Can we talk about wool?

[mama3x's]

Ok I admit that I am too lazy to go back and see if this has been brought up before (besides the teething baby won't let me) but I would really like it if anyone here was willing to talk about their own experience with wool soaker and "bum sweater" that you've made.
TIA

[Phoenix_Rising]

what info exactly are you looking for?

[mama3x's]

I would like to know how its used. Is it a cover over prefold/fitted? Someone said you don't have to wash it very often but that seems strange to me. Those will work to start.

[wombjuice]

Knitted or crocheted wool covers (or recycled bum sweaters) come in the forms of soakers, wraps, or longies (or shorties). They are usually lanolized (also, google "lanolizing wool"), and then worn over fitted or prefold cloth diapers. Because wool is very absorbant, and has antibacterial properties, it can be hung to air dry many times before it develops a urine smell, thus not needing to be washed very often.

There are also wool diaper covers made with wool jersey that need to stay lanolized, as well, but I've never made them so I don't know much about them.

I'm a pretty new knitter, and I've actually made a few wool soakers, one wool wrap, and am almost finished with wool longies for a friend of mine who is due next month. They're not hard at all. You can see pictures on my blog if you'd like.

I plan on using prefolds, fitteds, and only wool covers for my future babies.

[mama3x's]

Thanks, you diap was cute. I think my sewing machine is such a piece that it would definately eat the knitting!

Sorry the lady at Joanns was mean to you, My Joanns is hit and miss for rudeness but they've never been that rude.

[Grumpy72_ga]

I would like to know how its used. Is it a cover over prefold/fitted?

Of late I've been using wool exclusively on my dd. I knit and crochet, so all her covers are custom made! I scour the net for freebies and also buy the patterns for those that get great reviews or those that I like the look of! My favourite is the TinyBirds Longies posted above!

I used exclusively fitted diapers, so what I do with my dd is put on her diaper and then either a soaker & clothes, shorties, or longies or a skirty! and she is set for the day. I change her as soon as I think she is wet or poopy and then reuse the same outfit if it isn't damp, stinky or soiled.... if it is then I leave it to dry and then use a new cover!

Someone said you don't have to wash it very often but that seems strange to me.

As mentioned above if you air between uses the can stay un-stinky for a long time... - I currently only wash for soiling, or stinkyness.

If you've got more question post away!

Grumpy! (who loves wool!)

[mama3x's]

What about wool that has been felted? Does it lose its breathability? Do you use only 100% wool?

I am full of questions!

[Grumpy72_ga]

What about wool that has been felted? Does it lose its breathability?

Felted wool tends to loose its elasticity (stretchability) but if I'm not mistaken still remains breathable.

Do you use only 100% wool?

he he! That depends.
Me personally I've been using 100% Merino wool of various brands though I think you can use up to 80% wool with okay results.

You can also use Acrylic though it lacks the antimicrobial properties that everyone looks for in wool, and you tend to need to wash them after each use because they get stinky.

Many patterns recommend against 100% Merino because of its stretchiness which causes it to loose its shape pretty easily and tends to cause difficulty with the waste band stretching out of place too much and too easily (I get around that with sewn in elastic or drawstring)

(I'm still a novice on this front so anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!)