OH NO-momentous VB mistake!

[Sali]

Okay, so I am 35/36 weeks into this pregnancy and today began cutting PUL for Medium dipes--I have made 16 AIOs and at least as many PUL pockets using the VB AIO pattern (not to mention three dozen fitteds and Fleece Pockets). The diapers are all lined up in the bathroom and in the hospital bag waiting for baby's bum, I felt like I had the diaper situation under control and then...
(dramatic pause)



I just read a post from earlier today in which Beth mentioned that the elastic is meant to be sewn into the seam allowance for the dipes to work--I don't know how I missed this, I am FREAKING OUT!!! I sewed the elastic to the PUL side, willy nilly. I don't know how big a mistake this is--will cloth diapering be a quaint idea turned disaster in my house? Are all those pockets and AIOs going to have to become oven mitts and boxing gloves? Will my husband run screaming to the drug store to buy disposables after he's covered in baby mess for the twentieth time? Will I?

What should I do?

[Bestbirths]

:

I don't know, but I hope you can recover from it!

[boscopup]

Honestly, I'm sure they'll still work.

Are you saying you sewed them to the PUL outside the seam allowance? Can you post a picture? I'm trying to figure out how that'd work. You're supposed to sew to the PUL side of the seam allowance. If you go to the VB extra instructions website, it shows pictures of doing this with other materials, like fleece and wool.

Basically, after sewing up most of the diaper right sides together, leaving an opening so you can turn it out again, you then sew your elastic to the part between the stitching and the edge of the fabric, and you sew it to the PUL side. If you sewed it on the other side of the stitching (which is the only thing I can think of that you did if you sewed to PUL without sewing through the seam allowance), you'd just see the elastic stitching, but it shouldn't affect the way the diaper works. Those holes will seal up after you run the diaps through the dryer on HOT.

So calm down. Breathe deeply. I think your diapers will work fine.

[JunebugsMom]

hmm. I'm not quite sure I understand the problem.

I use the VB fitted pattern and my elastic doesn't actually get sewn into the seam allowance. I use the markings on the pattern and it actually ends up outside. Does that make any sense? Help at all?

[boscopup]

Yeah, I'm thinking that sewing the elastic outside the seam allowance on the AIO pattern would probably just give it leg ruffles like the fitted pattern has. But I think it'd be noticeable that it was different? I'm really wondering if Sali did it correctly afterall?

[Jes'sBeth]

I'm sure it'll be just fine. If you get leaks you can put a cover over the diaper but I bet you'll be just fine. I don't understand how you put the elastic in. I bet you got the cold sweats when you read that post though! At least I was clear!

Reassurance time:

I've sewn casings for legs on my PUL several times on the same leg (sewing machine acting up) and had it work out just fine. There were MAJOR holes right next to the soaker in the pocket diaper. NO PROBLEMS! Make sure you wash them and dry them on hot once and you'll be fine. I think as long as your PUL rolls in your diapers are still going to work just fine. Don't worry until there's something to worry about.

And how did you put the elastic in? Where did you sew it?

[brogansmomma]

I'm reading it that she sewed the elastic directly onto the PUL outside of the seam allowance so that when you look at the finished diaper you can see the stitching that's holding the elastic in place whereas if it was sewn to the seam allowance you wouldn't see any stitching at all.

[Sali]

OK, I've been thinking calm thoughts.

I sewed the elastic onto the PUL side before turning it outside the seam allowance (sort of closer tot he soaker)--I checked the directions and I definitely did it wrong. You cant see the elastic stitched because it ends up holding the inner and outer layers together closer in when I T&T...so instead of the straight seam being the edge of the legs, it's actually the elastic stitching I did. Does that make sense? I don't know how to do pics, but I can enlist DH (I've been meaning to)...

When I posted my stash, you all told me to make/ buy more covers--and I did, so it should all balance out, even if I end up using prefolds and covers in the end...You are all so comforting, thanks. I should probably just chill out and vow to read directions before taking off like a bat out of hell

Insult to injury, I failed to reply earlier because I was having contractions yesterday afternoon/last night that went from 15 to 10 to 5 minutes apart before finally stopping cold--perhaps my diapering anxiety made the little one change his/her mind about wanting to meet its loony mama just yet .

[Bestbirths]

sending lots of great labor vibes

[boscopup]

Ok, so you definitely didn't follow the directions, BUT... I see NO reason why the diapers shouldn't work.

And if baby comes now, you might need those preemie prefolds a bit longer than normal. (although I used them a whopping MONTH with DS who came home at 33 weeks gestation... now they're great doublers)