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Are you sewing just the ends of the elastic down or are you sewing along the whole length of elastic? You're only supposed to anchor each end down....I've made the mistake of sewing along the whole thing (my first nappy) and had the same problem as you.
you can go along the length of it if you use the right stitch, I use a tripple zig zag and have no probs but on thicker layers i use the one that just incases the elastc after tacking it down. not sure wat its called...
What is a tripple zig zag?
Why would you want to stitch the whole thing down (out of curiosity)??
it is a stretch zig zag that some machines can do......it actually catches bobbin halfway to the zig and then again halfway to the zag if that makes sense rather than the standard zigzag which catches just at each point/turn IYGWIM
it makes the elastic more secure and can even out the gathers if done right....... the only reason you wouldn't do it all the way down is if you were elasticating a thick fabric like fleece - hence why the honeyboys use a tacking and casing system. If you were doing a stretch fabric you definitely want to stitch it all down otherwise it gathers really weirdly.
I also use the stretch zigzag on my covers and the elastic is nice and bunchy when I let go. It is the zig zag stitch that looks like its cut through in places...BBH's use them on their nappies if you have a look. I dont think I could just anchor down my elastic on the ends..id be to scared that the elastic would fray after awhile and click out of the sticth so to speak.
Tegan I take my hat of to you for trying matie...Nappies blog my mind to much and run away and hide..hench me going to the sewing day to find out a little about them. Let us know how you go..IM interested to know.
Have just realised that I threw out my SL chenille in blue and green. I could just hit myself in the head..I had plans for it and the green was 1 1/2 meters worth. So stupid...can you tell im pg????
Sarah - depends what nappies you use to bulkiness but yes I agree they are bulky. I went to a 1st birthday party today and everyone crowded round when I changed Vy cause she was the only one in MCN (peapod) yes me, her mama was very proud!!!! especially when she got up and did her bum tapping thing afterwards going YEAH!!!!
Aaah ok Mel. You know all :)
Maz - hm. Now I'll always wonder if my elastic will last the test of time...arg!
Thanks Fiona!!
Has anyone tried mama birds nappy patterns? The AIO looks like an interesting one! I might give it a go next week. I wish I had saved for a better sewing machine, it isn't bad, it is a homemaker brand though, I don't have much luck with their stuff :S
Well i just made a second one. I used the stretch zig zag and it did seem to be a lot better, but not perfect. Will probably have to have a few more goes at it to get it right. I would show a pic but can't seem to get the gallery working, will try again tomorrow.
I had a not the same but was the same just branded different sewing machine. It didn't last long with sewing MCN's. just go easy & you should be right. make sure you clear out the lint/fluff etc from under the plate & around the bobin freaquently. Also I was surprised to learn that you should change your needle every 8 hours of use.
Cat because the HB's do the elastic casing then it doesn't need to be sewn the whole lenght. The VB pattern don't have it and I think you need to sew the whole length of the elastic so it doesn't move and the elastic bunches up on the leg nicley.
Tegan were you sewing the elastic to PUL? I found I had to sew it on using a straight stitch with the longest stitch available. I figured this out buy turning a swaddlebee pocket inside out to see how it was sewn and it was just a straight stitch so thought I'd try it out.
BTW my first attempts were really dodgy and they live at the bottom of my stash for emergency use only ;) Don't use your best of favourite fabrics till you've got it right. I'm about to cut one apart and salvage the bamboo soaker pad and make another from it becasue it's that bad :lol:
OMG at changing th eneedles...I thinks me better do that today!!!!!
What time are we meeting up at Mel's???
Cat - im sure your nappies work fantastic...you wouldnt have gotten a license otherwise ;)
LOL Maz I know, I was the same.
just a tip..don't use a straight stitch on lastin or other such elastics as the elastic will shred away. Think of those coupons (and bills...yuck!) that you get with the perforated dotted lines that you tear away...the same thing will happen with rubber elastic if you use a straight stitch it willl create those perforations that will cause the elastic to tear away...oopsie!!. Straight stitching is not so bad on braided elastics because of the way they are made up of many different fibres. but if you are using elastic on a a stretch fabric so not really nappies but if you are doing some other project always use a zig zag or stretch stitch...using a straight stitch will cause the threads to snap when the garment is stretched out and that could be really funny when the waist falls down!!
Ooh thanks Mel for that :) I have straight stitched on the lastin stuff but I can't remember which nappy that was...will replace when it falls off Caleb ;)
Im so excited! I just got some lime green dot minky that im going to make a cover out of for Vy and this amigo and line it with hot purple (bright purple..whatever) fleece.....I just had to tell someone..im busting my gutt for Vy to go to bed
Does anyone else get irratable sinus from all the fibers???????
I put my latest lot of nappies on my blog if you wanna squizz FionaJill
Silly question Fiona...going there RIGHT NOW!!!!!
hehehe
Hey Maz, I just noticed your due date is my sister birthday as well as my nans & elvis.
Fiona - Great job on the nappies..which one is the night time one????? I better not tell my mum that its Elvis' birthday then....I AM NOT NAMING THIS CHILD ELVIS!!!!!!!
The night one is the bottom one, the one I put photos of it by itself. It has 4 hemp layers with 2 Microfibre layers between. then the lay in booster is 2 layers of hemp with 2 layers of microfibre in the center pannel.
They look fantastic Fiona!!!
May I ask if there is a benefit to using snaps versus velcro? Looks like I will need to wait a month until I get to start on those AIO's I was going to make so I guess I will call this my research phase, sounds much nicer than my poor phase :lol:
For me I prefer snaps for afew reasons. I think they look neater & continue to look tidy. They are harder to undo, especially if you place them as side snapping nappies ( yet to venture that way) so less likely to have little ones taking their own nappy off. I find velcro, no matter how its placed rubs Isla's skin, not sure why/how it happens but the few velcro nappies I have had it always happens. Also my sewing machine hates sewing velcro, no matter what I try I just can't make it work.
grr, something has come up unexpectedly and I can't come on saturday anymore :(
Mel I will PM you and organise to collect the fabric another time. I am so disappointed, the universe seems to have a way of doing this to us lately. grrr.
I have ordered the honeyboy pattern though, and will have a go at that and see how I go!
:clap: Tegan well done!
Rayray oh no that is a shame :( I was coming to ask if we were still a go-go for the weekend????
Yep is still on sammi....am just on my way out and won't be back till late tonight so will pm everyone when i get home......now just cos I am not here is no excuse to be talking behind my back you hear!!
Oh and play nicely in the sandpit while I am gone kiddies!!
fantastic job Tegan be proud.
I too prefer snaps...but if its a good nappy and it has velcro on it..so be it.
I wanna lollie !!!!!!!!!
Hey girls :) We got a time sorted out yet? Thought we'd bombard Mels sanctum at about 10am...
whatever Sammi...... Maz is leaving at 6am so I am not sure how long it takes to get to your place for her...I will be up...the boy has mopped and has promised to fold the washing when he gets home and i have vacced up most of the cat fluff so all is good. Just have to get the trestle table up from the garage and we are set.
Banana cake is in the oven and zuchinni slice is next
see you there!!!!
Wish I was in Vic, sound slike a fun day planned!
Bet you don't actually get much done though lol.
About 3 hours Mel. It depends on me getting out of the house then ;) Maz said she'll ring so she'll be my alarm clock!
ROFL FJ we'll have to take a pic to prove that we didn't gossip all day ;)
Wish we were all closer so you could come too!
aarrhhh i cant make it either, the only time DH organises anything and it's on a day i already had plans!!!!!
Tegan great job love
Ive made ham and salad snaga's for us to devour.....I'll be up at sparrrow fart..cars already packed.
Im not half excited...Fiona if you leave now you'll make it ;)
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Surprise (to me too), I'm a comin' tomorrow! Mitch wants to go to some house inspections and that takes precedence over lunch with friends (freinds are forever, cheap houses are not!) at the moment! Groovy.
Maz, get your teaching hat on (for how to sell nappies!) Hehehehehe.
Mel, you devil you. 666 posts!
See you guys around lunch! Someone will have to PM me Mel's addy.
Tell ya what organise a weekend sew up & we just might make the trip. One day.....
Woo hoo Caty - bring paper and pen!!!! heheheh
Fiona - we might have to make this an annual thing, what a fab idea!!!!
i cant sleep, over tired and to excited. I feel like a 5 year old at christmas
Maz - is Vy coming? And Caleb?
No just me..woo hoo oh and Khryztel is that counts ;) but i think Caleb is..Mel said she's going to have a protacot there for bubs to sleep in