More diapers

Ok, I had someone ask me to give more info about the cloth diapers, so here it is.

The pattern I use is Rita's Rump Pocket. And here is a link to the pattern itself.

It is a very adjustable pattern. Note that you will have to add your seam allowance in addition to the pattern. The sewing lines are shown so you can have a perfectly shaped diaper each time (just sew on the lines).

If you want a diaper that is almost like disposables, these are the items you will need for each diaper:

6 1/2" of 2 inch wide loop velcro (you'll need commercial/industrial grade, not just the regular stuff you find in your local sewing dept)
2 3/4" of 2 inch wide hook velcro
15 inches of 3/8" knit elastic
scraps of 100% woven cotton 19"x21" (old dress shirts or sheets are just fine)
14"x18" piece of terry cloth (old towels) or you could even use 14"x9" if it is a really thick terry cloth (you will only fold in half rather than 1/4ths)

Just in case you were wondering, here are pics of the hook velcro (the rough, scratchy part)

and the loop velcro (the soft, fuzzy part)

Basically if you have scrap material, thread, and towels laying around, all it would cost you for 1 diaper is 56 cents. That's almost as cheap as disposables! The way I figure the price: I just bought a commercial grade velcro at mesa sales today. It was $0.80 a yd for each side (hook or loop). You will need a total of about 9.5 inches. If you divide that out, it is about .4 yds multiply that by .8 and you get $0.32. I just bought elastic last week for $1.20 for 2 yds. Each diaper takes about 15 inches or 1/5 of a 2yd package. Divide 1.20 by 5 and you get 0.24. Add up the velcro and the elastic (still supposing that you have all the scraps of material you will need) and you get 56 cents.

If you don't mind using diaper pins and you have the scrap fabric, these diapers would be really cheap.

Let say you don't have scrap fabric or you just can't resist that cute fabric you saw in the craft store yesterday. You will do best by buying 1 1/4 yds of 45" wide fabric (where patterns don't matter-ie: there is not a top/bottom/left/right to the fabric pattern). This will allow you to make 2 diapers. If there is directionality to the fabric pattern, go with 1 1/3 yds just to be safe. Assuming that you got really cute fabric and it was $5 yd, that is still about $6 for 2 diapers.

The terry cloth usually comes 60" wide, so 1/2 yd will give you enough to stuff 4 diapers. I just bought some for $5 yd and got 1 yd, so I was able to stuff 8 diapers.

So, even if you bought everything new and didn't recycle anything, each diaper would only cost you $4.20 and you can use it until your baby grows out of it! But, if you plan on making some, I would assume that you sew. If you sew, you are sure to have fabric scraps around. Also, if you are a human, I would assume that you have an ugly old towel in the back of your closet that you don't like to use anymore. So, all you would have to buy is elastic and velcro.

Ok, on to the more technical stuff.

Go to the link at the top of this post and download and print out the pattern for Rita's Rump Pocket. While you are there, you can thank her for her free pattern.

Using the guides on the pattern, tape it all together until you get the hourglass shape pattern that you need.

If your fabric is new, prewash it and dry it on high heat to get as much shrinking out as possible. If you are using old sheet/clothes, this step is not necessary.

Pin the pattern to the wrong side of the fabric and trace around it. Transfer small markings for elastic and the lines on the back. I prefer to add lines on the front at the same location as the back lines (see red arrows). I use the back lines for elastic and the front lines for the pocket.

Cut about 3/8-1/2" OUTSIDE of your traced line. DO NOT CUT ON YOUR LINE, AS THIS IS YOUR SEWING LINE! When it's all cut out, it should look like this. 

The line drawn is the outline of the pattern. You cut just outside of that line.

If you want an extra sew-in liner, cut out an extra piece of fabric, so you now have 3 layers of the diaper pattern. Cut out a small piece of terry cloth, about 5" by 9" and sew it (zigzag) to the middle layer of fabric. It really doesn't matter if you sew it to the front or back of this fabric, as it is on the inside and will only be seen by you. Just make sure you sew it into the place where most of the wetness is concentrated.

I have only sewn this in a few of my diapers, b/c it does extend the drying time. If I am trying to save money, why would I want to add that much more to my electricity bill? If you use a clothes line, it really doesn't make that much of a difference.

I usually use different fabrics for the inside and outside. I use plain or ugly fabrics for the inner fabric and the cute stuff for the outside where people might see. For most of the pictures, the ladybug fabric is the outside, the green holly hobbie is the inner, and the plaid is the liner. If you are not doing the optional liner, just pretend anytime that you see the plaid, you are really seeing the green. There are a few pics that I had to do in different fabric b/c it either didn't turn out right in the pics the 1st time or I had already sewn it by the time I took pics, so you'll have to forgive the few out of place pics.

Once you have all of your layers cut out, serge or zigzag between lines on the FRONT of the diaper (narrower end).

And then fold along sewing line with wrong sides together and sew with a straight stitch between the lines. This forms the edge for the pocket. This gives the pocket a nice, finished look. If you use a zigzag to hold down the seam allowance, it is ok, it's just a little more rough on baby's skin. If you are using the 3 layer style, keep the inner layer and the liner layer together (they are now considered one piece for the rest of this tutorial).

I like to sew my loop velcro in at this point. Cut out a piece about 6 1/2" long and round off the corners. Center this on the right side of the outer fabric between the front marks. Sew along the edges with a zigzag stitch.

(I usually start sewing along the top edge.)

Now place the layers of the diaper together with right sides together. Try to line the layers up the best you can. Sew along the sewing line starting at the edge of the front pocket and end at the other edge of the pocket. (don't sew the pocket closed!) You will need to lift up the edge of the pocket that you sewed in order to get all the way in since it is folded on the sewing line.

(Lifting the edge of the pocket.)
 
I serge all the way around the diaper (except the pocket) at this point. I try to cut the seam allowance down to almost nothing around the wings, and make sure I leave plenty of room where the elastic will go.

Now the elastic. I leave the elastic on the roll and cut it when I am finished sewing. Place one end of the elastic on one of the elastic marks (see red line).

Using a 3-stitch zigzag (not the normal zigzag), sew the elastic in place.

You will want to line up the elastic so that you sew it just outside of your seam (see small red line).

You MUST stretch the elastic as far as it will stretch while doing this-there is no gathering later. When you stretch it, it will create little squares of open space. This makes sewing on elastic a little easier. When you get to the other elastic mark, backstitch to keep everything in place and then trim your thread and the elastic. (Trim right at the end of stitching.)

Go on to the other elastic marks and do the same thing.

(All the elastic sewn in the legs and back.)

Once the elastic is sewn in, it is time to turn your diaper right-side-out. Once it is right side out, it will look like a bunchy little mess.

You will need to topstitch the entire diaper (except the pocket opening) with a straight stitch. Start at the edge of the pocket and sew about 1/8" from the edge of the diaper.

When you get to the elastic, make sure to go around the elastic (you'll have about 1/2" from the edge here). You don't want to catch your elastic in the topstitching. You will need to stretch the fabric out while you are sewing around the elastic so that your diapers won't pucker.

(stretching where the elastic is)

Once it is all topstitched, it should lay out pretty nice.

Finish it off by sewing the hook part of the velcro to the INSIDE of the back wings (so that when you fold the back wings over, the velcro catches. Cut out a piece of hook a little wider than 1 1/4". Turn it longways so that it fits in the wing and zigzag the edges.

For the soaker, cut out your terry cloth and serge around the edges.

Tada! Your diaper is finished.

To use, fold your terry cloth in half and then in half again. Stuff this into the pocket of the diaper.

It's a lot of directions, but it's really easy, I just wanted to make sure every step was covered.

These diapers alone will allow moisture to pass through, so if you want a total leak-proof diaper, you'll need a cover. I used the same pattern and made the inner layer of flannel and the outer of fleece. I sewed the pocket closed, so there is no opening on the cover. I sewed velcro on this and it's so easy to just put on her as we are leaving the house. Around the house, I let her go in just her diaper (meaning no cover-not naked) and it works just fine. I actually just tried doing a double soaker for overnight instead of the cover and it worked just fine. I took a microfiber rag (like you find in the automotive section) and folded it into 1/3, and then just placed that in the inside fold of the terry cloth soaker. The whole inner of the diaper was soaked when she woke up, but the bed was completely dry. If you have a super-duper-duper night pee-er you could probably use the double soaker and a cover, but it's probably not necessary.

You can keep the used diapers in a bucket with a liner or just put them in a separate pile where they won't be accidentally disturbed. I fold the diaper closed when there is a BM, so when I do laundry, I know to be careful with those ones. If there is a BM, just empty the diaper into the toilet.

To wash the diapers, first run on a cold rinse/prewash. Then run on a regular cycle with hot water. You only need to use 1 TBSP of liquid detergent. Use a detergent free of dyes and perfumes, as they can ruin the absorbency of the diapers. We use either All free and clear or Purex free and clear. You may add some baking soda to the wash cycle, if you would like. After washing, follow up with a rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is washed out. I always add some vinegar to this last rinse to make sure they are completely clean. Dry on high heat. You may hang them on a clothes line and just fluff them for a few minutes in the dryer to make them soft.

Let me know if you need any more information.

Pics of the diaper in use. 

What a poser!

Mock up of newborn size. I guess puppies need diapers too!