Pocket cuts from a yard of fabric?

[rnasmomma]

I know I read someone gets several (6?) pocket diapers cut from a yard of fabric...I just can't find the thread that mentions it.

How many smalls/meds/larges can you cut from a yard of fabric?
I am starting with fleece, just to get used to making them...then I'm going to graduate to sewing PUL.

[our3boys]

It depends on the pattern. For my Honeyboy Mediums I needed either 1.25 or 1.33 yards to get 6 outer cover portions. I could fit 3 covers side by side across one 60" piece of fabric. For larges I would have to stagger them a little and would need more fabric, but I have not measured it yet. It is probably 5 covers for the same yardage or an extra 12 inches to make 6. I have been making some large pockets lately that have the tabs included in the main pattern piece. They take more fabric and need to be staggered across the 60". I cannot even get this pattern onto a large diaper cut (about 20" by 24"). I will be going back to my Honeyboys b/c I like the fit and the leg elastic is easier (I have used woven cotton PULs on the last 3, so I had to have the fleece curl out and putting that elastic on is NOT fun) AND it fits onto the fabric with less waste since you add the Aplix tab portion separately.

Most of the diaper making web-stores let you buy yardage in fractions, but I usually only see stuff listed as a "one yard piece" on Ebay. That is a waste of fabric in most cases (maybe it would work for newborns or smalls depending on the pattern), so I buy from the websites where I can get what I need without the waste. It is cheaper in the long run.

I cut out several pieces (copies) of the pattern I am working with so I can play with the best placement before I cut. Two or three copies should work. You can lay them out on some other 60" fabric that you already have in this way to see how much you would need to buy.

[amberthesugarcat]

I can get 8 medium Darling Diaper pockets out of one yard of 60 inch Windpro. I just flit the pattern every other one so the long wing part is up against the small bottom part. I can also get 8 out of the microfleece. Now that is a great deal! Sometimes I buy one yard and 1/8 just to be safe. The diapers are 18 inches long, and if you only order a yard sometimes the fabric ladies cheat and it is not 36 inches in the middle, but 35. That REALLY steams me up!

[boscopup]

Measure the pattern you're using. I drafted my own, and I can get 6 large cuts out of 1 yard (placing them side by side - not staggered), but some patterns might have longer tabs or a higher rise, which adds more yardage.

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by amberthesugarcat

Sometimes I buy one yard and 1/8 just to be safe. The diapers are 18 inches long, and if you only order a yard sometimes the fabric ladies cheat and it is not 36 inches in the middle, but 35. That REALLY steams me up!

Yes, I have to do that, too. Buy a little extra b/c the cut went diagonal. Is that insurance for diapers?

[beepsmnms]

Pocket Cut Diapers

Someone enlighten me, what are pocket cut diapers. What am I doing wrong. I'm using the Very Baby pattern I think and I only get 2 diapers out of a yard of fabric.

[Larissa]

I can usually get 6 pocket diaper cuts out of 1 yard of 60 inch PUL. 6 Meds or a combo of meds and larges. If I am only doing mediums...I can also get a newborn cut...if I cut them just right!

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by beepsmnms

Someone enlighten me, what are pocket cut diapers. What am I doing wrong. I'm using the Very Baby pattern I think and I only get 2 diapers out of a yard of fabric.

A pocket diaper is one layer of waterproof material (usually PUL or fleece) and one layer of wicking material (usually microfleece or suedecloth). So the question is how many outer layers can be obtained from a yard of fabric. So with your Very Baby pattern, we'd be talking about each body piece. When making a fitted diaper, you'll use more than just one layer (usually two body pieces, plus soaker pieces), so while you might get 6 body pieces out of a yard of fabric, you may only get 2 fitted diapers out of that same yard. Clear as mud?

[beepsmnms]

Clear as mud!

Yes, actually, that helps a lot. Thanks. I'm trying to make inserts out of scraps and old tshirts, sweatshirts. I have some sweatshirt fleece i havent tried yet. I don't think its waterproof though. Gonna try later. I made my first Fleece SOAKER today... its UAH but very effective considering i got the fleece for $2.74 / yard at wally world.

[rnasmomma]

Originally Posted by beepsmnms

I made my first Fleece SOAKER today...

Can you use regular fleece for the insert/soaker? Is it pretty bulky?
I thought only Hemp fleece would absorb well. (I've only used cotton, microterry and different kinds of hemp for soakers, though.)

[beepsmnms]

For inserts I use 4 layers of flannel and 1 layer of the waterproof fleece (fleece on back of insert next to back of diaper) Works well for me but I change often.