Wool/fleece questions

[TinyMama]

Disclaimer: these questions are from a total beginner!

I'm really a quilter, not a sewer, and I've just begun to sew DD some diapers. I've made one fitted, and it came out pretty well, although I need to work on making the elastic more uniform.

I'm ready to try to make some longies, and I can't afford to buy anything. I have a beautiful red cashmere/lambswool sweater that has a moth hole, and I'd love to make longies and maybe a little shirt out of it for x-mas. After I do that, do I have to lanolize it to make it work as a diaper cover?

Also, can I use any old fleece to make a cover? DD has some fleece pants already--can I lanolize these and use them as longies? They're not very tight, and I feel like when her diaper gets wet it will drip down her legs.

I guess I'm confused. Wool and fleece don't seem waterproof to me, and I've always used pul covers or dappi nylon pants. Please explain, before I cut apart all of DH's old sweaters.

[sothisislove]

I'm certainly no expert, but I can help with basic info. You do have to lanolize woolies. I don't think you lanolize fleece. I think you can use any fleece, but there are types that are definitely better...Malden Mills?

Wool and Fleece aren't waterproof. THey are water resistent. They spread out the pee and cause it to quickly evaporate. You won't feel wetness on the outside.


...at least this is what I've been told. I just bought some wool longies and am searching for a how-to lanolize discussion.

Good luck...don't get overwhelmed. There's a lot of info out there.

[sothisislove]

I just typed 'how to lanolize wool longies' into google....lots came up.

[Kari_mom]

I'm ready to try to make some longies, and I can't afford to buy anything. I have a beautiful red cashmere/lambswool sweater that has a moth hole, and I'd love to make longies and maybe a little shirt out of it for x-mas. After I do that, do I have to lanolize it to make it work as a diaper cover?

Yes, you will want to lanolize it. You might chose to felt it a bit first as well, totally your choice. If you do felt it, darn the hole or it will grow.

Also, can I use any old fleece to make a cover? DD has some fleece pants already--can I lanolize these and use them as longies? They're not very tight, and I feel like when her diaper gets wet it will drip down her legs.

Polyester fleece can work as a diaper cover, and it doesn't need to be lanolized. A bit of fabric softener can help up the water resistant nature of poly fleece. What really makes the difference though, is the weight of the fleece, the absorbancy of the diaper underneath, and how heavy of a wetter you might have. Some fleeces also have a barrier in the fabric that helps prevent moisture transfer to the outside, like MM windpro.

The legs on longies do not need to be tight. Longies, shorties, etc are simply a barrier between you and the diaper. The fitted under the longies does the work of absorbancy and holding in the contents. Wool and poly fleece will absorb some of the urine but most of it should stay in the diaper.

I like wool because you don't need to wash it as often as plastic or PUL covers, or even fleece. The lanolin neutralizes the urine so it doesn't smell. And when the diaper is wet, you can tell because the diaper area will be more 'humid,' but won't feel wet exactly. Then I know to change right away. And you will stay dry if your baby has enough absorbancy in her diaper and the wool is properly lanolized.

[TinyMama]

Thanks.
I was starting to feel overwhelmed. Now I'll go back to cutting up DH's clothes.

[mehndi mama]

Actually, you don't HAVE to lanolize your diaper wool - it just helps to keep the wool conditioned, keep it odor-free, and helps form a bit of a moisture barrier so that the cotton diaper will absorb a bit more before the moisture moves into the wool. So it's nice, but your woolens won't be totally useless if you haven't gotten around to lanolizing them.
I have instructions for making a lanolin wash here.

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by TinyMama

Also, can I use any old fleece to make a cover? DD has some fleece pants already--can I lanolize these and use them as longies? They're not very tight, and I feel like when her diaper gets wet it will drip down her legs.

You already got some great advice, but I'll just add that my dd had some fleece pants (Carter's, I think) that I was able to use as longies. She wasn't a super soaker so they worked well for day time use. Super cute, too!

[ReneeC]

Just wanted to agree with the PP--I have also used poly fleece "sweatpants" as-is for longies with a fitted or pinned prefold underneath. It works great, and they aren't expensive ones--just cheapy Wal-mart ones