Is there ANY way to prevent/reduce pilling in FOE?

[Belleweather]

Seriously, I'm willing to try anything... holy water, sacrifices, ritual dancing...

I made a really nice set of covers for DS when he was little, but they pilled so badly when we washed them that they got tangled with other dipes and had to be tossed out. Now that I'm pregnant with number two, I'd kind of given up on making more covers but well, poverty is the mother of invention! I've got the PUL, hook and loop tape, and FOE and I don't have any money, so I'm back to sewing my own.

Maybe we should try one of those mesh bags for washing fancy panties on them? I suppose I could handwash them, but these are my newborn covers I'd be making so handwashing a load of them a couple of times a day is going to be a major pain.

[ReneeC]

It might be the FOE you have...I've never had mine pill.

Unless they get poop on them, you can just air the covers out and re-use them a few times before washing. That would cut down on the handwashing a little bit. I'd try the lingerie bag if you want to totally avoid handwashing.

I have heard of people putting the "shiney" side out instead of the softer kinda-fuzzy side. But I do it with the soft side out and haven't had pilling, even when the cover catches the occasional piece of H&L in the washer.

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by ReneeC

It might be the FOE you have...I've never had mine pill.

Unless they get poop on them, you can just air the covers out and re-use them a few times before washing. That would cut down on the handwashing a little bit. I'd try the lingerie bag if you want to totally avoid handwashing.

I have heard of people putting the "shiney" side out instead of the softer kinda-fuzzy side. But I do it with the soft side out and haven't had pilling, even when the cover catches the occasional piece of H&L in the washer.

Thanks! I did get my FOE from a different person this time, so hopefully it will hold up better. I'd heard that it just always pills, but if you're having a different experience that at least gives me hope!

I think we're going to try the lingere bag -- since we're talking about newborn diapers, I should probably be realisitic about those gushy newborn poops and how often we'll be washing the covers.

Now all I need is for my new sewing machine to arrive!!

[Jenlaana]

Its the hook and loop thats the problem, not the FOE. Do you have laundry tabs and do you use them on all your stuff when you wash? If I dont use them (and some of my diapers dont even have them) my FOE ends up being a magnet for every piece in the whole batch.

[love2bmom]

I agree with the others...
Fold back laundry tabs on all covers and diapers will keep the hook from catching on your FOE.
The FOE I have is kind of soft 'n fuzzy on one size and has a grid pattern on the other side. I always sew with the grid side out to keep the pills away.
Congrats on baby and good luck with your new stash

[riboflavin]

ReneeC, where do you get your FOE? Is it one inch?