DD Potty Dance vs Poquito Pants as trainers

[our3boys]

How does the fit compare?

(Has anybody tried the Poquito Pants???)

[our3boys]

I tried to make some of my own yesterday using a pair of undies that I like for a reference. The undies (reference pair) are currently too big, but by pulling the elastic tighter, I thought I would get a pair with enough extra room for pulling off and on easily. They look perfect and the proportions are great. I just can't seem to get the FOE right. He is almost 30 pounds and almost 2, but these are too tight. They truly are "poquito pants" now.

I don't want to spend hours and lots of materials trying to get it right if the pattern would help. But I suspect it would not anyway since the variations in materials and FOE "brand" would change finished sizing for each item. I really prefer casings - just in this instance it is too bulky. I guess I will have to just add an inch to the sides and not pull the FOE as tight...

Then again, maybe I can serge the edges with wooly nylon and make a casing for elastic - eliminating the need for T&T bulk.

Any other suggestions???

[JLav]

I *LOVE* the Poquito Pants pattern. They are so trim and cute...I've even added some width to the crotch to make them more absorbant for regular diapers. They are great trainers, so trim and easy to pull on and off. I was hesitant to buy the pattern because it's a bit spendy, but I'm really glad I did!

[our3boys]

Thanks so much - just what I needed to hear! The tip on widening the crotch for regular diapers is good, and I'm glad to hear they are easy for a child to pull on and off.

I have been feeling hesitant b/c of the price - especially since I can usually draft my own patterns. My other hesitation - were you able to get consistent results, especially through the legs?

I do not know much about EC - I had just seen the name "Poquito pants" mentioned several times in passing. When I checked the website, they looked exactly like what I had in mind.

[JLav]

I really like the pattern, the shape is great, the instructions are easy to understand and she has options for t&t or serged and even to make covers. I really think that it was worth the money.
I'm not sure what you mean by consistent results...all of mine turned out the same, I think that has to do with the cutting and sewing and not the pattern itself.

[boscopup]

I've made the Potty Dance Pants, and you can't beat the price, of course. They were really easy to do - basically similar to making an AIO. The fit is good on the appropriate sized child. I made the large version for my 7 year old nephew, and tried them on my son who was 17 months old at the time. They were a bit baggy on him, but he really should be in the smaller size. On the 7 year old, the rise was too short, but that's because it's a 7 year old. Amber told me to add 2" in the rise for him, and that's what I'm doing in the ones I'm making now. My nephew hasn't gotten a pair of these yet, but hopefully will next month!

They are very easy to pull up and down. I really like the pattern! And the instructions are easy to follow. I too drafted my own diaper pattern, but decided to splurge and buy a pattern for training pants. $8 wasn't a big deal to spend for this endeavor, and it comes by e-mail as a PDF within 24 hours (well, that was pre-baby - I don't know if Amber is still that fast post-baby! ).

Also, they do really hold one pee, even a 7 year old pee. My sister was really pleased with the one I sent her, even though the rise was a bit short. They still worked!

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by JLav

I'm not sure what you mean by consistent results...all of mine turned out the same,

I think the problem/concern I have with inconsistent results is b/c I am trying to use FOE to reduce bulk. Perhaps it does not significantly in the end since I am still adding 2 layers with the FOE. (Therefore, just eliminating the bulk of separate elastic.) I am trying to use up bits and pieces of FOE - I only have enough on each strip for one diaper/training pants each, and they are all different manufacturers, widths, etc., so they each stretch and lose stretch when stitched upon a bit differently. I guess I just need to buy one large amount of FOE so I can play with it and figure out how much the length/elasticity changes when it is sewn in.

I tried to make a side snap trainer with 2 layers of recycled t-shirt and one layer of hemp fleece (plus extra soaker layer, not included in the leg elastic area). It was a T&T style, with elastic casings. It ended up SOOO extremely bulky. Maybe I should not use hemp fleece for T&T styles???

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by boscopup

Also, they do really hold one pee, even a 7 year old pee.

Boscopup - I remember that you had made those for your nephew. You used PUL on them, right? The pictures on the website look a bit bulky to me - are they not really that bulky?

I guess my biggest hesitation on this one is just that I am not super crazy about doing an e-mail pattern. I have no rational reason for it.

It sounds like it was much more worth it to buy the pattern than draft you own. That is why I am considering buying a pattern - making a couple trials to get the fit just right eats up materials (=money) and loads of time. It would definitely be worth it to me to buy even a $24 pattern given that. I just am so stubborn about "doing it myself".

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by our3boys

Boscopup - I remember that you had made those for your nephew. You used PUL on them, right? The pictures on the website look a bit bulky to me - are they not really that bulky?

They're poofy on my son, but not bulky. And that was a size too big that my son was wearing. On my nephew, they're not bulky at all. In fact, I just looked at the pic again, and if you look from leg to hip to side, it's completely flat there. Note that a snap had fallen out on one side, so they're a bit wonky there.

I used PUL on the outside, two layers of flannel on the inside, then the thin soaker is 2 layers of hemp french terry and one layer of flannel. The soaker is *really* narrow.

I don't see there being any problem fitting jeans and other stuff over these. They're not as trim as those training undies (the non-waterproof ones) that you can get in the store, but they're trimmer than a diaper. They're poofier than Poquito Pants appear to be.

[boscopup]

Oh, also I just noticed that the Poquito Pants are currently sold out. I don't know how long it takes her to stock. Last time I was looking, I was leaning towards getting that pattern, but it was sold out then too! So you might have to stalk the site to get one.

[cyncyn]

I like the new conceptions training pants pattern. She uses leg casings for the instructions, but I substituted FOE (and cut off the extra seam allowance) on some of them and had no trouble with it.

I also drafted all my own diaper and cover patterns and I was *sure* I could do training pants too. Ha Ha! for some reason they just didn't come out right and I was tired of wasting fabric. So I bought the pattern and had 6 pairs whipped up the next night!

To reduce bulkiness, I don't use any hidden body layers on mine, just 1 layer PUL outer and 1 layer cotton interlock or jersey for waterproof "day" style, 1 layer PUL outer and 1 layer cotton sweatshirt fleece or velour for waterproof "night" style and 2 layers of cotton knit for non-waterproof "day" style. I do a two layer soaker of microfiber and hemp.

[lovemygirl]

Fern & Faerie has a new pattern for trainers, looks easy enough! I might try it when my ds is close to potty learning. I made my own a while back, when my dd was little but it wasn't adjustable and not waterproof, and too small! LOL! She went quickly from cloth diapers to the potty so I didn' get much of a chance to make any more. but hopefully with this little guy I will.

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by boscopup

Oh, also I just noticed that the Poquito Pants are currently sold out. I don't know how long it takes her to stock. Last time I was looking, I was leaning towards getting that pattern, but it was sold out then too! So you might have to stalk the site to get one.

Yes, I had already thought of that. But I have not been a stalker (except maybe to the MDC site??) - so how does that work? Can't I just send her an e-mail? I did try that once with the Elbee site, but got no response. Needless to say, I have no Elbee's.

Thanks for the picture of your nephew - I had forgotten that one. The description of your and cyncyn's sound a LOT less bulky than the one I made from hemp fleece.

Originally Posted by cyncyn

I like the new conceptions training pants pattern. She uses leg casings for the instructions, but I substituted FOE (and cut off the extra seam allowance) on some of them and had no trouble with it.

How much did you stretch the FOE? As much as it would go? 2 inches of FOE for each 3 inches of fabric?

Originally Posted by cyncyn

I also drafted all my own diaper and cover patterns and I was *sure* I could do training pants too...So I bought the pattern and had 6 pairs whipped up the next night!

and

Originally Posted by cyncyn

To reduce bulkiness, I don't use any hidden body layers on mine, just 1 layer PUL outer and 1 layer cotton interlock or jersey for waterproof "day" style, 1 layer PUL outer and 1 layer cotton sweatshirt fleece or velour for waterproof "night" style and 2 layers of cotton knit for non-waterproof "day" style. I do a two layer soaker of microfiber and hemp.

Very helpful, thanks.

Originally Posted by lovemygirl

Fern & Faerie has a new pattern for trainers, looks easy enough! I might try it when my ds is close to potty learning. I made my own a while back, when my dd was little but it wasn't adjustable and not waterproof, and too small! LOL! She went quickly from cloth diapers to the potty so I didn' get much of a chance to make any more. but hopefully with this little guy I will.

I did not know she had a pattern for those! So now there are four trainer patterns?? Anyway, the rest made me laugh - here I am with my too small pair. I think he may take a longer time to learn, though, since he is so young and he likes to play with the potty. But he does pee every time he goes. Justs wants to stay there and blow his nose (and throw the pieces into the potty) for at least half an hour.

[cyncyn]

I just saw that FF trainer pattern! It looks cool, I love t-shirt knits. We are onto "real" underwear here now, but good to know...

Re the FOE, I recommend hardly stretching it AT ALL on the legs especially. The biggest problem I had was with the thighs being too small, and dd is pretty slim. I think the FOE gave a smoother, less bulky fit than the elastic casings though and looks more like underwear especially if you use the thin satin FOE. The NC pattern has you use casings that are quite a bit bigger than the width of the elastic. When I slimmed down the casing, I liked the look better. I didn't have the thigh issue when I used the casing method instead of FOE.

Have fun and don't stress since your child will likely wear trainers for only a short time.

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by cyncyn

Re the FOE, I recommend hardly stretching it AT ALL on the legs especially. The biggest problem I had was with the thighs being too small, and dd is pretty slim.

Oh. I was stretching it out as far as I could. So I got 6 inches of fabric to go to 4 inches with FOE attached. I would not have guessed to hardly stretch it at all. But both my FOE attempts (these trainers and one cover I made a long time ago) ended up with doll sized thighs. And I cannot get the leg openings to turn out the same yet, either. One is usually 1/2 inch bigger than the other.