completely new to CDing & diaper-making - please tell me if this sounds reasonable

1. Make about 3 dozen prefolds out of mainly recycled T-shirts with the Fern and Faerie pattern. Maybe make a few stuffable ones for nighttime use.

Questions:

1a. I noticed that CPFs come in two different sizes: newborn and infant. Does that mean we will need actually need to make 6 dozen (i.e. 3 of each size)? CPF's actually come in several sizes/thicknesses, but you can get away with just having infant and premium.

1b. Is a stuffable diaper a pocket diaper? It can be, but you can also have stuffable prefolds.

2. Buy a few Snappis.

Questions:

2a. Am I correct in thinking that we need prefolds to use Snappis? (I.e. you need pins for flats?) I don't want to use pins. Snappis can be used to close flats OR prefolds. Likewise, pins can be used for either as well. HOWEVER, if you are using mainly t-shirts for your prefolds, the snappi may not grab it well. You can fix this problem by adding small pieces of terry cloth (from old towels) in the places where you want the snappi to grab.

3. Make covers out of recycled sweaters. We spent an hour digging at Value Village (like Salvation Army) recently and got a small stack of cheap, soft, lambswool sweaters.

Questions:

3a. Is it worth it to buy a pattern for these? (As opposed to using something like this, which makes me a little nervous since there is no mention of sizes.) Someone else here probably has some more links; I have seen directions where you just take desired waist and rise measurements and it shows you how to make the right-sized cover. But since your baby isn't here yet, a pattern might be helpful.

3b. Should we felt the sweaters? I always have, just to make them extra waterproof.

3c. What is the best way to avoid having to make too many different sizes? I think with pull-on recycled wool covers you can get away with just a couple of sizes, as long as the legs don't gap on a smaller baby, etc. If you are using nice stretchy wool it should be easy to do just a couple of sizes.

Additional, possibly relevant info:

- We do have a sewing machine. DH and I both sew, but neither of us is terribly experienced. He thinks this is going to be a fun project to do together over the next month or two. Sewing diapers is pretty easy, so I'm sure you'll do fine.

- If genetics have anything to do with it, our babe is likely to be average to large and to grow pretty much steadily along the average curve. My babies tend to be large and fit fine in infant (not preemie) prefolds pretty much from the beginning. So, you should be fine with infant ones to start.

- We have a few hand-me-down bummis covers and one lovely newborn-sized AIO (gift).[/QUOTE] HOpefully those will work great for you (by the way, you can trifold a prefold in them without having to pin or snappi) but I have found that old bummis are likely to leak and wick. When I tried to use ours on my 2nd baby, they leaked every time (and had worked fine on the 1st baby). There's a thread somewhere on the diapering board about how certain detergent additives are causing this problem. Anyway, if they work, then they'd make great back-ups if your wool is all dirty, etc.

DH and I are expecting our first babe in 3 months or so and are hoping to diaper him or her on the cheap. I am a grad student and the less money we spend on stuff for the babe, the longer we can afford to have one of us stay at home with him or her. Congratulations! I think that is a great plan!

I have been lurking here a bit, and am swimming in acronyms that I don't understand but have come up with a rough plan. Does this sound reasonable? Any advice would be appreciated.

1. Make about 3 dozen prefolds out of mainly recycled T-shirts with the Fern and Faerie pattern. Maybe make a few stuffable ones for nighttime use.

Questions:

1a. I noticed that CPFs come in two different sizes: newborn and infant. Does that mean we will need actually need to make 6 dozen (i.e. 3 of each size)?

I think commercial prefolds are sold in preemie, infant 4-6-4, infant 4-8-4, premium and toddler. I liked infant for my son, he was 9lb, 9oz at birth though. If you make preemie prefolds, you can use them as doublers and stuffers later. I think the Fern and Faerie directions are a good size if you want just one size.

1b. Is a stuffable diaper a pocket diaper?

Yes, but it generally refers to a fitted or AIO style rather than a prefold.

2. Buy a few Snappis.

Don't be too afraid of pins. I think they are easier than they seem. With pins, you don't have to worry about snappiable fabrics and they don't come undone on active older babies. And, you can buy Dritz diaper pins at fabric stores. Maybe save the pin challenge for later, once you have mastered folding.

Questions:

2a. Am I correct in thinking that we need prefolds to use Snappis? (I.e. you need pins for flats?) I don't want to use pins.

You can make snappiable flats and fitteds too. Any fabric with a loose or loopy fabric generally works. And did you see where F&F shows you how to add snappiable areas to your prefolds? You can do the same with fitteds. Flats are super easy to sew and can be used as doublers or pocket stuffers too. Plus they are fast to wash and dry.

3. Make covers out of recycled sweaters. We spent an hour digging at Value Village (like Salvation Army) recently and got a small stack of cheap, soft, lambswool sweaters.

Questions:

3a. Is it worth it to buy a pattern for these? (As opposed to using something like this, which makes me a little nervous since there is no mention of sizes.)

Hmm. Maybe a pattern is a good idea since the F&F has sizes and everything worked out for you, and you will save on sacrificial sweaters while you figure it out. Or you can search here and the web, I know it has been posted on a lot.

3b. Should we felt the sweaters?

I like them lightly felted. I wash them in my washer with a bit of detergent, warm wash, cold rinse. Still stretchy while softer, fluffier and thicker than unfelted.

3c. What is the best way to avoid having to make too many different sizes?

Pull-on covers do not have to be snug to work. The diaper holds everything in, the cover keeps you clean and dry. You can skip newborn and make smalls first. My son needed mediums at about 6 weeks, but again, he was a big boy. He is still in most mediums at 23 months (though he did briefly go into larges at 6 months ) If you decide to try wraps, you will need to size more closely.

Additional, possibly relevant info:

- We do have a sewing machine. DH and I both sew, but neither of us is terribly experienced. He thinks this is going to be a fun project to do together over the next month or two.

Wow! What a great way to prepare for your baby together!

- If genetics have anything to do with it, our babe is likely to be average to large and to grow pretty much steadily along the average curve.

- We have a few hand-me-down bummis covers and one lovely newborn-sized AIO (gift).

Best of luck to you.