Help! My covers are leaking through needle holes!!

614 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Kari_mom, Apr 8, 2006

paschallraschalls

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2006

I purchased some material to use for covers. The first time I put it on DD it started leaking through the holes that the sewing needle made. Is there anything I can do to seal the holes? I did use a nylon thread, so it is not the thread wicking. I don't know exactly how to describe the material I used. It is very PUL-like. The bolt said 100% Polyester but it has some sort of waterproof layer on it as well (could be PUL but it doesn't claim to be). Before I started cutting/sewing I tested it to see if it was waterproof than I washed in hot and dried on hot just to see if it could handle the beating (I line dry all of my covers) and it was still just as waterproof!! When I put dd in it the cover stayed extremely dry except at the stitching where is was damp. Any ideas?? I bought enough to make several more covers, but am afraid to make any more until I get this problem solved!! Thanks for your help!!!

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Jayneysews

· #2 · Apr 4, 2006

Put it in the dryer,it certainly seals the needle holes on PUL!!

Good luck,let us know how you get on!

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Kari_mom

· #3 · Apr 5, 2006

If what you bought is a coated outerwear fabric, the coating might not seal up in the dryer. Usually you have to treat or tape the seams to make them waterproof. I would tell you how but I've just read this information, not tried it.

I would try the dryer. it can't hurt. How did you make your cover?

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paschallraschalls

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 5, 2006

I used one layer of the poly on the outside and two layers of thin fleece on the inside. I don't have a surger so I straight stitched and zigzaged then flipped and topstitched. I left a "pocket" in the back so I could leave it as a plain cover with a fitted or contoured or I could stuff it with a pf between the two layers of fleece (thinking that the layer closest to dd would pull fluid into pf and layer of fleece closest to cover would help the cover out with another barrier) I used nylon thread to sew and snaps as closures. Does this answer your question about how it was made?

I dont know if it is meant to be outerwear fabric or not. It was on the discount table along with an assortment of other types of fabric.

Kari_mom- "Usually you have to treat or tape the seams to make them waterproof. I would tell you how but I've just read this information, not tried it." Do you have the link or book name of this info?

Thanks agian for your help! Would love to hear any other ideas!

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paschallraschalls

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 7, 2006

The dryer seems to have done the trick. I have had her in it twice since last post and that seems to have taken care of the problem. Thanks for your help!!

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lhowlett

· #6 · Apr 7, 2006

I don't mean to butt in (

butt...diapering, hahaha), but I have a similar question. I'm making wool covers and really like how thin my wool is look wise, and seems to be fine just single layer, but I've considered sewing an additional layer in the wet zone. Would those stitches encourage leaks? I've been nervous to do this with any material out of fear that it will leak around the very area I sew. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

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Kari_mom

· #7 · Apr 8, 2006

IME it will not cause leaks in wool, especially if you use polyester thread. Wool is fluffy, it traps and absorbs moisture. Those threads are surrounded by wool fluff which is airy anyway. Adding a second layer in the wet zone is a great idea if you have thin wool or a heavy wetter. But the real key to preventing leaks/wicking is having a nice absorbant diaper underneath.

PUL works in a completely different way than wool. It does not absorb moisture, it is simply a barrier. Holes in a barrier can equal leaks, except that most mamas find that the PUL layer does close and seal around stitching. You could put another layer of PUL in the wet zone, but you aren't really improving the function of the cover unless you've pierced it with a lot of holes like you do with embroidered designs. Most embroidered diapers have a second layer of PUL fused over the embroidery to seal the whole area up.

HTH!

butt...

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