Adapting turned diaper pattern to serging...

[AndreaBash]

Sooo... I got my serger and I am serging away.. but I have not been brave enough to try a diaper yet. I've been doing them the same way for so long that I am scared to change my ways.

I have my diaper template and I am working with making a shell for my first project... but I am having trouble visualizing. Do you think I should sew the elastic inside the pattern lines and serge on the line? Would that account for the width lost in turning?

If I sew the elastic on the pattern line and serge a bit farther out, will it be wider than the finised turned/topstitched diaper?

I really want the finished product to resemble the turned diaper in measurements, since I have spent so much time making sure the fit is right for B.

[AndreaBash]

and yes... I could just try it. :)

but I probably have time for ONE during B's nap and I really don't want to waste it on messing up. :)

[pageta]

Put the elastic just inside the sewing line and then serge off whatever edge you have. Then from elastic to elastic will be the same as when you stitch and turn. The edge will technically be wider, but that is because your seam allowance is on the outside so it doesn't really count.

[AndreaBash]

Thanks! I'll try that as soon as naptime rolls around. I'm so excited. :)

[AndreaBash]

OK. I am lost. I think I must be missing something.

I am finding it impossible to sew the elastic blindly between the 2 pieces. Should I just sew the elastic on the outer layer? I like the "seal" you get when the elastic is sewn to both layers, but I can't imagine how it's done now that I've tried it. With the curve, I don't even know what good it would do to tack it on both ends.

Is there a trick I don't know? I love having a serger, but I hate how clueless I feel... having sewn only on a regular machine for so long, I feel like I'm learning a new language.

[LuvMy2Kidz]

What I do for fitted diapers is sew the elastic to the outside layer, and sew the soaker to the inside layer(if it's not fleece), then I serge the layers together.

[AndreaBash]

This is a 2 layer shell... outer WindPro and inner micro. I am worried that if I just sew the elastic to the WindPro, that I won't get a tight seal around the legs... since the WP is so thick. Maybe I should just go ahead and do it with wool -- I just wanted to practice on the fleece first.

[LuvMy2Kidz]

I would practice on the wool, it's cheaper than windpro, and easier to sew :LOL :LOL And just sewing the elastic on the outside layer if fine for a 2 layer shell(even on WP) as long as it's lastin and not braided elastic.

[AndreaBash]

I only have polybraid... hmm. Maybe I need to rethink my supplies. I will have a couple hours to sew tomorrow and I can't get lastin by then. I guess I'm just stuck.

[LuvMy2Kidz]

You can get clear elastic at Joanns, I think it's made by Rhode Island Textiles?? It's in a red package by the packages of elastic. not sold by the yard.