Am I overly ambitious?

[shell024]

I have very minimal sewing skills (very!) but I really want to make my own diapers for this new babe coming! I'm thinking some simple contours or fitteds with aplix...something along those lines. I'm not going to try anything complicated yet, lol.

Sooo....some questions.

As a true beginner, how long is the average time frame for making say, a fitted (not sure how many layers) contour with no closures?

What fabrics should I stay away from?

What is the easiest fabric to sew, especially for a beginner?

How do I make/improvise a pattern from a dipe I already have?

TIA for any tips/advice!

[raeanneb]

I was thrust into diaper-making when DS was a month old and suddenly allergic to disposables. I also had very minimal sewing ability (I knew how to sew a straight line!), but was able to teach myself to sew fitteds from the tutorials/instructions at www.diapersewing.com. She gives step-by-step directions with pictures for each step, and it was very helpful for me.
As far as materials, I started out making diapers from old towels. Based on my experience with that, I'd say to stay away from terrycloth. Not because it's hard to sew or anything, but b/c it makes a HUGE mess!
Fleece is very easy to sew into covers, and so rewarding b/c they're so cute I remember when I made my first fleece cover (it was a really cute bear pattern) I was so proud of myself
Flannel is really easy to sew into diapers. It's what I make my diapers from. And they're so soft, they're really nice. They do tend to fade/pill, but they're the actual diaper part that goes under a cover, so I guess that doesn't really bother me.
Recycled wool is another very easy material to work with, and it's very affordable, too! It's a great way to have the "luxury" of wool covers at way less cost (I get sweaters for an average of $4-5, and can get 2 covers and a pair of longies from each men's XL sweater).
To make a pattern, just trace a diaper you already have (even tracing a sposie will work). Or, if you're feeling daring, the same website I linked to above also has a Diaper Measurements page, and you can use those measurements to make your own pattern from. That's sort of what I did, I just laid out a piece of scrap fabric, marked for each of those measurements (length, crotch, back, and front, I used the average for each size), folded my fabric in half, and just cut a diaper shape using the measurement marks as my guide. Over time I've modified my pattern based on how it fits my baby, and even re-made a pattern based on his specific measurements, so it's a custom fit for him.
HTH!

[shell024]

Thanks! Very helpful indeed! And encouraging to know that there is someone else out there who can basically sew a line but was able to sucessfully make their own diapers. I have some malden mills fleece that I got in a swap. Maybe I will start with that. I have a bunch of flannel blankets too, so I'll get to tracing then! Thanks

[love2bmom]

Congratulations on taking on sewing diapers It really isn't that bad.
I recommend woven fabrics for your first attempts. They are not stretchy and are easier to work with. You can make diapers from old sweatshirts, t-shirts, sheets, blankets, towels. I made many diapers from flannel sheets I bought at a thrift store.
I also recommend making one test diaper and using it to see if you like it or want to make changes.
I also have free video tutorials on my site for sewing elastic in - see signature.
Good luck!

[amberthesugarcat]

As a true beginner, how long is the average time frame for making say, a fitted (not sure how many layers) contour with no closures?

From cutting to finishing probably a few hours. Once you get used to it maybe 46 - 60 minutes/diaper. I started sewing pockets since you only have two layers of fabric to sew together and you can use premade prefolds, flats, or microfiber towels to stuff them. I particularly love fleece AIO pockets with cotton velour inners. IF you make fitted diapers sewing the soakers can take a lot of time. Plus I can not suggest enough that buying a great idiot-proof pattern will save you tons of time and money in the long run. I swear by the www.darlingdiapers.com patterns and I learned not only how to sew diapers but basically how to sew using them. They are set up for complete beginners and tell you step-by-step with photos what to do and buy, including elastic and fabrics.

What fabrics should I stay away from?

PUL is difficult to sew with for first timers. Also cotton velour can be tricky since it rolls when you try to cut/sew it. You can solve this problem by ironing the heck out of it with tons of starch until it is stiff as a board. But don't stay away from these, just don't use them for your first diaper.

What is the easiest fabric to sew, especially for a beginner?

I would say flannel, cotton interlock, cotton print wovens, microfleece inners, fleece outers.

How do I make/improvise a pattern from a dipe I already have?

Again, buying a pattern will save you time and money (Darling diapers, FattyCakes, www.diaperkit.com, VeryBaby, etc.) in the long run, but if you want to make a pattern from a diaper you already have it is pretty easy. I put a piece of posterboard on the carpeted floor. Then I start pinning the diaper I want to trace on the poster board into the carpet. The pins should stick in the carpet. You have to stretch the diaper's elastic out to the max to get a real pattern from it. And don't worry about pinning PUL, it will close back up with a hot dry in the dryer. Make sure you mark the beginning and ending of all elastic before unpinning it!



Again, even if you have the ultimate pattern unless you have ever sewn a diaper it can be confusing as heck to figure out how to do closures, elastic, turning, wings, etc. That is why I am so strongly suggesting a purchased pattern that is made idiot-proof for people like me. I had only sewn some curtains before sewing diapers and now I can improvise any pattern and make a perfect diaper from it every time. My first diaper was ugly as anything, but it worked. Diapers are actually easier to sew than you think and they are really fun to whip up.

[shell024]

Thanks so much for the advice ladies! I will definitely be checking out all the links posted. : And I am liking the pocket idea more as well. Would a malden mills fleece outer be okay for a pocket, perhaps with hemp microfleece or something?

[amberthesugarcat]

MM fleece outers are really nice (but you can also use the cheap fleece as long as it is thick enough). I don't think they have a hemp microfleece since microfleece is generally 100% poly, but hemp inners would be nice. My favorite is cotton/poly velour since it stays soft forever, never wears out and does not stain.