Fabric Question

[vc320]

So I made my first diaper last night, which I am going to have to go back and fix I think. But I am trying to figure out fabrics.

I would love to have some AIOs, but I think right now I only have fabric to make ones that are going to need a cover unfortunatly. I had found a tutorial in someone's live journal and follow what she did. Used a wash cloth for the soaker, two inner layers of just plain cheep cotton fabric (she said she uses it to make it a little more thicker), then the two outter most layers (one against baby and one on the outside) are flanner. Thats something I will need a cover for right?
I'm also getting fleece from hancock fabric, but after doing some more reading on here and other places, its sounds like I have to get expensive fleece if I want to use it as an AIO or a cover.

So what inexpensive things can I use as a cover or outside of an AIO. I keeping hearing wool, but I always get this image of the itchy wool blakents that my dad got from American Airline when I was growing up.

So what makes a good:
Soaker:
Cover:
AIO outer layer:
AIO layer touching baby:

Is the flannel good to use? What about bird'seye diaper flannel- use that against baby and then something waterproof on the outside???

I'm just worried I'm going to spend money ahead of time to slowly build up my diaper stash, and then when I do have a baby I'm gonna have pee everywhere lol.

Also, the reason I think I need fix my diaper I made last night, is I think I used to long of a peice of elastic and it doesn't stretch up enough. I used the pattern off of ottobredesign, cut my elastic to the length they told me, and sewed it were they told me and it doesn't really stretch up at all. I havn't really ever used elastic before. The one other time I used it was for something for me and I used too short of a peice so it stretched up too much.

Thanks ladies... I know there are a lot of questions in here.

[Kari_mom]

The diaper you made was definitely a fitted, and will need a cover for waterproof protection. The Ottobre free pattern also tends to the large size, I would suggest checking out the New Zealand/The Nappy Network diaper patterns for smaller sizes. I've made several of the patterns and they are quite nice.

You can use cheap fleece from WalMart, JoAnn's, or Hancock's. Go for anti-pill if you can, it will look nice longer. Fleece tends to wicking issues (where moisture migrates outside the cover due to pressure) and is bulky, so you might want to look at picking up some PUL as well. PUL is only available online, in stores, through coops or from other mamas.

Wool makes a wonderful cover, it is what I use the most with my son. It needs to be a separate layer, as it has different care needs than other diapermaking fabrics. I find soft wool sweaters at thrift stores for pants and buy wahm soakers. The wool used in diapering is nothing like your father's airline blankets, I promise! Look for merino wool, cashmere, or soft lambswool.

What makes a good:

Soaker- A couple of layers of super absorbant fabrics like hemp fleece or french terry, cotton fleece or french terry, cotton terry toweling; multiple layers of thinner yet absorbant fabrics like cotton birdseye, flannel or jersey.

Cover: One layer of PUL for trimness and reliability; one layer of MM windpro fleece; one layer of thicker wool; one or two layers of regular fleece; two layers of thin wool jersey or flannel.

AIO outer layer: PUL, fleece

AIO inner layer: Any of the absorbant fabrics used for the soaker, also velour. Also stay-dry fabrics like microfleece and suedecloth.

Flannel is good to use. It is relatively inexpensive, absorbant, and available everywhere. The prints make really cute diapers! Birdseye is also good, though I think it works better as inner layers for an AIO or fitted. I prefer knits for my fitteds, because they fit snugger and fit longer thanks to the stretch.

Elastic can be tricky. I don't like it when a pattern gives exact amounts, because different types of elastic vary in how stretchy they are, and there are differences between brands as well. Avoid JoAnn's brand of elastics, they are crappy. Stretchrite is a good name, lots of mamas use their polybraid with good results. When you sew it in, chose a three-step zig-zag or a plain zig-zag that fits on the elastic. Tack down the beginning end, hold the diaper from the back, and stretch the elastic in front of the presser foot pretty hard. Then sew it down. I cut the other end after it is sewn, it gives me a better handle to pull with.

Sewing diapers before you have a baby and before you have tried cloth diapering is a bit of a mystery. You don't know what you are going to like and what is going to work for your baby and your lifestyle. I think it is best to sew up a variety of diapers and include prefolds and covers in your stash. I would concentrate on newborns and smalls. Most babies are in mediums for a while (years) and it might be frustrating to make a stash of medium AIOs only to find that you prefer pockets, kwim? The first few months in newborns and smalls is a good chance to experiment and figure out what you like.

As far as ending up with diapers that leak pee all over you, I will be honest and say that I know of stories like that. But in every single case the mamas used microfleece or suedecloth as a stay-dry layer inside the diaper. Using these fabrics is tricky, the quality can vary and you might end up with something that repels rather than wicks. Stick with inside fabrics like flannel, knits and velour and you will be fine. Even your covers can be kind of crappy if you have a good, absorbant diaper underneath.

Good luck, and keep asking questions. There is a lot to learn!

[Ell-Bell]

I just started sewing my own diapers this weekend. Luckily I took a free class so I had help! I can't contribute much other than to say that you have to make sure that your sewing machine is still pulling the fabric through while you stretch the elastic and sew it. I used a few different machines yesterday and they all slowed the feed with the elastic so you have to have one hand pulling the fabric through while the other hand stretches the elastic and feeds it. The zig zags should be wide.

HTH!

[vc320]

Do I want to completely pull the elastic tight or is that too much?

I finished my first one.... doens't look nearly as good as most of the ones I have seen lol.