Can I do this?

[megamom]

Can I sew a piece of knit to a piece of white PUL for an outer layer for a pocket dipe? IF you are going to respnd with "No, It will wick" can you please tell me what the heck that means???? I am confused with this whole wicking thing. LMBO.

[discojoy]

"Wicking" means that moisture will seep around the edges of the waterproof layer (PUL) and soak the outer cotton cover. Then the diaper won't be dry on the outside, but very wet. Usually wicking happens when you turn and topstitch, that exposes the edge of the outer cotton to the inner wet layers. To avoid wicking, you can use fold over elastic (FOE) on the edges. I've never actually done this myself, so hopefully someone with experience can explain exactly how to avoid the wicking!

[boscopup]

What she said... The big problem with wicking is that it causes wet CLOTHES. That's never good, right? If you're T&T, you need to use solid PUL to avoid wicking. Otherwise, you can spray the outer fabric with DWR, but I don't know how much that works? Plus it's chemicals that people sometimes don't want to spray on their baby's diapers.

Binding with FOE should work if you don't do it the way I did it. I serged my layers together, and in doing that, my velour inner touched my cotton print outer. I haven't used the diaper (it's too small for my DS), but looking at it, I know it will wick. A better way would have been to sew the layers shut with a straight stitch, then trim the cotton layers back a bit so the PUL sticks out just ever so slightly. Then bind with FOE so the outer and inner cotton layers aren't touching at all. FOE doesn't wick THAT easily (I've only had it happen when the diaper underneath is completely saturated and just can't hold anymore). It's not made of cotton or anything absorbent.

[megamom]

OK, let me absorb all that, I feel it wicking out of my brain.
I ahve not tried any FOE yet but I might be willing to give it a whirl. Would it be better to just sew two layers of fleece for the outer? IT will be bulkier but may leak less. I am just so new at this! (What I want to do is have the outer Camo fleece and the inner blaze orange microfleece. However I do not want it to leak of course.) I am using the VB AIO pattern but making pockets.

[boscopup]

If you're using a fleece outer (regular waterproof type fleece) and microfleece inner, you should be ok T&T.

And wicking out of your brain... HAHAHA... Great use of the word!

[tuffykenwell]

Yes you can do that (I do it all the time) but what I do is a) make sure your inner layer is non absorbant because otherwise the liquid will pass from the inner to the outer print layer in no time flat...but if you stick with polyester fabrics (microfleece and suedecloth usually) then you will be fine usually...but you are going to be better IF....

b) I trim the cotton outer layer after sewing the three layers together. So basically you are sewing your layers right sides together so you have PUL,cotton outer,microfleece and then you are going to turn the whole thing. Before I add the elastic I trim down the cotton layer (which is sandwiched between the fleece and PUL) to the stitching and then add the elastic etc.

My cotton outer pockets are FAR more wick proof then my AI2s are and they are made from the SAME pattern...and basically have the same construction except that the AI2s have the fleece topped snap in soaker rather than the hemp being inserted into the pocket.

Steph

[megamom]

OK, so basically if I trim the cotton layer I am sewing the elastic just to the fleece and PUL. I think I got it. OK, whenever my PUL finally arrives I am going to try it!

[tuffykenwell]

Originally Posted by megamom

OK, so basically if I trim the cotton layer I am sewing the elastic just to the fleece and PUL. I think I got it. OK, whenever my PUL finally arrives I am going to try it!

Yep you got it. That way the edge of your cotton layer is hidden by the elastic stitching and/or topstitching so it has no chance to get in contact with your insert...therefore little to no chance of wicking!

Oh also, I like to sew my elastic onto the microfleece side because I prefer my legs to flip out...it also presents the PUL side to the insert inside the diaper and I think it protects the particularly vulnerable leg area (I topstitch everything EXCEPT the legs).

Steph

[megamom]

Great, so you topstitch to the elastic and then stop instead of stitching around it. Thanks for all the tips. This is such a great board!