I *Heart* Making Diapers
Saturday, July 29, 2006
As soon as DH and I decided that we would try to have a baby soon, I knew that I would cloth diaper our baby. I'm not sure why it was such an obvious choice. None of our family members or friends use cloth diapers on their chidren. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment and love the idea of scraping green pasty poop off into the toilet. My mom did use a cloth diaper service for a short period of time when I was a baby. The service provided all the old fashioned prefold diapers. Ya know, the kind that you pin and cover with a pair of rubber pants? Today, I think most people call prefold diapers "burp cloths". The service came once a week to collect the dirties and drop off clean ones.
I've done qite a bit of research on cloth diapering techniques and have found that there are as many ways to cloth diaper as there are to make swiss steak.(what the crap does that mean?)
I think I want to try all types of cloth diapers on my baby. I started sewing my own all-in-one diapers. These are the diapers I can imagine using if we are out and about and I need to make changing a diaper quick and easy. At home, I will probably use the old-timey prefolds w/ wool covers. Here are some dipes I've made so far:
Actually the dipes I made should be classified as "all-in-two" because the absorbant layer is a separate piece instead of being sewn in. They will dry a lot quicker this way. I ordered the waterproof PUL fabric from the Sew Shoppe. There are NO fabric stores around here that carry it. I have checked. Over and over. When I ask the sales clerks about it they look at me as if to say "You dear sweet girl, you have no idea what you're talking about. Do you even own a sewing machine?", and then they direct me to some plasticky outdoor tablecloth fabric or even wierder, bathing suit fabric. Uuughh.
I recently received $105 of birthday money from some of my family. Guess what I spent it on.....Yep. CLOTH DIAPERS. I bought 3 Disana wool covers and 3 Growing Greens one-size hemp diapers from Tiny Bird Organics. I can't wait to get them, even though I don't have a baby butt to put them on yet.
I've done qite a bit of research on cloth diapering techniques and have found that there are as many ways to cloth diaper as there are to make swiss steak.(what the crap does that mean?)
I think I want to try all types of cloth diapers on my baby. I started sewing my own all-in-one diapers. These are the diapers I can imagine using if we are out and about and I need to make changing a diaper quick and easy. At home, I will probably use the old-timey prefolds w/ wool covers. Here are some dipes I've made so far:
Actually the dipes I made should be classified as "all-in-two" because the absorbant layer is a separate piece instead of being sewn in. They will dry a lot quicker this way. I ordered the waterproof PUL fabric from the Sew Shoppe. There are NO fabric stores around here that carry it. I have checked. Over and over. When I ask the sales clerks about it they look at me as if to say "You dear sweet girl, you have no idea what you're talking about. Do you even own a sewing machine?", and then they direct me to some plasticky outdoor tablecloth fabric or even wierder, bathing suit fabric. Uuughh.
I recently received $105 of birthday money from some of my family. Guess what I spent it on.....Yep. CLOTH DIAPERS. I bought 3 Disana wool covers and 3 Growing Greens one-size hemp diapers from Tiny Bird Organics. I can't wait to get them, even though I don't have a baby butt to put them on yet.
Labels: baby gear, cloth diapering, sewing
posted by Unkempt Mommy at 10:06 AM
6 Comments:
wow I'm impressed, you sure have been busy and they look cute for diapers or nappies as we call them here - and I can't even sew on a button!!
Really great job! I use wool on my almost 2 year old, but my concern when the new baby comes is getting breastfed pooh on them. Since bf pooh is runny it tends to leak at the legs if the dipe isn't tight enough and I don't think I want to be washin' my wool every freakin' day...it'll wear out and get all nubby lookin'. Anyway, my plan for the new baby is to useprowraps and some newborn dipes I put together along with prefolds and a motherease airflow cover and a bummis cover.
I have 3 pair of wool shorties. I use them over a fuzzi bunz (double protection) when we are going to be gone for a long time like a festival or farmer's market or visit with people. That way if the fuzzi bunz leaks, the wool keeps me dry. I have used them at night as well, but over a fuzzi bunz. I obviously don't like washing my wool because they take forever to dry if you can't line dry them. I'm talking a couple days. So I avoid it when necessary. I made two of them (crocheted) and then I bought a pair of tester shorts from a friend for $15 and they were knit. I went to JoAnn fabrics and have a ton of wool to crochet some more but just haven't made the time. So easy if you want me to tell you how (if you already know crochet basics) if not I'll send you to a link that can teach you with pictures and everything.
Oh, I have used the wool over some dipes I've made at home but never out. I don't know why.
The one thing I will say about Bummis super whisper wraps is that they do not have gussets in the legs and for a newborn, I would recommend getting a cover or making one with gussets. They fit a bit snugger at the leg openings and keep all that runny pooh in. That's why I'm on the search for some proraps. They have gussets and you can actually buy them "seconds" and get them cheaper. Some flaws but work well.
Oh I forgot to mention that I've made my son a few fleece covers and they work really well. I actually used one over night and he was dry in the morning. So I have made a few fleece for the new baby also. I just don't know how they will fit till he/she is here.
You are so cute!! :) My good friend started her own cloth diaper making company after making her own for a while. Just think, you could have a new business on your hands too! :)
I'm such a freak and know I'm probably over staying my welcome, but I did want to warn you that I made some pocket dipes that totally leaked. I use microfleece on the inside and then a hidden layer of PUL and a cute print on the outside....well, the cute print on the outside wicked the liquid everytime. So I made like 3 and they really are completely useless, even as covers. Just trying to spare you some cost and time. The real succes I've had in saving money on makin' dipes is pocket dipes that still need a cover. Granted, the covers aren't as cute, but I still know there is a cute dipe under there. It is kinda like wearing cute underware, nobody knows but you.
You'll probably be totally fine with just PUL as your outter. It wasn't the microfleece inner that was the problem with mine, but the fact that I tried to make the PUL cuter by putting fabric on the outside of it.
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