cotton pique fabric question

[Jes'sBeth]

So, I've scoured Ottawa (yep, Canada) for birdseye pique. They all think I'm nuts in the fabric stores. I've got to the point where I have to describe it as 'that fabric they used to make flat diapers with before they had flannel' Then they say 'but we have diaper flannel right here' 'Yes, yes I say, but I can't use a snappi on that.' Then I have to expain what a snappi is. Really, it's getting tedious! I'm not sure if we call it something different here or what the problem is. Shouldn't I be able to find this locally? (I also find it amusing that I can buy diaper flannel for about $3/ m or pretty quilting flannel for $4/ m and get twice as much flannel... but that's another fabric store annoyance...)

Moving right along...

The store I was in today has something called cotton pique (it's 100% cotton) in several very nice colours. The snappi works really well on it. It seems a bit bumpy but still has a pretty smooth feel. It's definately a woven, no stretch to it and it has a fairly open weave... you can see little 'holes' in the fabric that light shines through. I haven't actually seen birdseye so I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, I just keep reading tags and hoping I'll see it. How close does this fabric sound to birdseye? I'll probably give it a go anyway just to see since it was 100% cotton and there were several bolts in the remnants section for about $2 CAD a metre. I can't tell from the picture at OSDS if this is the same stuff and it's all driving me !

[RosieCheeks]

Hmmm.... kind of sounds like birdseye. And if it is, what a find that it is in different colors! With birdseye, the textured weave is little diamond shapes. Each diamond shape is about 5 mm long and 1 mm wide.... on one side. The other side is fairly smooth. If you hold the fabric up to light, you can see light shining thru very well, as it is pretty thin. Maybe this will help too --- james thompson birdseye

You can order swatches from OSDS.... three swatches at a time for the price of shipping and handling. Maybe that would help? In the meantime, I'd buy the fabric you found, it sounds great.

[Kari_mom]

Beth, if I had birdseye fabric here I would send you a swatch. There are so many different fabrics called piques, most are cotton too. I used a pique to make my baby's baptism suit, and the fabric is very different from birdseye. I am sure it would work inside a diaper, it is cotton, but it is bumpier and thicker than the birdseye in my Very Babys. More expensive too. Your stuff sounds nice and well priced, I would be buying some just to add to my stash!

I'm not sure if we call it something different here or what the problem is.

I've had the same experience here in the states. I figure that people don't understand cloth diapering. I've had some good conversations at the cutting table though.

[Jes'sBeth]

yeah, from the look of the picture in the link (THANKS! ) It looks a bit different. I'm guessing it would work though I'm going to give it a go for sure. I think pique is the name of the texture or maybe the weave. I'm not sure what the birdseye part of the name describes.

At $2/ metre CAD (which is about 4" longer than a yard) and no shipping costs, not to mention that I don't have to wait insanely long for my fabric to make it over the border AND it comes is lots of cool colours, I can't really lose can I?!? It's still 100% cotton after all and cotton is cotton after you get all the sizing out.

I'll post pics when I've tried it out.

Have any other Canadians out there found birdseye from a Canadian source?

[onediaperinmama]

It's probably not the same but may work - if the price is right, experiment! Cotton Pique here is thicker and works well for summer rompers and capris - it comes in tons of colors and prints but isn't really the same as birdseye.

Try asking for "diaper cloth" sometimes birdseye is called that - but then lots of places will call diaper flannel diaper cloth too or think you mean gauze. If all else fails you could use diaper flannel and then use a terry or stretch terry on the wings and front panel so a snappi will adhere to it.

[Sheena23]

I was just at Lens Mill's Store in Cambridge, ON and they had stuff that was VERY similar to birdseye, they also had a bunch of other stuff that could probably be used as well. Tons of french terry knit and other terry's that looked really similar to birdseye. Unfortunately I brought a really cranky baby with me to the store so I wasn't able to get a really good look. I did manage to get 5 meters of diaper flannel for 13.00 thoughsup This has become my new favortie fabric store, I was in there for about an hour and didn't even get to see all the fabric selection they had!!

[Jes'sBeth]

cool! my inlaws are in Kitchener and there's a cousin on the outskirts of Cambridge... sounds like I should go for a visit at Christmas when we're in the area!

Thanks for the tip! I have one more fabric store to check out in Ottawa that's supposed to be great, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm going to experiment with the other cotton pique too. 'cause it's cheap

[Kari_mom]

Wow! I want to visit Len's Mill Store too! I would love some french terry knit, it is my favorite knit for just about everything! I checked the distance on our Leap Frog globe, it is only about 700 miles. I don't think I can talk dh into letting me plan a trip.

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by Jes'sBeth

Thanks for the tip! I have one more fabric store to check out in Ottawa that's supposed to be great, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm going to experiment with the other cotton pique too. 'cause it's cheap

Let me know how it goes! I will be visiting Ottawa next spring (probably late April or early May) to visit my new nephew (due March 29), and I'd love to stock up on cheap fabrics. My selection here is dismal, except the velour. I the velour!!!!