I'm so very lost...

[rebeccalizzie]

I'm sorry, probably all of this has been addressed but I'm so confused I can't seem to find what I need. Please please help me...

I want to make some inexpensive cute dipes for my babe due in August. I'm a decent sew-er--not spectacular, but I can usually make things look pretty decent, and I've done harder stuff like zippers and elastic with no problems. I have a really good regular sewing machine, no serger, and I really don't think I am going to get enough use out of a serger to make it worth the money. If I get very into making dipes I'll get one. Also, I like to sew but I don't love it--I don't spend bunches of hours a week at it, just an hour or two here and there.

Originally I was going to just do a bunch of prefitteds, using bias binding around the edges since I don't have a serger. I can get a bias binding foot for my machine for about $15, so I'd just have to cut strips of fabric and feed them into the foot. Everyone is saying though that I should have a variety of dipes to see what I like, so now I'm scared that my "mostly prefitted" thoughts are not a good idea.

Okay...now I'm trying to figure out what to make cheaply and using up what I have when possible. I'd really rather just run to JoAnn Fabrics for anything I need, since I'm not sure I'll stick with diaper making I don't want to order a bunch of anything! First, I have a ton of fleece, but I have no clue what kind it is. It's just fleece remnants that I bought here and there because I like fleece! Can I use it for *anything*??? Some of it is the really fuzzy stuff, some of it is smoother and thinner. Most of it was marketed as the "Polar" fleece at JoAnn. That is truly all I know. I saw above that there is no real way to know if it is water resistant or not...that makes me think I can't use the stuff.

I also have a bunch of cotton calico quilting fabric, since I quilt sometimes. Some baby prints, some regular stuff. Can I use that for anything? Same with microsuede/ultrasuede...is it all the same? I have some left over that would be nice to use up...

How about my elastic? I just have regular cheap elastic. Do I need to buy anything specific?

Finally, PUL. Is there *anywhere* I can get this stuff other than ordering it? It's so expensive! I'd prefer to mostly do hidden PUL, so I can buy clothes at Goodwill if I know what to get.

One more question...fitteds and covers or AIO's? I'm honestly scared of making a cover...I don't know why but I look at them and think mine will never be actually water resistant. I'm thinking I'd better make fitteds and buy covers : Plus, I haven't yet seen directions for making a cover--they all say to use the fitted pattern with cover fabrics, but since I've never even *seen* a diaper cover IRL other than pull on Gerbers, that doesn't help me much!

Thank you for reading my ramble... I really do want to do this and I'm feeling overwhelmed and like the only way to do it is to make a huge order from an online place, and some of those prices and shipping are so high that I can almost do better buying the diapers from a WAHM!

[discojoy]

Wow, you've got a lot of questions there! I just wanted to put in my two cents and say don't bother to make a big online order of specialty fabric until you've figured more about what's going on. Start by trying to make some cotton fitted diapers out of things like flannel, terry, etc. I love to use baby towels and flannel recieving blankets that I find at the thrift store. Don't expect your first diaper to be beautiful, either. (mine was a super ugly, super thick thing that took about three hours to dry in the dryer. . .but I learned a lot). That's why you'll want to start out experimenting on cheap stuff. It looks like you have awhile until your baby comes, so you have got some time.
Also, it's true that you'll want to try a little of everything to see what you like best. Everybody likes something different (I like to have a variety of things). You don't want to stock up on one kind and find out later that you hate it. You also might find that they won't fit your baby quite right. The hard part is that you don't have a baby to experiment on right now. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about having EVERYTHING ready before the baby comes. Maybe you should just start simple with some flats or prefolds to fall back on while you are figuring out what you really love.
As far as covers, I really love the Bummis wraps. You only need about 4-5. Mine leaked at first (they were second-hand), but I treated them with nik wax TX direct wash-in, and they don't leak anymore. The covers can be rinsed off and quickly dried to use again, so they are a good back bone in my system. There are a lot of different brands that are similar, you could try getting one of each to try them out. If you hate them, sell them on e-bay (sometimes you'll actually sell it for more than you spent!).
I haven't tried fleece covers yet, but I've heard that you need to use two layers if you are using JoAnn fleece. The best fleece is Malden Mills, which is only available online (except my mom in MN just told me that they sell it sometimes at Mill-End fabric store, which I think is also in Wisconsin and one or two other states).
My favorite covers to make are wool covers, I LOVE them. And they are cheap to make with old sweaters. I stock up on wool sweaters (get the softest wool you can find) at the thrift store when they have the 99-cent sales. Try to get sweaters on the thin side, and as large as you can (hit the men's section first). Then I felt (shrink) the sweater by washing it on warm and drying on warm. (to control the amount of felting, wash it by hand. Switch back and forth from warm to cold water until it has shrunken the desired amount). I can make two wrap-style covers from each sweater, one from the back and one from the front. Then I use the sleeves to make a pair of wool longies. I just love them, and my DS has enough wool covers to last him about a month! (it doesn't help that grandma also loves knitting wool soakers.)
I don't have a snap press, but I use Aplix or touch tape. Don't buy velcro at JoAnn, it is WAY cheaper to get it online, like at the One Stop Diaper Shop. Online you also get the hook and loop side separately, that way you aren't throwing away yards and yards of hook side that you don't need.
Well, I hope that helps to get you started. Have fun!

[rebeccalizzie]

Thanks...I think you are right, I should just start with a simple fitted and go from there. You are right, I have tons of time left! I bought 12 KL's, so I have a few dipes, and I'm going to get a bunch of prefolds as backups, soakers, and in case I end up not liking whatever I make. And covers...but I'm really not looking too much at the stuff I have to buy yet, I figure I've got plenty of time for that.

I'll have to look when I get home and see what kind of fabric I have...I think I have some leftover flannel from a baby quilt, and I only buy 100% cotton fabric for quilts, so at least I know the composition of my old quilting fabric! I can at least sew up one dipe tonight and see how I do and maybe that will tell me what direction I'd like to go in!

Time to go check out the free patterns...thanks, at least you calmed me down a bit!

[boscopup]

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

First, I have a ton of fleece, but I have no clue what kind it is.

I'm not sure about Joann's fleece (I don't have a Joann's), but I've used the $5+/yd Walmart fleece, and it works great with just one layer. The only real issue is compression wicking if baby is sitting in a carseat or sling or something.

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

I also have a bunch of cotton calico quilting fabric, since I quilt sometimes.

The calicos can be used for the outside of fitteds. I *think* the ultrasuede would work for a stay-dry liner if you want to use one. I'm not totally sure though.

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

How about my elastic? I just have regular cheap elastic. Do I need to buy anything specific?

It should work fine. I personally love Lastin, but I've used the basic stuff you get at any fabric store, and it works well too.

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

Finally, PUL. Is there *anywhere* I can get this stuff other than ordering it? It's so expensive! I'd prefer to mostly do hidden PUL, so I can buy clothes at Goodwill if I know what to get.

First, since you don't have a serger, I do NOT recommend hidden PUL, unless you're planning to zig-zag the edges (which works, but is not as pretty as serging). Cotton prints can WICK, and if you try to do hidden PUL with a T&T diaper, you're going to very likely have a heavily wicking diaper.

Where to get PUL... Yes, you can get it at the thrift store if you search hard enough. Beeps is the master PUL finder in this forum, and she can probably give you all the tips on how to look for it.

Other than that, no, you can't get it locally. You can order via co-ops and pay alot less though. You have enough time to get in on a co-op order. Several of them do PUL regularly. Or if that WAHM someone (Beeps again?) has mentioned that has free shipping on fabrics right now... I think her PUL was like $7/yd, and with free shipping, that's not bad!

Even ordering PUL from a regular retailer online will be cheaper than buying covers though. I get 6 medium-long cuts for my toddler out of 1 yard of PUL. For a newborn, you can get alot more... probably 15+. I know someone on here managed to get 30 VB AIO cuts out of one yard, but I measured that pattern and have NO CLUE how they did it. I think it'd be easy to get 15 though, without being a layout master. So that ends up being about $0.50 per newborn cover/AIO. Not bad. Just think, that's the cost of 2-3 disposable diapers!

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

One more question...fitteds and covers or AIO's?

For a newborn, I say fitteds and covers with some AIOs thrown in. AIOs would be great for nighttime when you're half asleep during the diaper change. During the day, fitteds and covers will keep all that poop inside the diaper where it belongs.

Covers are super easy to make!!!! Don't fret. Really, they're so easy. In fact, I can make a one-layer PUL cover bound in FOE in about 15 minutes. It's just so simple to do. Just cut it 1/2" bigger than the fitted pattern (all the way around), then sew the FOE on, stretching it in the elastic places. Very very very easy. And you don't need a special foot or anything for the FOE. It folds over very easily, and you just take your time and sew. Practice on some scraps first, then do the real thing. Honestly, my first FOE cover turned out really well. The only thing that I didn't like about it (besides the pattern issues - I had drafted my own and it was too narrow in the back for a prefold) is that I didn't stretch the FOE in the front. Now I do that on my FOE bound covers.

I've not seen FOE in the stores... I saw something somewhat similar today at Hancocks, but it wasn't soft like the FOE used in diaper making. This is one I would recommend ordering online.

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

Thank you for reading my ramble... I really do want to do this and I'm feeling overwhelmed and like the only way to do it is to make a huge order from an online place, and some of those prices and shipping are so high that I can almost do better buying the diapers from a WAHM!

Really, I think you can shop around a bit and get good prices. Also get on some co-op lists and check the TP and Diaper Swappers. I got hemp french terry off the TP, and I've used it for EVERYTHING. I'm down to a little over a yard now, so I need to order more soon!

One thing to remember about fabric prices... Some fabrics may LOOK more expensive, but you need LESS of it. For example, let's take hemp... Hemp jersey typically runs about $6.50/yd retail. Hemp fleece and Hemp french terry run about $8-8.50/yd retail. So it looks like hemp jersey would be the better buy, right? Nope! You need twice as much! In fact, you need so little of hemp fleece or french terry, that it's not really that much more expensive to use one of those as opposed to purchased good quality flannel (obviously if you use flannel sheets around your home, that will be cheaper!). And then you can get hemp fleece/french terry at the co-ops for around $5.50-6.50/yd typically. And the co-ops will usually ship as cheap as possible, including flat rate envelopes and such if that's cheaper.

Birdseye is another example... It's touted as being such an inexpensive material because it's $3/yd. Well, it's only 36" wide, and you need like 8 layers for a soaker! The hemp french terry is 60" wide and you only need 3-4 layers. So doing the math, the birdseye doesn't save that much money vs. hemp, KWIM?

Fabric prices scared me too, when I first started. But then I realized that the usage in one diaper was not nearly as bad. Now if I make a hemp/sherpa/velour nighttime fitted for my toddler, I'm using about $4.80 worth of materials (what I paid for those materials). That same diaper would be at least $12-15 from a WAHM. Covers... I can make those for under $2, and they're typically about $8-10 from a WAHM. AIOs can be made for about the same price as a fitted, and they run $15-20 from a WAHM. Now I'm not saying anything bad about WAHM prices... I think they are totally reasonable prices!!! The labor involved in sewing a diaper is what you're paying for when you buy from a WAHM, and in the end, she's making less than minimum wage usually.

For a newborn, I imagine that the diaper material cost would be 1/2 to 2/3 of what the diapers I've been making cost, since they're so much smaller.

[rebeccalizzie]

THANK YOU! I had no idea I could get that many covers out of a yard of PUL! I was thinking 3-4 covers per yard. In that case, it's worth it. I'm going to do my original plan of making a few fitteds out of what I have around the house (I have an embarassing stash of fabric...I can probably make a bunch of fitteds before I go shopping ). The only thing I may need to buy is soaker fabric...I think I'd like to grab a pack of cheap microfiber towels from somewhere. I printed off two free fitted patterns, so I have somewhere to start.

Then I'm going to hit JoAnn's, and order some PUL and FOE from...somewhere. I'm not going to worry about that until I have some clue what I'm doing, but I found a cover pattern that I like, made of a layer of PUL, a layer of polyester fabric, and FOE to bind it all together. It looks as easy as you said, so I feel better. I guess I'm going to start hunting for co-ops...why do I think this is going to be my new obsession???

[peypeymama]

The only other thing I'd suggest is to hunt your thrift stores for 100% cotton flannel sheets. I've made a ton of cute newborn dipes out of old sheets & duvets. You can get a ton of fabric for around 3-5 bucks!

[Jes'sBeth]

Just to encourage you... there are a ton of people on here who have really only ever sewn diapers or hadn't touched a sewing machine since gr 8 home ec! They all can turn out lovely diapers. If you can already do elastic, read a pattern etc, then you're going to have nice diapers in a hurry! I found it much less intimidating to start with a pattern and used a free one which I promptly modified because it didn't fit very well. Some of the free patterns which are getting good reviews here for newborns are the Mama Bird pattern and the newest one that's been discovered is the Wee Weka pattern. I've printed out the Wee Weka pattern (not the newborn... I just looked at that one) and I think it's a really nice looking pattern.

PUL really isn't that expensive. I'd save it until after you've made a cover or 2 and are used to the shapes you're supposed to get when you're done. Be aware, it can take a bit of fiddling to get your machine to respond well to PUL. Practice on a scrap first. Some have trouble with the shiny side facing up because it sticks so most people sew with the shiny side facing down. Others have trouble with it facing the feed dogs too and end up getting a teflon foot (cheap online) so that the fabric slides well. I have no problem but you should know that you can solve any problems quickly!

Diaper making is super addictive. I hope you love it and I can't wait to see your diapers! (the advice that PP's gave you is really good so I'll leave it at that!)

[brogansmomma]

First, since you don't have a serger, I do NOT recommend hidden PUL, unless you're planning to zig-zag the edges (which works, but is not as pretty as serging). Cotton prints can WICK, and if you try to do hidden PUL with a T&T diaper, you're going to very likely have a heavily wicking diaper.

Could you do an FOE binding instead of serging? Straight stitch around and then bind with FOE? Or is that too many holes in the PUL?

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by brogansmomma

Could you do an FOE binding instead of serging? Straight stitch around and then bind with FOE? Or is that too many holes in the PUL?

Good point. Yes, you can do it that way. It should not be too many holes, and you seal those up anyway when you wash and dry on hot after you make the diaper/cover. I think the MamaBird site that Beth mentioned earlier has a great picture of a diaper done up just that way.

I just wanted to say re: the binding foot that you mentioned earlier, Rebeccalizzie, make sure any bindings you use will not wick. Some bindings would be fleece, PUL strips, FOE and wool strips if you are making a wool cover. Do not use the bias tape you buy at the sewing store, b/c that will wick. Actually, if you were planning on buying the binding foot solely for making diapers, you might want to spend it instead on a teflon foot (I need one for my machine) if you decide you DO want to sew with PUL and your machine gets fussy with it.

Also, be sure to check out the Fern and Fairie web site for ideas on frugal diaper making. That would be MehndiMama's site, or you can also find it listed in the resources "sticky" at the top of the postings list for this diaper making forum.

[rebeccalizzie]

Thanks again, see my other thread for my first dipe! I'm excited.

Ref the binding foot, I was planning on using it to finish the edges of fitted or prefitted dipes, not AIO's or covers. I thought a calico binding would be cute on a plain dipe. So I'm thinking the wicking issue wouldn't matter as much? I'm thinking I'm going to do FOE for my covers.

Unfortunately, I have a Viking machine with snap on feet. Therefore, a Teflon foot costs like $50, and I'm not spending that much right now. I just happened to find a cheap source of generic binding feet that will fit my machine--most of the time I have to buy a real Viking foot, which is annoying (but I still love my machine, so it's worth it most of the time). I am going to try out the "sewing through a piece of paper laid over the PUL" method, hopefully that will keep it from sticking. I've sewn over paper a bunch of times when I've quilted, so I'm used to that...hopefully it will work with PUL.

[boscopup]

FWIW, my machine doesn't require anything special for sewing PUL. I use a ball point needle and sew with shiny side down. It's never had a problem. I have a cheapy Singer from Sears (it takes Kenmore parts). So don't be afraid of sewing PUL until you try some and see how your machine actually does it.

[our3boys]

I have a Viking, too. So I hear you on the prices of those accessory feet! My teflon foot came with the machine, though, so I did not notice the cost as much.

I have been wondering if there is any stick-on teflon material we could buy to make our own? Or a paint of some sort??

[rebeccalizzie]

Our3boys, I read somewhere (I *think* OSDS) that if you buy the regular foot from Nancy's Notions, the shank is held on by this pin. You push the pin out, the shank comes off, and supposedly you can use it as a snap on foot at that point.

I haven't tried it yet, but if I end up deciding I need one I'm going to give it a shot.

[our3boys]

Well that might be an option for those feet that "I would like, but cannot really justify the cost of".