Bad news!

Well after wearing the longies for a whole day, my son got a little rash on his tummy. I assume it is from the wool rubbing on his bare skin, I don't think it is because he is allergic. My husband hates wool, so this is a good argument for him. I don't know what I am going to do now... He is slowly growing out of medium-sized prowrap covers, and I really don't feel like buying some more covers. I would rather sew them. I just don't know what materials I am going to use... PUL? Fleece? Nylon?

Ideally I wouldn't want this material to be touching his skin. So I would have to make a hidden layer of the water resistant fabric. But if you want to avoid wicking from the inner fabric to the outer-most fabric this is really a difficult task to accomplish from the sewing aspect.

I will figure something out. :)

Another fleece wrap...

So I modified my pattern once again, but unfortunately am still not completely satisfied with the fit. I think maybe it is either a bit too large for him, or too wide? I do like how the elastic on the legs hold everything nice and snug... no gaping at all. If I leave the pattern as is, he will probably be able to wear this size until he is out of diapers, which is also one of my intentions with the wool - get as much use out of it as possible.

He is wearing a fitted under this wrap.

Anyways this was only intended as an experiment - before I cut into the fancy wool I have!

Thoughts about better cloth solutions...

Just jotting down my thoughts from tons of research about cloth:

Well I have been searching the web to find out more about diaper covers and possible fabrics for cloth diapering and have come across this page all about the cons of popular artificial materials (such as polyester and polyurethane laminate: PUL) used for sewing diapers and covers because of their water repelling qualities. It is all about how the polys aren't very good for us, and could potentially cause cancer in the long run.

Now, I have come to the conclusion that I would like to try wool fabric. Of course my local Walmart does not carry wool in any form, I would have to drive to the next town to get to a Joann's Fabric store (2 1/2 hours away). I have searched the web, but don't feel very comfortable about buying fabric that I have not touched. I did buy 1 yard of 100% merino wool interlock that is supposed to be great for covers, but it was pretty expensive ($20 /yard) so it is just to try, and if I like it ALOT I may consider buying more. I would like to only have to use one layer for a pocket style diaper, but then there is still that washing issue. Every time the baby poos or wets, the inner flannel layer would have to be washed... not good for the wool.

I think the best solution would be to make a wool cover that can be reused (hung up to dry if only pee) and doesn't have to be washed as often. The idea of converting my prefolds to fitted diapers would then also help to keep the poo in the diaper and not on my cover, so again the cover could be reused more often.

I would love to only have to use a single layer for the wool cover - thus saving on yardage and money, but I don't know how this is possible if I don't want to use fold over elastic. Maybe I will get a chance soon to get some wool fabric used for suits or coats at the fabric store and use a less expensive layer to sew a cover where the elastic is hidden?

I have also considered the idea of using an inner layer of ripstop nylon. Maybe sandwiched between flannel and an outer cover of velour? I think though that the moisture would just wick from the flannel to the velour and it would not be very effective. I would still need a water repelling fabric for the outer wall of the cover to keep the moisture in. Also I have read that the water repelling qualities of ripstop would not hold up against the constant washing that is required for diapering. So maybe it isn't really hepful at all.

My creation: a fleece pocket diaper!

This is my VERY own creation! I am surprised at how good it looks and how well it fits. I altered the Rita's Rump pattern to my liking and came up with something much different. I chopped off the end of a prefold for the insert that needed to be a tad bit shorter.

It works well, but I am not sure I am a fan of the pocket diaper. I mean, you have to throw everything into the wash whenever you change the baby. With my prowrap covers, I didn't need to do that when he was only wet and hadn't soaked the cover. This cover's inner lining is flannel, so it will be always wet whenever you change the baby.

I used this tutorial (intended for the Honeyboy pocket pattern) to kind of get an idea of how to sew it up. Espeically important is "overlapping" the fleece so that it turns towards the inside at the leg openings - this is intended to help reduce moisture from wicking out of the diaper and onto clothes.

I may post instructions and/or a pattern for this diaper, if/when I find the time... I first have to decide how much I really do like it! :-)

Farm Fleece Wrap, PART II

Added a gusset to each of the legs, this makes for a much better fit over a prefold, in my opinion. :-) This cover works great and keeps him dry even over night, I am very impressed by the power of fleece! I bought this print from Joann Fabrics. I have read that Maiden Mills or Windpro are the preferred brands of fleece for cloth diapering purposes, but at $14.00 /yard I am not quite sure it is worth the extra money. I don't remember how much I paid for my fleece, but I am sure it was under $10.00.

This is the Rita's Rump pattern altered to add a gusset. I just traced the mid section of the leg hold on the original pattern and drew a line across the U-shape to make a template for the gusset. Then I added some extra for a seam allowance. The top seam (straight side) of the gusset elastic sewn into the seam allowance and turned to make a pocket for the elastic. Then you just sandwich the gusset between the diaper inner and outer layers when you are sewing up the seam.

Farm Fleece Wrap

Thanks Kei for posting the wonderful tutorial for sewing up Rita's Rump wrap pattern. This is my first try and I like the results, just would like to make a few alterations for the perfect SOFT wrap!!! (Adding a gusset to make it able to hold a little more bulk).

In Kei's tutorial she suggests sewing the elastic to the inner layer of the diaper before sewing the seams up. I don't know if she has a specific reason for doing so, but I have found it easier to first sew up the seam (outer and inner layers, right sides together) and then go back to attach the elastic to the seam allowance. Maybe there is a wicking issue that I am unaware of?


(He wasn't in the greatest mood for pictures)...