your favorite diaper fabric?

[sparkly]

I am going to make prefolds. I want to make them from something organic and *natural*. I don't want to use old t-shirts, blankets, etc...I'm going to buy fabric.

I've searched and searched, and can't seem to find any information on types of fabric (e.g., cotton flannel, not just "cotton"). I've seen lots of online resources for ordering fabric...I just need to know what to get. If there is a specific store that sells something you like, that is helpful too. Help please!

[ReneeC]

The first sticky in this subforum is cloth-diaper supply websites. I'd recommend starting with http://www.verybaby.com as they have an excellent FAQs sections with pictures and descriptions of materials used in diaper making (click on "Helpful Resources" in the menu on the left-hand side of their website).

For prefolds, the "normal" fabrics are birdseye and diaper twill. Flannel (I bring this up because you mentioned it in your question) will make a thick prefold, and it will take much longer to dry.

If you buy birdseye from Very Baby, there is a discount on yardage, which is the best way to make prefolds inexpensively. If you only want to make one or two, it is cheaper to buy high-quality prefolds from a company like http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com than to make them yourself.

The second sticky in this subforum is tutorials and free patterns. There are a couple in there for how to make prefolds, and the "Prefolds the "Real" Way" tutorial is by Jessica, the owner of Very Baby.

ETA: Very Baby carries unbleached cotton birdseye, which might be what you're looking for if you want to go as natural as possible

[sparkly]

thanks; I must have spent an hour perusing the sites on both of those two stickies, and I guess I went to all the wrong sites, because I didn't find any advice like I was looking for. I'll try those specific websites.

[amberthesugarcat]

OK, I like stretchy PFs the best. I would suggest buying the higher cotton (91%) sherpa from sewzannes.com or diapercuts.com . I make them 2-3-2 and they are wonderful! Plus they fit longer since they stretch. You can dye the outer layer if you want (pretty). With sherpa it is best to dry in the dryer however since it is not so soft line-dried. But it absorbs tons.

I am also a huge fan of cotton fleece. You can make PFs of this and it is so soft. I also use cotton (at least 80%) velour. I use velour on one side usually since it always stays super soft, even line dried. I buy velour from sewzannes or Joann's. My favorite cotton fleece is from Celtic cloths http://www.celticclothswholesale.com...on-Fabrics.htm . It is pretty thick and stays soft and wonderful. It is not stretchy really, but makes great PFs.

So I would do sherpa or cotton fleece as one side (or both outer and inner), velour as one side if you want it to be super soft, and use anything cotton as the soaker pad. I usually use 1-2 layers of sherpa since I want it pretty quick dry. I don't have a serger and zigzag everything. If you want more info please PM me, I am using "delux" PFs that I made almost 3 years ago on my second baby already, and they have held up great. I really hate my IPFs and CPFs now!

Oh, sherpa/velour/cotton fleece can all be pinned easily or snappied. If you make them out of flannel sometimes it is hard to remove the pins when they are wet!