How much time per diaper when a newbie?

[Crazybean]

On average, how long do you think it would take a newbie to make a diaper like an AIO? I work more than 40 hrs so I don't know if I'd have that kind of time :-/ What do you think? Can I get the fabric from a local fabric store?

[MyLittleWarrior]

Are you new to sewing, or just new to diaper making but have sewing experience? Do you own a serger? Turned and topstitched dipes take a little longer because you basicly sew them twice. If you're new to sewing and don't have a serger, I'd allow an hour per dipe, but expect to get faster pretty quickly. If you have sewing experience already, maybe 1/2hour-45 min for the first few, again, you get quicker as you go. If anyone has better time extimates, feel free to chime in.

As far as where to get diaper supplies, you can get everything for fitted diapers at JoAnns if you want, but there are some supplies that you can only find online for AIO's. If you want PUL for the outer, you need to order that online. Also Lastin and Polybraid are popular elastics that you would have to order online, and snaps, Aplix, and TouchTape are all things you'd want to order online. Most shops selling PUL also sell these other notions, so you should be able get everything you need at one stop.

On the flip side, I've had good luck making AIO's out of cotton sweatshirts from the thrift store for the body/soaker layers, with a layer of fleece (also from thrift store) as the outer. I do still use aplix and lastin that I order online though.

[hollianna]

I made a few fitted diapers for my baby, and I'm brand new to sewing and don't have a serger.

It took me almost 2 hours for one diaper start to finish -- cutting the diaper out through the finished product. Not very time efficient for me, though most people are probably faster! :

What made it worth it for me was that I learned something new, plus I got the chance to make something for my son. Good luck to you. Diaper-making is very fun once you get into it.

[ckumelos]

im not an experienced seamstress. I usually make one over a few days time - get a few minutes in at a time. I can say, though, that the time it takes is going to be directly proportional to the detail in the diaper or cover. If you add gussets that's a lot of time, if you double seam that takes more time. And my 2 cents is go with making covers out of fleece or wool or PUL - they seem to be more sanitary and you can use ONE over many pees where an AIO.. Not so much reusability.

Mine are pretty simple - I have two layers of fleece sewn together with elastic on the back and in the legs, flip sew on the aplix, and then sew the top, and once around the whole thing to double seam. I get the fleece, elastic and aplix all from the local store. I LOVE THESE FLEECE COVERS! I have bumgenius, bummis, prowrap, the homemade fleece are the BEST! I also made a few with flanneled wool on the outside and fleece on the inside and they are great too.

[Crazybean]

I don't have a sewing maching or anyhting else that was mentioned :-)

Thanks for the replies.. I think it's doable~ my son is 17 months and I don't see the purpose in my buying more bumgenius for him if I can make a few until he is potty trained. I have 3 BG that I'd use for nights ect.. but I'll attempt some for the day.

Does it matter what type of fleece I get (are there even different kinds?), what about wool? I had to wear wool for my uniform skirts and it was really itchy~ wouldn't that be uncomfy for a baby?

[NaturalMamaof2]

Start to finish with my first diaper took about 1.5 hours, now it is much less time because I know what I'm doing.

I use Anti-Pill and Blizzard Fleece only. Not sure about wool.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by Crazybean

I don't have a sewing maching or anyhting else that was mentioned :-)

I had to wear wool for my uniform skirts and it was really itchy~ wouldn't that be uncomfy for a baby?

So, you would be hand sewing it? Add a couple extra hours unless you have had lots of practice and make nice teeny stitches!

As for wool, there are definately different grades. I like merino wool sweaters from the thrift store You can basically use anything with 80% or more wool content. I found a trick-- I stick my bare arms in the sweater sleeves and wear it for a few minutes. If it gets itchy, I don't buy it! Plus, you need to lanolize wool covers, which makes them softer (no big deal, just wash them with a wool soap or use a little bit of breast cream lanolin when you was them every couple weeks or so)...

[vintageplumm]

Im new here

Im not a complete expert but I have been sewing diapers for a few years now...
I think it's totally doable. I would highly reccomend purchasing a sewing machine of sorts. I know its a big financial investment, but well worth it, and it can always be sold to recoup some of the cost if you have no more use for it after diapers.
I first got started making inserts to cut the cost of our fuzzibunz system...then I branched out. this might be a good idea as well, I know some women who have made their inserts by hand and did fairly well. Its a good way to get your feet wet I would think.
My first diaper took me forever, I had little to no sewing experience at this point, but my second diaper took around an hour or so, Im much quicker now but I also sew them assemblly line style, and I have made , Im sure a few thousand or better by now.

also the satisfaction of knowing your little one is sporting around something you made with love...thats unbeatable.....my daughters too were in love with even the most ughly things I ever made....cuse momma made it

I hope this helps

Morgan

[Ruthla]

Honestly, if you're working full time and plan on hand-sewing, I don't know if this will be worth your time. Nor will this one project be worth the investment in a sewing machine (unless you want a sewing machine anyway.) You might do better buying used AIOs in your son's size rather than spending money on brand-new diaper making materials.

As for the wool- cheaper wool is itchy, better quality wool (and especially if it's knit rather than woven) is a lot softer.

[Hesperia]

I just made my first three diapers.

I think the first one took about 1.5 hours - cutting took a long while, since I read the pattern a wee bit wrong. The final product was fine though.

The second two only took about 35 minutes minutes each. That includes cutting and pinning, and I totally over pin everything!! Which takes me the longest amount of time. I don't have a serger, so I basically do the sewing twice (which is fine by me, more time on the machine the better!).

I really wouldn't hand sew them.....cannot imagine doing elastic by hand, ugh. I'd print off a free pattern, get the materials (old t-shirts and that jazz) and notions. Get everything cut and ready to go, and use a friends machine!!

Have fun
(I also work 40+ hours per week and from the times above, you really can do it)

[sparklett]

My first diaper took nearly two hours, and I was a beginner. Cutting it out took forever!!

Now I have a cutting mat and rotary cutter, which has reduced my cutting time to a few minutes. I can now make a diaper in about half an hour.

[junipermuse]

Originally Posted by sparklett

My first diaper took nearly two hours, and I was a beginner. Cutting it out took forever!!

Now I have a cutting mat and rotary cutter, which has reduced my cutting time to a few minutes. I can now make a diaper in about half an hour.

Can you tell me more about using the rotary cutter for cutting out diapers? I thought you could only cut out straight lines with a rotary cutter.

[sparklett]

Originally Posted by junipermuse

Can you tell me more about using the rotary cutter for cutting out diapers? I thought you could only cut out straight lines with a rotary cutter.

Mine works just fine on curves. I tend to angle it a bit to get around the curves. I also make sure there's lots of weight on the fabric so it doesn't move. If worse comes to worse, I can make several straight cuts around a curve so that eventually the straight cuts make a curve (or close to it). Even if I have to do lots of straight cuts around a curve, it still takes less time than using scissors.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by junipermuse

Can you tell me more about using the rotary cutter for cutting out diapers? I thought you could only cut out straight lines with a rotary cutter.

Nope, you can do curves, too. I prefer to use the really small ones for curves though. They're much more manageable. And like a pp mentioned, I use pattern weights to hold the fabric down so I can make sure nothing shifts. When using a regular sized rotary cutter it can be a bit tricky getting around the curves, but the smaller the rotary cutter the easier it takes the curves. And it takes only a fraction of the time scissors do. I never use scissors for cutting fabric anymore.