using old fraying towels question

[lovebugmom]

How many layers do you use in a soaker if you are using an old fraying towel. I just tried out my DD AIO pattern last week to make a fitted per instructions and I used 2 layers of an old 100% cotton towel on the inside of the soaker and 2 layers of flannel (one on top and one on bottom of soaker). The body of the fitted was 2 layers of flannel (suoer flannel from Wal-mart). It's not as absorbant as the fitteds I made with 2 layers of flannel in the body and a trifold soaker made of 3 layers of flannel (so would be 9 layers once folded). Do I need to make it 3 or 4 layers of the old towel. Now I have to say it once was a bath sheet so it is quiite large and I have quite a bit of material for soakers but is also has been worn pretty thin. It's probably like 5-6 or more years old. It came from my mom and I swear she had this towel when I was in college from 1993-1997. so what are your thoughts. It's definitely thicker than flannel in comparison maybe like this 3 layers the thickness of flannel.

[Jayneysews]

hi I have made lots with old towels!
No baba yet to try them on,but they are thicker/bulkier than lots of struff,so i went for two in body plus two flannel plus soaker,these are newborn ..so fingers crossed!!!

[mihrimah]

I haven't tried with old towels, but I use terry cloth, and I use three layers, plus three of flannel. I don't know if that helps. It seems like towels are a lot thicker than regular terry though. ???

[lovebugmom]

thank you, i'll try 3 and 3 next time like you do and see how that works.

[UnskulinMama]

Not to be a downer, but make sure you wash and use whatever you make a few times before making dozens of them... My first few diapers were made with old towel for soakers (pretty thin and worn, very absorbant though), and while they did work, the soakers got kind of "crunchy" after awhile.

I'm all for using recycled materials, though if you can make it work!

[mihrimah]

Originally Posted by UnskulinMama

Not to be a downer, but make sure you wash and use whatever you make a few times before making dozens of them... My first few diapers were made with old towel for soakers (pretty thin and worn, very absorbant though), and while they did work, the soakers got kind of "crunchy" after awhile.

I'm all for using recycled materials, though if you can make it work!

Why do you think they got crunchy? I'm just wondering because all my dipes are made of terry cloth- is that what I have to look forward to?

[Jayneysews]

I only used terry squares,for my last three children,and sometimes,especially if they were line dried on a hot day they would go a little crisp!
I just used to use white vinegar,with a little lavender oil and it used to do them trick.

[mihrimah]

Originally Posted by Jayneysews

I only used terry squares,for my last three children,and sometimes,especially if they were line dried on a hot day they would go a little crisp!
I just used to use white vinegar,with a little lavender oil and it used to do them trick.

I've noticed that if I line dry towels, they do get crunchy and stiff. I wonder why- but vinegar and lavendar oil, I'll try that!