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This is a thread for those who sew their own nappies to discuss techniques and materials and share hints and tips.
Your moderating/admin team for this forum are:
Astrolady -
Sammi-j -
Tanya -
For basic cloth nappy information, please checkout the Cloth Nappy Information sticky.
Previous thread HERE
Were you going to close the old thread Tan? :P
I'm with you on the motivation, cutting material's the hardest part for me, booooring. But once everything's set up, your material's ready and you have some time to yourself with some music playing, it's good fun!
Tanya - are you an experienced sewer with new machines?
or a newbie with new machines?
i'm a newbie
if that is you too, i would suggest, you get an old flannelette sheet, cut up liners and practise overlocking on liners - i do double layer - great for nappy rash times, and now we use them for day time fitteds - but i digress, i found overlocking loads of liners has refined my crap overlocking skills heaps - i can even do acceptable curves now!
if you already know what you're doing, well - i got nothing - cos the possibilities are endless!!! but MCN fabric is not cheap, so i'd prioritise according to what your baby actually needs.
Thanx Nelle... I am really dumb lately!!
Gigi... I have made a few things with the machines.... but yeah, I am just a beginner :)
I have recently come to realise that most of my cloth nappies are irritating Bonnie's thighs! The nappies that don't are all pockets.. so I guess that's what I need to be making.
Does anyone have a pattern? Maz ;)
Tanya
ETA... Do I have to use PUL... can fleece work?
ETAM... I see they have a couple of patterns on the Nappy Network... has anyone used them? Are they any good?
apparently the wee weka one is quite good..sized a bit large so you may need to adjust the size but otherwise has had good reports.
:
Some kids react to FOE
Fold
Over
Elastic
That's the stuff that looks a bit like bias binding, that is used to edge the leg holes and waist of PUL covers and and some PUL AIO's.
examples would be baby beehinds covers (PUL and wool).
You don't have to necessarily give up on covers if that is the issue.
Just use covers that DON"T use FOE e.g fleece covers.
Hand knit woollies have no leg elastic at all to irriate baby's thighs - great for long wears, like over night especially.
Fleece covers have hidden elastic.
You don't have to give up on AIO's either.
Just choose PUL AIO's that DON"T have the FOE (if that indeed is what is irritating your bub). I haven't seen any fleece AIO's that have FOE.
I have tried the weewaka side snapper pocket pattern on the Nappy network, i made the smaller size (supposedly from birth to 12 kg). My 10 kg bub is on the smallest snaps for that, so i think it's a generously sized pattern. The front wings go quite a way round her back, so i shortened them the 2nd time i made it.
so my message is, don't cut out HEAPS of some pattern you are trying for the first time. Cut ONE out, preferably out of material you won't mind if it's a dud, try it on your bub, IF it's a great fit and you're happy, THEN cut out a gazillion of them.
Thanx Gigi...
Bonnie seems to react to all BBH lately. She used to react to ittibitti d'lish, but not so much now. It's funny because she really smells when she wears them too... I had her in Sposies to get rid of a persistent bit of NR and as soon as I put her in a bamboo BBH, in the morning she had 3 blisters!! The magicalls really chafe her, she is all rough and dry in the whole of the nappy area.
Last night I put her in a pocket that I think someone has made and she looks much better.
It's weird really.
Tanya
You don't need to use FOE on your covers if it irritates bub's legs. Try doing two layers of microfleece (or similar lightweight soft fabric) with a layer of PUL in between, turned and topstitched. It's just like making a nappy but without all the bulk (although use a nappy cover pattern with extra added around the edges to allow for seams and turning to make sure you get good coverage over the nappy). It makes a fantastic leakproof cover (we use ours for nights when DS's handknitted wollies are all in the wash), and if your bub is not a super wetter like mine, you may be able to get away without the PUL at all and just use fleece. We tried that though and he soaked through so I guess it depends on bubs. I did my fleece/PUL covers with side snaps and they have lasted AAAAAAGES! And nice and gentle - especially through the night while he sleeps.
A quick question.
Are the material prices at Nappies Covered reasonable and competitive? They have a good range (when they're stocked, that is).
I hope I don't tread on any toes. If this is someone's online business, I mean no disrespect. I just stumbled on it and I'm a big fat newbie.
I think they are well priced. The nappy supply stores are quite competitive so usually are similar in cost.
To make it worth your while in postage I'd say to get everything you need at one store and only pay one lot of postage.
Hi, just introducing myself.
I used kooshies on DS and sold them when we moved house.
Now Im having #2, and cloth nappies seem to have changed alot in whats popular and materials etc since DS was using them.
A friend has said to make my own, so I`m gonna try it out...but wondering if it is really all worth it? I have a sewing machine, overlocker and think i will buy a snap press. Im guessing from what i have read its cheaper to buy the right materials from online shops, is that right?
....oh, so much new terms and info to learn about nappies since our lovely days with our old naps.
Im hoping to get ones that are 1 size fits all. the ones we used to have lasted 2mths -12mths then 12mths -24mths.
I have heard wee weka is a great pattern too.
oh, and when people talk about hook and loop - what is that? is that velcro?
Hi girls,
I've never ventured into here, but with #2 on the way I thought I might have another go at making my own. I have a couple of questions though.
1. Which do you find better - turned and top stitched or overlocked (I do have an O/L but it's a love/hate r'ship)
2. I'm undecided about whether or not to get a snaps machine so can snaps be added when nappies are already made? (figured for a littlie I'd use snappies).
THanks in advance....
Salsa hook & loop is the same as velcro. Velcro is a commercial brand though and there is H&L that is better than it.
I puchesed both the honeyboy and very baby patterns and also drafted my own using a few elements from my fav nappies. I didn't get around to using the free ones for a silly reason - my printer broke and I decided to buy a pattern instead of buying a new one :lol:
Kim I prefer turned and top stiched cos my overlocking seems to go crazy when it's going to be out on display, though I should persist as I need the practice :lol:
On the snaps machine I would say that depending on how many nappies you want to make will determine if it's worthwhile. I chose not to and use H&L or borrow one that I had use of (I bought my own snaps) but I will be getting one soon.
If you're using a snappi you need to make it from a fabric that the snappy can grip to so a terry type fabric is best.
Yes, I found snappys to work well - but only on the right material - something with grip factor like terry towelling. Otherwise they are useless.
I have found a whole heap of merino in my fabric box, so I thought I could make some wraps/covers with it. I`ll need to lanolise it wont i? And has anyone else tried using merino ? is it effective as a cover?
I read that wool is popular for covers now, but have never tried it.
cool thanks...so if I use flanallette for the outers the snappie won't work?
flannel/brushed cotton does not work - however the type of material used to make flannels (faceclothes) does :lol:
Im not sure what else would work -
The fabric needs to have a loopy texture so the little grabs on the snappi can hold onto it so flanelette is no good for snappis. You can use pins or the tie on snibs for flanelette.
Terry towelling or french terry would work. Even micro terry. They sell all of this stuff at SL.
You could get away with only using a terry type fabric on the areas the snappy needs to be but it would create a bit of work adding them on I would imagine.
nope buggar that. I'm not a fan of terry at all so I guess it'll be h/l or DH will have to fork out for a snap machine.
Sam my overlocking isn't fantabulous on show either. THat's what I like about dressmaking - you can't see it lol.
These are just so much more fiddly.....I have had a got before and my covers are OK...it's just the nappies.
Well I pulled finger and got sewing today! Made a VB fitted. It's a bit rough cos I'm way out of practice and it was also the first time I attempted to sew blind elastic. That is a little loose so my attempt at sewing a small is more like a medium :lol: I have a small here that I got from the weewuns as reference and I determined to have another crack at it. Would be at it now but my back was going to give out.
I suppose I could unpick it but I'd rather not and chalk it down to a learning curve, afterall it will still work. When I made my first honeyboy I made the tabs too long and it didn't fit C for about a year but he wears it now!
On a positive note I tried out knotting the cotton instead of a total rethread when I changed to a maxilock swirls and I'm please to announce that it didn't jam my machine. Sorry I ever doubted you Mel and Maz :p
Glad that knotting the threads worked for you Sammi!! Much quicker, hey?!!
For sure Mel! I felt like changing it again just because :lol:
:ROFL:
Oh and a tip to get the best look from your maxiswirls......make your stitch length 2 or even 1 so that the stitches are closer together and you get a denser look of the swirls...just play with the stitch length dial till you get a look you like!
I finished the second one after tea so thought I'd show off lol
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...php?photo=9452
Don't look too close at the blue one ;) The Cherry one is heaps better!
yum...I have some gorgeous heart snaps just arrived that will finiish off the cherry one just nicely! You'll have to bring it to visit!
hmmm they look great Sammi fabo job honey!!!!
heart shaped snaps you say Mel...growllllllll maz might have to invest in some of those before valentines day :)
now question time...thinking about making prefolds out of unbrushed cotton fleece....do you guys think this will work??? just 2 layers
What is unbrushed cotton fleece like? Having a PG brain moment. i say it would as a lot of them are made from muslin.
no Sammi its that fabric I bought from SL when you were with me...remember the pink and the yellow stuff???
Oh that stuff! I think it could.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN...ETC...ETC!!!!
Traded my sewing machine in on a new one :dance: Too buggered to even rip the box open ATM but I can see it there tempting me.
Probably won't be seeing me for a while...hehehehee!
Ohh Sam. Congratulations. I am go jealous!
Sammy love the cherry print! I finally got onto the nappy making last night too (it's about time, I think I had all my smalls made by now with Austin!). I am using the very baby pattern for my fitteds too, and when I did my first couple (back when I used it to make super thirsty bamboo night nappies for the boy) I found that I wasn't stretching the elastic enough as I sewed following the instructions' method. With my pockets I measure, cut and pin the elastic first and liked that method for making sure it's even and that the legs were the same size. Last night I tried a combo - I measured half the lengtth I needed to cover, cut, secured and stretched as I sewed. You end up using less than half this way (because of the slight excess at either end since you need something under the foot to get you started, and something to hang onto until the end which you chop off after). I found it gave the perfect amount of stretch. I also like to do a straight stitch along the areas where there are elastic about 15mm in from the overlocked edge, as the very last step before snaps. This helps the elastic sit a little better and the nappy look more "finished". Try not to catch the elastic when doing this though, and stretch as you sew.
Pics in my blog of last night's newborn VB and the Saturday night PUL pocket. I didn't photograph my first pocket (seabreeze colour) because I stuffed up my elastic start and end positions and it came out medium.
Where do you guys get maxilock swirls? Is that cotton or woolly nylon, and which threads do you use it in? I have used white woolly nylong on the bottom loopers. I have massive $15 cones of that though so probably should just use that since I have so much, but I do love a coloured edge.
Hi jgal :) thanks for the elastic tips! Will try it out next time I drag the sewing out.
Maxilock swirls is cotton. I got it from theweewuns as well as from a co-op or 2. I can make some enquiries with the lovely ladies that did the co-ops as they may have more...or they might see this post ;)
Your blog link isn't working for me either so I can't see your handiwork!
Woops - I have fixed my links now so hopefully they work. I will update my blog with more nappy pics in the next day or so as I have been suddenly addicted to sewing them! Not that I'm complaining - I was starting to worry that I would have no nappies made before the bub arives as I just didn't get motivated in time. Looks like the napopy bug has finally hit me though :dance:
I am really enjoying working with prints - I made all PUL pockets last time, then discovered wool covers and fitteds when the boy was about 8m old. We switched to fitteds at around 7 months but it was just a coupel of baby eco's for night times and I was disappointed as they were meant tyo be "one size" but he grew out of them by 8 months. Then I found the very baby pattern and made some night naps for him with that and loved them - so easy to make! I thought they'd be harder than the pockets but they aren't really, especially when you don't need to turn and topstitch.
Ooooh nice blog :D You are a clever lass!
I like the very baby pattern and am getting better with my overlocking on the outside. My first nappy making attempt was with the VB AIO pattern before I got an overlocker and then Honeyboy so I don't mind the turn and topstitch. When I got my overlocker I was too scared to have my overlocking visible so it took me ages to get game enough to try the fitted very baby pattern out :lol:
Noice work jgal. you girls are giving me the itch to start sewing nappies...not that I need anymore lol.
i snapped the needle loop on my embroidery machine tonight so Im very ****ed at myself. Just as I got one cool embroidery done to!
Grr dame tmeper of mine!
Oh Mazzeroo what did you do that for?!
I could kick myself in the ar$e for it....the dame bobbin was all clogged underneith and I cracked it and just pulled the hole dame lot in frustration!
I got 3 things embroided...2 cow covers and a yellow Mr happy cover but I wanted to do more!!!!
STUPID STUPID!!!!!
Arrrgh no! What a bugger :( So did it start stalling again?
That's still a fair bit of embroidering Maz. I am still scared of my embroidery machine and I've almost had it a year!
More mcns on my blog now. :D
Oh I have to share....went I took in Bertha (embroidery machine) I was havinga nosey around and found cow print minkee :0 for $16m. I sasked the sales owman (who had no idea) were the label was as I wanted to double check if it was 100% polyester but she said...oh i dont know..stupid woman. Im going to wait until monday and ring...but **** $16 a meter can you believe it!