Cloth Diapers and Covers

 Fabric, Snaps, and Velcro Oh My!

 I am entering the world of sewing with a bang and a splat-literally.  Disposable diapers are a mess as is but that doesn't stop me from trying to save a buck or two by sewing my own diapers.  Sewing itself is relatively easy minus the curves that end up looking like arrows from the sharp turns.  I made a diaper cover as my first inventive project.  The reason why it was a diaper cover and not a fullblown diaper is because I didn't put in elastic bands, which is a huge no-no in diapering.  I heard PUL is great material for the inside of the diaper because it allows water/substance to not leak through however it is a bit expensive.  I decided to change fabric and try other avenues.  I tried using an insert of terry cloth with PUL inside the terry cloth to go in the diaper sleeve so that it's not so rigid or bulky but I ended up with a big baby and small diaper. She had outgrown the small diaper pattern I had.  The diaper came out great but I couldn't test it out.  I recently finished a terry cloth diaper with PUL sown in the middle for extra coverage.  I am waiting on the velcro strips to come in to try it on my daughter, Kennedy. 

I chose velcro fasteners this time because it allows me to really it fit it to Kennedy and not just snap as close as a fit as I could.  The new velcro isn't like the old velcro strips that tear up in the wash.  The new velcro has only hooks verses the hook and loop (where the loops would get torn out and furry after awhile).  This velcro is now being used to hold pictures up on the wall without having bang a nail in, so it should be good to hold a diaper on 15 lb baby right?!  I guess we will see! 

I love seeing how others do their diapering.  There's no right way to make a diaper, to each their own.  You never know when your diaper might be the "revolution" to cloth diapering everywhere! :)

This is the diaper cover with PUL fabric inside and snaps

The pattern for cloth diapers can be found at any fabric shop.  I got a pattern at Joanns Fabric to begin with and after a few tries I eventually just started to wing it to find a diaper that is more appropriate for Kennedy.

This is the cloth diaper I made with terry cloth inside and an insert of PUL inside with clear Velcro fasteners.

The fasteners are virtually unexposed and since they are clear they don't ruin the look of the diaper.

If you look in the middle you can see how the sew the PUL insert in between the terry cloth and fabric. The diaper was able to contain everything but she did manage to leak through so I suggest an added insert of PUL.