I came across a new blog recently that features a fun blog carnival called "Fluff Talk Thursday". Today's topic is all about sewing your own stash, so I thought it would be fun to join in and share how I started sewing my own cloth diapers.
The first cloth diapers we used were store bought ones, because I didn't really sew much at that point. We purchased a cloth diaper kit from Bummis that included 36 unbleached cotton prefold diapers and 6 Super Whisper Wrap PUL diaper covers all in a size small. Around 5 months, Valerie started to outgrow the size small. I was about to purchase another Bummis kit in the next size until I saw all the cute diapers my friend, Christy, had made for her daughter. She was also selling some of her diapers at the time, so I decided to purchase the next size from her. She made her own patterns for diaper covers and used recycled fleece fabric as well as Velcro closures. She then used a whole pile of my old t-shirts that no longer fit me to make prefold diapers. She also made a few pocket diapers that were adjustable to fit different sizes and some fitted diapers with Velcro closures. They all turned out SO cute and I just loved showing them off everywhere we went.
Sometime after that, I began to pick up sewing a lot more and began to research all kinds of patterns and tutorials online for sewing diapers and baby accessories. I started to experiment with making newborn size diapers and sewed up a stash for my cousin's new baby.
I had so much fun making them that I offered to sew a stash for a friend of mine too. I even started to experiment with making covers out of fleece fabric.
Then, I found out I was expecting too, so I began to use all the scraps and recycled fabric from old receiving blankets and fleece blankets to start my own stash of newborn size diapers. I made my own pattern for fleece diaper covers and even sold some to a blogging friend after posting pictures on my blog.
(Note: The diapers in the middle were purchased from a Baby Steals daily deal.)
(Note: The two diapers on the bottom right are Urban Fluff diapers purchased during one of Baby Half Off's daily deals.)
Recently, I've discovered an awesome pattern to make fleece soakers and longies and have been using all the recycled fabric I can find to make them for my daughter. I also purchased a pattern to make PUL diaper covers for her after she outgrew the size medium and made my own pattern for pocket diapers and one size fitted diapers.
Oh, I also decided to use cloth wipes after my friend, Christy made me several as a gift. I made several more to add to my stash when I found out I was expecting again.
Sewing your own cloth diapers is really SO easy. There are SO many resources on the internet, including video and picture tutorials that I've used to teach myself. Plus, it's a great way to use up old receiving blankets or t-shirts and sweaters that no longer fit.
Here are some of the patterns/tutorials I used:
Video Tutorial on How to Sew A Cloth Diaper: I taught myself how to turn and top stitch and sew elastic into the diapers after watching this video.
Ottobre Cloth Diaper Pattern: I used this as a fitted diaper pattern - it only really fits newborns under 10 pounds, but my little guy was less than 7 pounds at birth.
Shar's Newborn Pocket Nappy Pattern: I used this pattern with a terry cloth pocket insert for my cousin's baby. It also runs small like the Ottobre pattern, but both my cousin's baby was born a few weeks early.
Sew A Prefold from Old T-shirts: I used this picture tutorial to learn how to make prefold diapers. I used old receiving blankets and hooded towels that my aunt gave me. I don't have a serger either, so I just turned and top-stitched them.
Prefold Diaper Measurements: I used the measurements posted here for sizing of my prefold diapers.
Katrina's Sew Quick Soaker: This is my new favorite blog. I love her patterns for fleece soakers and longies. They are SO easy to make and are a great way to use old fleece blankets or sweaters. I've also used an old wool sweater to make some longies.
