use microfleece from jo-ann's. i also have used athletic poly mesh--this works great! but it leaves prints on ella's popo. and i've used alove suedecloth which also works well but i just don't like it as much (aesthetics).

if i understand correctly, karen's pockets are covering entire diapers, whereas mine is just a towel. (i can't exactly tell from the description because she mentions "samuel's soaker" and "prefolds" for hers). i started out making mine with one end closed but i quit doing that after using them for a few days, now i just sew the long side and leave the ends open, and i fold them down as needed.

[Mickiswing]

THanks Rowena! I definitely want to try this

[DandK]

Thanks Rowena!! Your a doll for answering all of our questions.