Learning to sew diapers

[cheeseRjedi]

Hey all!

Please excuse my newbieness (is that a word? ), but I am slowly on the path to making diapers for my girl. We started cd'ing a few weeks ago and I really want to learn to make my own. I am totally new to sewing (I have used a machine before, but never regularly)...is there a good 'sewing for beginners' type site I can check out? Also, can anyone recommend a good type of sewing machine to get? Thanks in advance

[AngelBee]

: Me too!

And serger recommenations?

[jenamiles]

I don't have any real advice, but I would suggest finding a local sewing maching store and going in then "testing" the machines. They can show you how to sew basic stitches and I think that would be much more helpful than a book. They can also help you find a good starter machine.

I am getting ready to go find one here because my Walmart machine is driving me nuts.

Jen

[StrawHatBrat]

The sewing machine I have is a trusty Kenmore and although I got a new coolio embroidery machine, the Brother In-novis... I still sew with the Kenmore. (I'm so intimidated by the emb machines sewing capabilities!)

The honeyboy pattern is easy-easy! So is the Very baby fitted. I don't have a serger, so I can't help you there.

The fastest shipping for supplies was from diapercuts.com.

diapershop.com is good too, but both my orders didn't even ship out for a week, so it was a week and a half before I got my stuff.... and I hate waiting.

I started with fleece pockets and now I'm making PUL pockets and I love them both. check out the sticky on top of the forum and there's a ton of info there for you. Good luck!

[boscopup]

For learning how to sew diapers, I highly recommend looking at the instructions on Diaper Sewing and Sew Diapers. You might also purchase a pattern such as Very Baby or Darling Diapers. There are others listed in the sticky for this forum.

[Rachel Flores]

I JUST did research on sergers and got mine a week and a half ago. I ended up getting a Brother 1034D from Walmart because:
1. the price is AWSOME
2. It had the most positive reviews ( http://sewing.patternreview.com/, www.amazon.com) in my price range
3. It has really good instructions, comes with two CD rom videos on how to thread/ use the machine.
4. I figured I could easily return it to Walmart if it turned out that it was not the serger for me.

So far (not that it's been very long) it's been a great machine, easy to use easy to thread and mine came with a couple extra feet that I didn't even expect. I haven't tried them out yet though. HTH

[michellerene]

I'm a Babylock devotee-- Have the BLCC machine & the Imagine serger. Love 'em both, but NOT cheap! Buy from a small local dealer if you can. They usually offer free classes, trade-ups & other support you won't get at a big box store. The carry the higher quality machines, as well.

The only pattern I've ever purchased is the Snap Happy diaper cover pattern, when I thougth I was going to use profolds (from a service) & covers... but I could not resist the challenge of making my own fitteds & have now been asked by a friend to make them for her on line store! I've only ever used the free patterns-- for ideas & by studying them & commercial dipes out there, I've come up with my own pattern that I'm very happy with.

If you're new to sewing, though, the Very Baby looks to be a great pattern with lots of free on line supplements that help you expand the pattern's use & styles. Honeyboy is another popular one, but I, personally, do not like the high rise design of this diaper.

Just google "cloth diaper sewing" & you will finds tons of free information & directions-- the sticky at the top of this page also has lots of great links. Have fun!