April 2, 2009

Prefold to fitted!

While waiting for the 1 yard of merino wool to arrive, I have been turning my attention towards converting my prefolds to fitteds. I have now tried two variations on this theme.

After tons of research I found a few tutorials that took me in the right direction. I first tried with my premium prefolds (4x8x4 layers / 14.5" x 21" unwashed) but I have to alter my pattern a bit to make it work better. With my regular prefolds (4x6x4 layers / 14.5" x 21" unwashed) I have made a fitted diaper that fits my 13-month-old fairly well. (He is small for is age, so this would probably fit 8-12 month olds as well).

So, I give credit to Shanna for the original idea, and here is my tutorial - with a few alterations that are useful if you want to make a fitted diaper from a prefold.

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You want your prefold to be washed a few times (not brand new)... The dimensions of this prefold are 12.5" x 17" WASHED.

Here I decided to go ahead and slightly iron the diaper so that I don't have bunching issues when I get to sewing. Fold the prefold lengthwise and make sure that the inner seams line up as well as the edges.



Make yourself a pattern. Trace around all sides of the folded prefold (my pattern is about 17" long and 7.25" wide). Mark where the seam is with a dotted line. Then measure 1 inch from the seam toward the edges. This will be your fold line. Then make the tab lines (I made my back tab about 3" wide and the front tab 3.25" wide). There are two ways to do this. In the example below I decided I wanted the advantage of having more elasticity. So I made my line cut straight to the fold line and only just before the fold line made the curve. I like this better than doing a more gradual curve because I found that even though the gradual curve will cover the bum up better you may end up with bigger gaps where things could leak out... (By the way, the purple line on the pattern is a mistake of mine, please disregard).



Trace the lines you want to cut with a fabric pen.



Make the cut (BUT ONLY TO THE FOLD LINE, not any further - and do not cut down the fold line).



Open up the cut, you will find a bit of left over fabric from the layers in the middle. Trim this extra back to the seam line.



You just have to do this for the mid section, not for the tabs of the diaper.



Now find the seams, one of the seams will be a bit jutted out. It is folded over instead of sewn through. Kind of hard to see in this picture. This will be on the INSIDE of your diaper.



Take a seam ripper and break the threads. Try not to damage the diaper too much, and don't go all the way through, you are just making a casting for your back elastic. Do this just below the surge line of the prefold at the back (if you made a more gradual cutout for the back there will be a difference between back and front).



So the same at the other seam at the top back, but this one is not folded over, so you are going to have to cut a few layers of the diaper slightly.



Here is a nifty trick! Put a small saftey pin on the end of your elastic. Then slide the point of a knitting needle or a BBQ skewer into the clasp of the saftey pin. Then just slide the elastic accross to the other hold in the diaper. If you didn't make a deep enough cut you will have to go back and cut again.





Use a zigzag stitch to hold the elastic in place. Go over the area several times making sure that you also catch any raw edges you made in the diaper - to prevent it from developing holes later on.



Pull the elastic tight, so that it still has a tad bit of stretch, but also so that the fabric of the diapier gathers up. Attach the other end of the elastic to the diaper with a zigzag. Again making sure you sew up any cuts. Put the ends of the elastic tight and snip right at the seam, this way it will not show.



Now you are going to fold the flaps over to the OUTSIDE of the diaper (not the side you were just attaching the elastic to.



Make sure that you have about a 1/4" "roll over" from the edge of the leg opening. (The cut V you see in the picture below is not folded directly on the point of the V, it is folded in another 1/4".) This will be handy later when you are sewing up the raw edges - it will make for a much neater edge.



Pin the edges so they won't shift around.



Keeping that 1/4" edge rollover, pull the two edges of the flaps together and measure your seam allowance. Here I will have a 1/2" seam allowance, this can be different for different types / brands of prefolds.



Sew the flaps together with a straight stitch, using the measured seam allowance.



Lay out flat and cut any extras.



Put your hand through the tube, grab the end and pull through.



This is what you should end up with.



Change back to a zigzag stitch, and tack down the rounded edge of the soaker. Start sewing about 1/2" away from the edge (you need to put elastic in the edge, so you don't want to sew up that opening).



When you come to the other edge, turn and use a straight stitch to make a casting for the elastic down this leg. When you come to the end turn and switch again to zigzag. Sew around the soaker and then back down the other leg with a straight stitch again.



This diaper measures about 5" accross the soaker, from one seam to the other. This could vary for your baby...



This is what the diaper should look like now.



Using our nifty trick, push the elastic through one of the legs castings. Don't cut the elastic until it is completely tacked down.





Now you want to turn in the raw edges on the diaper tabs. If you open up the fold this is pretty easy. Just roll in about 3/8." Pins make it easier.



Pin both edges together and sew close to the edge with a straight stitch.



When you get close to the elastic, switch to a zigzag stitch, to make sure that you catch all raw edges that cannot be turned in.



Continue sewing right over the edge of the casting, catching the elastic. Go back and forth several times, making sure the elastic is secured.



This is what you should end up with, a nice neat edge, with no raw cut edges sticking out.



Repeat turning in the raw edges and tacking down the elastic for the other end. Now you can pull the elastic tight and cut right at at the line where it was secured.
Repeat for other leg/side.



To make sure nothing is going to ravel away later, I like to go over the very edge of the soaker once more before finishing.



Secure with pins or a snappi, or you could get fancy and secure with snaps or velcro. I would recommend fitting it on your baby first and also allowing for growth... adding more snaps/velcro where they might be needed later.



Side view.



Bum view!



Comments much appreciated! I would love to hear how it works out for you or if you have any suggestions! :)

51 comments:

  1. It looks like a really good fit! Great work!

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  2. Great tutorial, Amanda! I love the fit of the diaper too.

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  3. Brilliant! I've never seen such a wonderful idea and such an excellently documented tutorial! WOW!!!!

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  4. Great pattern! You did a wonderful job explaining how to do everything and the photos really helped me to understand the instructions. I just finished one and am waiting for my son to wake up from his nap so that I can try it out.

    Question: How to you make sure that the elastic on each leg is the same length?

    Thanks again for a great pattern!

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  5. I don't really, I guess... I just pull as hard as possible and attach to the other side, if that makes sense?

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  6. This looks GREAT, and I can't wait to try it out, but I have a question first. Does this alter the size/wieght range of the untouched prefold? Or does it stay pretty much the same?

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  7. I think it would pretty much stay the same.

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  8. This is so cool. I can't wait to make mine!!! I've been looking at all kinds of cloth diapering options and have been overwhelmed with price mainly and I have a ton of prefold that I never use, so this will be perfect! Thank you.

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  9. I made one and I really like it. The only issue I have is that my leg openings aren't as elasiticized as yours look in the picture. I guess because my casings aren't big enough. It seems like my fabric is too thick or something. Do you have any suggestions?

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  10. I did a variation of your theme and it came out very well. Instead of stopping the cut and folding over the soaker pad in the middle, I kept cutting out the whole piece so I ended up with two half oval shapes. I unfolded those and turned that into a soaker pad that I stiched on in the center at the top so that it is flappy (easier to dry) and then I used fold over elastic on the legs and in the back (I cut off the back seam so that it would be more stretchy before I stiched the fold over elastic). Took no time at all and it came out very well. Thank you for the inspiration!!

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing this! This pattern is by far the best way to convert a prefold to a fitted!

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  12. Very cool! I am going to try using one of my 4x8x4 PFs. I'd love to see how they fit under our covers. And I am going to try with snaps or maybe velcro. Thanks again!

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  13. Very cool idea! I'm wanting some more fitteds and I have a ton of prefolds (went a little overboard when I started) and this will be perfect!!!!
    Thanks so much for posting this!!

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  14. Okay, so if I have infant prefolds that are 4x8x4 and 12"x16" and fit 7-15 lbs, then the converted fitteds should also fit 7-15 lbs? I guess I am just worried about the crotch area being too wide. Otherwise, I'm excited to try this. Your pattern has the nicest outcome I have seen!

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  15. This pattern looks great! I have been searching for a good one all day and am hoping she stays napping long enough to at least try one:P I like the idea of making the center like a soaker, thanks sselora! Seems like it would dry much quicker.

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  16. I just ordered 4 dozen premium prefolds from clothdiaper.com. They are factory seconds. I really wanted to buy more thristies fab fitted but i do not have the money and these i ordered were a little over a dollar each. So i want the convenience now of a fitted diaper at a low cost. I have a sewing machine and have done some sewing(minimal) as I am a sewing virgin. I want to do this pattern to all my prefolds for an easier fit and daddy friendly. My husband cannot handle a regular prefold. Any sewing supoort in making this would be great. I am a bit afraid. It has been a while since i took home economicsin HS. like 20 years!!!!

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  17. I love love this tut!!!! very easy to follow! I made 4 with NB prefolds and will try them on the LO when he arrives! I hope they work!!! :)

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  18. Thanks so much for the tuturiol and the pics! I just bought some prefolds and really am not getting into them. I am excited about making them fitted. I hope it's as easy as you made it sound!

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  19. This is awesome! Thanks so much for putting the work into this tutorial - it's really informative and easy to follow! All the best.

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  20. Thanks for this tutorial. I'm switching to wool too, but made from recycled sweaters or I may knit my own. My only problem with the fitted diaper is my sewing machine doesn't do so well with all the layers or diaper. Hmmm, wonder if I can convince hubby I need one for my birthday. For now, I am serging some parts to get the edges finished and my elastic casing on the side is only in two layers, still works.

    Gabi in Las Cruces

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  21. Wow, I just came to check the comments, and am happy that everything likes the tutorial. I myself have not been cding for a while now... I don't have the time or energy, since I decided to start my masters in education... oh well life is short.

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  22. GREAT Tutorial! I can barely sew a straight stitch and my first diaper turned out pretty good. I was dissapointed though, because the rise was too short once the diaper was converted. I guess that I will have to try with a larger pre-fold. Thanks for the info!

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  23. I tried this today and I am so happy with the results! Thanks so much for the tutorial. The only suggestion I would make is that I needed to put something in the side (where the elastic will later go) while I was sewing. Otherwise, the fabric would bunch and I couldn't get anything through it. After doing that though, it worked great!

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  24. You are AWESOME!!!!! I have been all over the internet looking for patterns to make a better fitted cloth diaper and none of them I liked or even worked good. The store bought ones are way to expensive. I LUV to sew and I cant wait to make some for my daughter-in-law also. (We were both pregnant at the same time, and we are all pinching pennies too) Cloth is the way to go! THANK YOU for showing this.

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  25. I am very excited to find this tutorial! Thanks for putting one together so well.
    We just moved to a humid climate, and I got the shock of my life when the diapers in the pail mildews when I didn't wash them after 2 days! So, now I am looking for an alternative to my AIO's, that can wash and dry easily.
    I plan to alter your pattern slightly by zigzagging the curved edges on their own and not stitching them down to the body of the diaper. It will basically look like a fitted with two wings on the sides. I'm sure this will look very strange, but should do well with washing and drying. I also think the older children will still be able to help with the diapering duties.
    Once I get a few sewn and tested, I'll let you know the results of my alteration. :) Thanks again

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  26. If anyone attempts to do a conversion with seconds, beware that the seams for the soaker may very well not be even. My first attempt wasn't. The elastic casing on one side is contesting with 6 layers of fabric... it still seems to be working ok, but I'm sure its not ideal.

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  27. What size/kind of elastic do you use?

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  28. WONDERFUL pattern!!!!! Thank you so much!! I bought 12 prefolds early on in my pregnancy and ended up having much better luck with fitted diapers--this allowed me to put my old prefolds to great use!!! You rock :)

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  29. I did this today with a premium CPF and it looks like a diaper! I tried trimming one and ended up with this frankendiaper looking thing that I now can only use to stuff a cheap-o pocket I bought. I have very minimal sewing skills and these directions were so clear I could follow them easily. The first one fits my 30lb 2yr old nicely and shortened it enough that I don't have to fold it down any more. I plan on tweaking my pattern so I can perfect it before I try it on my IPFs.

    Thanks so much for these great directions!

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  30. Tried this out today and loved it! My diaper is so cute :) I made a newborn-sized one, but I don't have a newborn to try it out on so I'm not sure how well it fits ... but, I love it! Even hubby was impressed. Thanks for the awesome directions - I hope to make many more in the future :)

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  31. Thanks for the tutorial. Just made one, worked out fab. My machine wouldn't get through all the thickness when zigzagging the soaker down, so I had to zigzag it seperately so it's a bit like a little pocket in the middle. That might turn at well though as i could boost it there with a microfibre if i need to.

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  32. I know this is a 2 year old post and you may not see the comment- anyhow thank you for the great tutorial, this is definitely a great alternative to buying pricey fitteds!

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  33. OMG!!! I have been trying to do another tutorial for changing my prefolds into fitted that requires alot more cutting and really, needs a serger (which i dont have, so to my frustration, my diapers were turing out hideous!)All the others i saw used a layer of fabric the you turn inside out, etc but i wanted something that I didnt have to buy anything else for, so this is GREAT! If i need to extend the length of my tabs, i think i should be able to use scrap fabric! I'm SOOO excited to try this, thank you! Now if I could just get the kids down for a nap so I could start sewing... ;)

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  34. This works wonderfully! I used my Regular size, Unbleached Indian prefolds and made a pattern by tracing around a BumGenius 3.0 AIO. I added velcro and it works really well under my Flip covers, its sooo much easier than folding the prefolds. This fits my 18lb., 4 1/2 month old great with room to grow. I'm going to convert all of my prefolds using this tutorial.

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  35. Impressive result and well explained! I can't wait to try this!

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  36. Love it! I just finished mine and I am so excited. You did such a wonderful tutorial. Very easy to follow step by step. Thank You! Now I can finally use all these premium prefolds that were just too long and bulky before. DS is asleep right now. I can't wait to try it on him in the morning.

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  37. I used this pattern, except I added another 3.5 inches of prefold to the top (of a 13 x 15.25" prefold) in order to improve the fit for an older baby - 18m toddler. So, one full prefold had the front tab, and then the additional section added onto it creates the second back tab. This was my first attempt to work from a pattern - very rewarding, as you did a great job explaining it all. Mine isn't nearly as neat and tidy as yours looks, but it is functional. Many thanks :)

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  38. OMG! This is way better than the one I was using. I'll give it a shot as soon as my frustration with my sewing machine diminishes.

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  39. Thank you so much for all of the positive feedback! It is wonderful to hear, makes me want to get back into creating things again... when life lets up a bit, I guess.

    Amanda

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  40. Omg - LOVE your tut... thanks so much for sharing it! I have a chunky monkey who doesn't fit large prefolds now, but the toddler size are wayyy too big - so I converted one of the toddler size to a prefold & it's perfect!

    I'm going to share a link to this on my blog - http://musingsofaclothaholic.blogspot.com

    thanks again,
    Emma

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  41. It looked great - until I washed it! It frayed badly along the soaker line. I thought I zig-zagged really carefully, but obviously I didn't. Any suggestions on how to fix it/prevent it from happening again?

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  42. I modified just a little. I added a layer of PUL on the outside. It's an awesome AIO now! Love it!

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  43. I LOVE this pattern. I've converted 2 of my prefolds using another method and they are okay, but I really want to try this out because the finished product looks "cleaner" and I really like how you did the leg elastic!

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  44. The final product looks amazing! I need to read this through a few times. I'm not sure I quite understood all of it...

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  45. I tried your tutorial this weekend, I LOVE IT! The only problem I had besides using to big of a safety pin, was that we have very large prefolds so I tried to make it normal size where you can just fold the edges down to fit. Not sure how it will work but I like your post! I will definately be buying more elastic to make all my prefolds into fitteds! I haven't tried them on DS yet but hopefully today I will be able to. If it fits right I may be sewing right before I change them :). Thank you so much for all the detail you went into. A quick question, I did the zig-zag stich over the soaker and the elastic, did you have a lot of thread over that area? I don't know if I used the wrong setting or to many stitches. Thank you!

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  46. Ingenius, I will go and try this out!

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  47. Amanda, (or anyone who has created the pattern)
    I am creating my own prefolds from flannel & microfiber clothes, and instead of cutting them to the full prefold size, I was going to use your pattern to try to create this. My question is, on your pattern shown above, what is the measurement from the top "Fold" to the "Fold Line"? Because I don't have an actual prefold to compare to, I was going to just make the pattern. Can you (or anyone) help me? Thanks!

    Barb
    BarHn8@aol.com

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  48. Going to be using this soon to expand my fitted stash. Planning on serging the curved edges of the soaker pad and leaving a pocket that can be stuffed for more absorbancy. Along the lines of the thirsties fab fitted duo dipes. Still debating whether or not to do snaps/aplix or to stick with a snappi...

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  49. This is great! I'd been looking for a conversion that didn't require a serger, and this is perfect. I am fairly new to sewing but was able to figure this out and make one in about 20 minutes. Very cool. Thanks so much for putting all that work into a great tutorial!

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  50. Thanks so much. I've seen something like this before, but there wasn't enough details for me to understand. Thanks for your clear instructions!

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