[jennifercp8]

I was at my local fabric store the other day, and I saw a table of clearanced out outerwear materials - almost like a vinyl, but more like the stuff you would make a windbreaker out of. Got me wondering.... can you use that as a hidden layer in an AIO dipe? Say I used MM fleece for the inner, a MF insert for the sewn-in part, the vinyl, and then something soft (like sherpa or minkee) on the outside. Would this work? Or would I be wasting my time/money?

 

[amberthesugarcat]

If you want it to be waterproof don't put cotton sherpa on top, you might have wicking! You could try it out, but it might not be strong enough to make it through diaper washing, and then you will have a fitted diaper with broken vinyl inside!<br><br>
Just in case you did not know, the faux minkee they sell at Joanns works great as an outer without any hidden waterproof layer. Buy the slightly thicker stuff (actually, even the thin stuff works for my ds) with a tight knit weave backing, and not only is it breathable, but it works as good (if not better) then 200 MM fleece or Windpro. I can use that stuff in my night diapers as long as I have enough cotton inside to absorb the pee (like all diapers I guess). I make pockets with it as an outer and I have never had wicking or leaking. It is so soft and lovely!<br><br>
Once you add a hidden layer of vinyl or PUL it stops being breathable. I love faux minkee and am shocked that more people don't use it as an outer. Because it has that tight knit weave on the backside and it is poly, it takes a huge pee to make it leak.

 

[jennifercp8]

Hmmm....minkee for the outer? Sounds great!!! Thanks for the tip! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> It didn't occur to me that the vinyl might not hold up in the wash - that wouldn't be good if it fell apart. But I will definitely be trying the minkee. I love my fleece outer pocket diapers that I have made, and I also have some double layer fleece covers that I use at nighttime - they work great!

 

[amberthesugarcat]

When I first bought some minkee I did the "blow test", where you put the fabric up to your lips and try to blow through it. If you meet resistance (and it is poly of course!) then it will work great alone. Faux minkee had the most resistance of the fleeces I tried. The cheap anti-pill fleece works great too of course, but the minkee I have used does not even have compression wicking issues. Maybe the real stuff that WAHM's use (the stuff I can't afford but is supposed to be divine) is not knit as tightly and does not work as well alone.