My mental block!

[Jayneysews]

Hi lovely helpful,wise ones.
I have woven wool.
I really want to make wool wraps(covers)
I have two problems
One is a mental block......
Two ,is the reason I think for the mental block...................
I don't know the best way to a.) Bind the raw edges...........Could I serge?
b.)Elasticate.

Will the elastic go funny if it is just three stepped zig zagged inside the cover?
Could I,possibly use FOE,or will that go odd when i lanolise them?

I have this wool and I really want to get on with it.
I cannot get wool edging tape or binding in the UK,the fabric itself is too thick to cut up bias strips and use that.

Plus I think it is far too thick to T and T

Help of any sort would be much appreciated!

[boscopup]

You probably don't want to use FOE with it. Is it too thick to do a 2-layer serged cover? That'd be easiest. Just sew the elastic with a 3-step zig-zag to the outside layer, then serge them together. All done.

If it needs to be one-layer, you can fold over the seam allowance to encase the elastic, and maybe leave the tabs as raw edges (it won't fray). I just hate sewing one-layer covers that way.

[discojoy]

I always bind my wool covers with wool bias tape that I make myself. Go to the thrift store, find a wool skirt/pants/shirt in a color that will coordinate and that is not too thick to use, and make bias tape out of that. I have also used thin sweaters, they work well also. I put the elastic inside of the binding. That's my favorite way.

I have seen wool covers that are just serged or zigzaged on the edges, like this one: http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/7hmjpg.jpg
It has rainbow serging and looks pretty cute. It looks like they also just did the 3-step zig-zag for the elastic, I think that would work fine. You'll probably want to use 3/8-inch elastic (1 centimeter?) because it is thicker fabric.

[earthenware]

Originally Posted by discojoy

I always bind my wool covers with wool bias tape that I make myself. Go to the thrift store, find a wool skirt/pants/shirt in a color that will coordinate and that is not too thick to use, and make bias tape out of that. I have also used thin sweaters, they work well also. I put the elastic inside of the binding. That's my favorite way.

Well, isn't that just the smartest idea!

[akmeg]

Discojoy.....do you have any pics of covers you've done like that? That sounds awesome! I'd like to make some wool covers too but I don't have a serger and that sounds like such a great idea, I'd love to see a pic!

[webjefita]

Also wanting to attempt this...

Can you describe how you would make bias tape for a newbie?

Also, what is the 3-step zig-zag? I've only done regular zig-zagging.

[boscopup]

Bias tape... probably the easiest is to get a bias tape maker. It's a thingy that you stick a strip of fabric in, then it folds it up nicely and you press it. There are also bias tape maker feet for your sewing machine that fold it up and stitch it down in one step. I don't know which is better... I have a largish bias tape maker of the pressing kind, but I haven't used it yet (it's too big for anything I'd do - maybe if I did quilts or something, but I don't). The hard way of doing it is to press it in half, then press each half in half.

3-step zig-zag is a sewing machine stitch. It's also called a multi-zig-zag. You can check your manual for either of those. Basically, it is 3 stitches in one direction, then 3 stitches in the other direction. So it looks like a really wide zig-zag, but each zig and each zag is 3 separate stitches. So you go zig zig zig, zag zag zag, zig zig zig, etc.

[our3boys]

I think in this case the bias "tape" does not need to be folded twice. That process (for those who are wondering how to make bias tape) is to enclose the edges so that they do not fray. You would end up with 5 layers (4 for the binding, plus one for the cover itself), and that will probably be too thick. If the woolen you use is a thicker, more felted knit or a woven, it likely will not fray. You only need to fold those in half, iron lightly, then sew them on. So your bias "tape" is only twice the finished width.

Another way to do a binding for this is to cut your "tape" (cut in the direction you would cut to make two triangles out of a square) and just line up the edge of the tape to the edge of the wool cover and sew, like any seam. Do this on the side that you will see when the cover is on the baby. Then wrap it over to the other side and stitch it down. In this case, you need to cut your bias a little over three times your finished width. For example, if your finished width was to be 3/4", you might cut it out 2-1/2". That gives a little extra width so that when you wrap it around and sew it down, there will be a little fabric on the other side of the stitching to catch as you are sewing.

[Jayneysews]

I had that thought too,about making my own bias tape.
Charity shops here in the Uk don't realy sound as good as your thrift stores,and certainly not as cheap
It may take me the next six months to find a woolen garment which would be suitable to use as binding.
Yes,Boscopup in my opinion the stuff I have is a little too thick to serge double layers,hence my block,I just keep looking at it and pondering!
I did sort of wonder about just making mini hidden casings for elastic on legs and around the back with bits off sweaters I have felted.
Just to kind of cover the elastic.
Ho hum,I will ponder more.

[earthenware]

Originally Posted by Jayneysews

Charity shops here in the Uk don't realy sound as good as your thrift stores,and certainly not as cheap
It may take me the next six months to find a woolen garment which would be suitable to use as binding.

I had no idea before reading your posts what it was like over there as far as consumer goods! It's just so different... is it the same in all of Europe? Woman, we need to gather a package together and mail it over to you (how long would that take and what would it cost?) because it is making me seriously sad thinking of you trying to scour tiny, dark little thrift stores paying full retail price for a moth-eaten wool sweater you finally found after 6 months! It reminds me of Russia after the fall of communism or something. Maybe I could go down to the airport and wait for an outgoing plane to London and just ask a passenger to carry the diaper supplies over... then you'd just have to meet the plane. Is that legal?

[shalena]

I use Foe on my wool covers all of the time and it works great.

I do it the same way Fern and Faerie does hers. You can google her website and check out her super cool wool wraps.

[discojoy]

Originally Posted by akmeg

Discojoy.....do you have any pics of covers you've done like that? That sounds awesome! I'd like to make some wool covers too but I don't have a serger and that sounds like such a great idea, I'd love to see a pic!

Okay, Here it is:
http://www.boiseclothdiapers.com/sew_wool_wrap.htm

I made this tutorial for you this moring. I'm sorry to say that my digital camera is about the worst on the planet, so the pictures are not that great.

I don't use any special equipment for sewing or cutting, just an old pair of scissors and a regualr sewing machine. I sew the binding on exactly how our3boys was explaining.

I second the motion to get a package to send to Janey! I have just piles and piles of wool sitting around. I pick up things at the 99-cent sales every monday at Savers.

[webjefita]

Thank you!

Discojoy, awesome tutorial! Thank you SO MUCH!

I can't wait to get to those wool sweaters I have in the closet. (I picked them up last winter at $10 a piece, I guess I paid way too much!)

[beepsmnms]

I made wool covers out of woven wool and I serged them.. they are my best covers.... niagra falls (aka my dd) can't get thru these covers.

[our3boys]

OK Jayney -

You mentioned it was too thick to T&T. By that do you mean that you are going to use two layers for the body? If so, what about sewing both sides of the elastic channels, inserting and tacking the elastic, then serging the edge of the entire cover/wrap?

Or, if you are only using one body layer, Kari mom told me a long time ago she does attach the elastic and fold over and stitch that down. So the only place it gets thick is along the edges where there is two layers of wool and also a layer of elastic in the appropriate areas. I wish I could tell you some words to search for , or even if I was the original poster (I may have just hijacked someone else's question ). She had included a picture of a cover she made in that manner.

[Rachel Flores]

Thank you SOOOOO much for that tutorial. I was trying and trying to figure out how to do binding...for a quilt. I just couldn't figure it out but after looking at the tutorial some things snapped into place and I think I can do it! And I think I want to try a recycled wool wrap that way too .

[Jayneysews]

Originally Posted by our3boys

OK Jayney -

You mentioned it was too thick to T&T. By that do you mean that you are going to use two layers for the body? If so, what about sewing both sides of the elastic channels, inserting and tacking the elastic, then serging the edge of the entire cover/wrap?

Or, if you are only using one body layer, Kari mom told me a long time ago she does attach the elastic and fold over and stitch that down. So the only place it gets thick is along the edges where there is two layers of wool and also a layer of elastic in the appropriate areas. I wish I could tell you some words to search for , or even if I was the original poster (I may have just hijacked someone else's question ). She had included a picture of a cover she made in that manner.

OK,so,
it is too thick to use two layers all over yes,as I felted it!
I was hoping for some nifty type of wool/acrylic non wickinh binding ideally.
I love the look of bound edges,hence my adoration of FOE!
So neat and nifty!
I will possibly try to make kind of facings,so,yes ,like you said it would only be thick at the legs and back in a small area.

[Jayneysews]

Originally Posted by earthenware

I had no idea before reading your posts what it was like over there as far as consumer goods! It's just so different... is it the same in all of Europe? Woman, we need to gather a package together and mail it over to you (how long would that take and what would it cost?) because it is making me seriously sad thinking of you trying to scour tiny, dark little thrift stores paying full retail price for a moth-eaten wool sweater you finally found after 6 months! It reminds me of Russia after the fall of communism or something. Maybe I could go down to the airport and wait for an outgoing plane to London and just ask a passenger to carry the diaper supplies over... then you'd just have to meet the plane. Is that legal?

It is bleak over here Eathernwear,there is ONE fabric shop in the whole city,and it isn't amazing either.
Sewing ,is a mega minority hobby these days.
It works out often lots more expensive to sew anything oneself than just going to a shop and buying it!
Plus as we home educate i always have my three children with me,and dragging them all round charity shops ,is painful for all involved!
Plus the charity shops are really rubbish and costly!
I go to carboot and jumble sales whenever I can,but it is all a bit hit and miss!
Still,I guess it makes me rather inventive!

[Jayneysews]

Originally Posted by beepsmnms

I made wool covers out of woven wool and I serged them.. they are my best covers.... niagra falls (aka my dd) can't get thru these covers.

How did you elasitcate them???
Thsi is the bit which I NEED to have a mental picture for!
can you post any piccies??????

[discojoy]

Originally Posted by Jayneysews

How did you elasitcate them???
Thsi is the bit which I NEED to have a mental picture for!
can you post any piccies??????

Yeah, I would also like to know how you do the elastic.