Going to the store - NEED INPUT!!! total newby on this help!

[robertandenith]

Okay I am getting dressed and going to the store right now.

I going to make my first NB nappies but I need some help from the pros...

okay this is what I have...

I have 3 children old sweaters, they are size 5 so I am guessing good size to make at least 2 or 4 if I use this as an outer liner or inner?!?! what do you suggest to use this for, outer or inner or both?!?

If I use it for outer, can I use brand new flannel for the inner part? or viceversa?

do I have to wash the fabrics first before sewing?

What kind of sewing thread I am going to need? and for the bobbin should I use the same?

what about velcro? what is your size preference and how much I should buy?

If I use the old sweaters for one side, I can make 4 diapers but then how much flannel I need to buy?!? and how much elastic(size?)?

sorry for so many questions I am new to sewing AND diaper making!!!

edited to add: reading other post... I guess fleece is better for inner?!?!

[amysuen]

Well, first it depends on what the sweaters are made of and if you're making fitteds or AIOs. If the sweaters are wool you won't want to sew them into diapers because wool is washed differently than diapers are. But you could use them as covers or snap-in a soaker.If they're not wool and you're making fitteds I honestly wouldn't use them as outers because they could be bulky. I'd pick up some cute woven, knit or flannel for the fitted outer instead.

You should wash the fabric first to remove any sizing and to shrink it. If you're making fitteds it doesn't matter what kind of thread you use, but if you're making AIOs you'll need polyester to cut down on wicking.

I use touchtape, not velcro but for a NB I'd get 1" at the most. You'll have to measure where you're going to use it on your diaper then multiply by the number of diapers you plan to make to see how much you'll need. Same thing with flannel and elastic.

HTH!

[Halfasianmomma]

Ok, hope I didn't answer this too late!

Originally Posted by robertandenith

I have 3 children old sweaters, they are size 5 so I am guessing good size to make at least 2 or 4 if I use this as an outer liner or inner?!?! what do you suggest to use this for, outer or inner or both?!??!?!

Are these wool or cotton? If they are cotton (like sweatshirts), you could use the front and back for diapers, and open up the sleeves for soaker material. Depending on how "nice" the sweaters are, you could make 3 diapers out of the fronts and backs, using them both for inside and outside the diapers, and in between those layers, sandwich 2 or 3 layers of some crappy old flannel or t-shirts. Just make sure that what you put on the inside is soft enough for a baby's butt!

If they are wool, you could use the sleeves intact and make recycled longies, and the body to make butt sweaters.

Originally Posted by robertandenith

If I use it for outer, can I use brand new flannel for the inner part? or viceversa?

You could definitely do that, especially if the front part of the sweaters have a nice logo or something you want to show. As for the inner, yep, use new flannel if you like (one of mine has older flannel on the inside, but it's so soft that I figure it's ok for a bum).

Originally Posted by robertandenith

do I have to wash the fabrics first before sewing?

Yep, wash everything in hot water a few times (at least that's what I did) to make sure that there's no detergent or fabric softener resident in it, and to make sure it won't shrink on you later on.

Originally Posted by robertandenith

What kind of sewing thread I am going to need? and for the bobbin should I use the same?

I just used basic cotton thread, though you could use cotton wrapped polyester.

Originally Posted by robertandenith

what about velcro? what is your size preference and how much I should buy?

for Velcro, I bought the 1 1/2 inch wide stuff. Some diaper patterns even call for something wider, for the sake of adjustability. I think the first pack I bought was half a meter and I ran out after 6 diapers.

Originally Posted by robertandenith

If I use the old sweaters for one side, I can make 4 diapers but then how much flannel I need to buy?!? and how much elastic(size?)?

It depends how many layers you want in the diaper body. If you plan on making AIOs, then you'd want your diaper body to be absorbant enough, so perhaps 4 or 5 layers on top of your sweater layer + whatever internal soaker you want to add (you can use old t-shirts and towels for that since it'll be hidden inside). If you want to make fitted diapers that have a snap in or a sewn in soaker, then I'd only use 3 or 4 body layers total (including your old sweater), and then make the soaker really absorbant by using terry or microfiber towels.

If I were you, I'd find some plain cheap flannel (or use old sheets, pillow cases, pjs) for your hidden layers, and buy maybe 2 meters/yards. That should get you started for your first 4 diapers, also leaving extra fabric to make soakers.

Originally Posted by robertandenith

I guess fleece is better for inner?!?!

It depends on how your baby wets, and on your taste,....and on your budget! Fleece can be rather expensive, especially microfleece. Also be careful to buy microfleece, not alpine or polar fleece for the inside. Apparently, polar fleece doesn't absorb as well as microfleece (haven't tried it yet so I couldn't tell you!).

I hope you got something out of my crazy long post.

GL!

[robertandenith]

oh gosh, I left my computer after I hit the 'post' button and I guess it didn't post, darn database errors! lol

anyways, THANK U SOOO MUCH!!! I wasn't able to get microfleece I don't even think they have it they only had alpine fleece so I got it, it was 50% off. I am going to use the inserts I made long ago out of diaper cloth. I wonder if that is still okay?

Also I got a cute printed flannel I couldn't resist for the outer oops!!!! haha I thought I was going to use the sweaters for outer but now I am thinking I could use it for soakers hehehe!!!! what do you think?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT RESPONSE!!!!!