VB AIO question

[Jes'sBeth]

Okay, so I got the pattern a bit ago and I really like it. They're easy to sew and work really well.

The problem I run into is that that soaker wad that's sewn into the middle seems to shift since it's just sewn to the inside layers and with XS diapers it's really stiff. I can't find birdseye so have been using flannel.

Is the flannel wad going to loosen up at all? is it always going to be really waddy? Does anyone have any solutions to it?

I've been thinking about cutting the soaker differently so that it would have several layers each 2 layers thick with each layer progressively bigger so that the smallest layer would be the same size as the current soaker but the larger layers much bigger to try to feather the edges a bit. I know it would be more work but do you think it would solve some of the waddiness?

I'm also thinking about making the soaker pad a contour shape instead of a rectangle. Anyone else do this? Hows it look when you're done?

Of course it doesn't seem to bug our DD it just bugs me... it looks funny having this huge bit that moves so differently than the rest of the diaper... It's probably going to be WAY more work to do the feathered contour thing isn't it...

Anyone else have any ideas to solve this?

[Sheena23]

It must be because you have tried other diapers. I didn't think this was a real problem, but then again VB AIO's are all I have. I don't find that mine shift enough to make a difference. I think that even if you did do a contour soaker it will still shift because it's the inner and soaker that are shifting. I do have ones made with birdseye and they do the same thing, and actually worse than my flannel ones. I think the best material for not shifting is the french terry, becuase it is so thinck and heavy. Of course the worse is cotton. I hope I am understanding exactly what you are talking about, and if you figure out anything that works let us know!!

[judybean]

I have found that the flannel VB AIOs that I've made do seem to get much more 'waddy' than the other materials I have used. The best at not getting all wonky seems to be cotton interlock, IME.

One way -- but this is just a theory! -- that could seem to remedy some of the waddiness (such a funny word!) that goes on would be to maybe sew an 'x' or something like that through the soaker pad before attaching the edges to the main body of the diaper. I would think that by sewing through the layers (and I guess maybe you could do it through the body of the diaper as well... you'd lose some of the aesthetics I suppose, but it would still function fine) would help to eliminate a lot of the shifting that creates the wonkiness.

Hope that makes sense in writing... I have the idea in my head of why it makes sense though

Gosh... I really need to get back into sewing dipes. I haven't sewn one in OVER THREE WEEKS! But, moving three kids downstairs just so I can sew is sometimes so much work that it exhausts me even thinking about it!

So, for now I'm living vicariously through all of you that *are* sewing right now!

[Jes'sBeth]

Judy, do you mean sew an x through just the soaker pad or through the soaker pad and the top 2 absorbant layers too? I've been zig zagging the edges of the soaker so that the whole thing is pretty compact already. It's more that there's this big hunk of absorbant material in the middle that shifts around (obviously I'm working on something bigger than newborn size! We're into mediums now)

I'm asking for trouble if I sew through the absorbant layers and the PUL aren't I...

[judybean]

Well...I'm not sure... you could just do the absorbant pad, or through the body (just the two absorbant layers!) ... If *just* the soaker pad seems to be the problem... maybe just through it?

I think that if you're working with flannel that it's just going to be a bit more stiff than other materials, unless you're using a nice, old, cut-up flannel receiving blanket that has been washed millions of times and is nice and soft.

To me flannel seems to go through a life cycle of feeling nice and soft to the touch, washing up okay if not a bit pilly, suddenly getting a bit stiffer and pilly, then suddenly turning to something near butter (well, smooth anyway!)

Maybe since it's all sewn up in a diaper, the flannel on the inside doesn't have a chance to get to the nice-n-soft stage?

I have just one VB AIO that is alllll flannel and it's just a lot more stiff in general than any of the other combo VBs I've made (and... I've made them with just about every fabric thus far! old sheets, flannel, cotton interlock, velour, organic velour, organic sherpa, of course birdseye, and even some quilter's cotton -- I get the fat quarters and use them on the inside so they look just as cute inside as out!).

[Sheena23]

Beth I've been making larges from flannel and I'm not having that same problem. How many layers are you using for your flannel soaker? My soakers turn out pretty thin and I just zigzag around the edges too. If I'm using flannel I do 4-6 layers depending on the flannel.I know when I take them out of the dryer they are all wonky, but I just give them a good stretch, and fold them nicely. Sometimes I do have to adjust the soaker just before putting it on Will but rarely.

[scheelimama]

Well, I've never been one for following the directions on patterns. LOL! So, here's what I did when making mine and I've never had a problem. I did 4 layers of flannel sewn to both body layers. No shifting here. And I did all flannel as well. Now, my flannel was a bit heavier than some of the really cheap flannel, so if you did a very thin flannel you might want to add 1-2 layers. Any more and it will take ages to dry. They do seem a little stiff and my future diapers will be all interlock/jersey/and french terry inners. I would advise against sewing an X through the layers because that will make it take even longer to dry and will make it much harder to clean through all the layers.

[orangecanoe]

I make my soakers contoured in the front--not sure if the new babe is going to be a girl or a boy, but dd was a heavy front wetter. I just start the contour part just beyond the leg elastic and make sure it's short enough not to get caught up where you need to sew the front loop fabric.

As for bunching up when using flannel.....I usually just put a long zig-zag down the middle of the soaker before I sew it to the body layers. On another, I also zigzagged down the middle of the soaker *after* I had sewn it to the body layers. Not sure yet which way I like it better....still waiting on some more organic flannel.

[Jes'sBeth]

So I tried sewing through the soaker pad a few times on my last 2 and it has definately helped a bit. They are a bit trimmer and don't seem to be shifting quite so much. I haven't tried contouring the soaker pad yet that's next. I think I'm going to try using jersey for the soaker pads on my next one so see if that helps to soften up the soaker pad a bit. The flannel really is a bit stiff when it's turned into the soaker pad. I like it against DD though and it's so easy to get and comes in such nice prints!

I think I'm using too many layers too. I was just following the pattern which told me to use 8 layers (maybe I didn't read it right... isn't it the same number of layers for birdseye and flannel?!? Time to read again!)

I'll report back with pictures soon! I finished one today and am almost done another one but of course I put the one I finished on DD right away so it's going to have to get washed before pictures can be taken.