Homemaker Chronicles

baby maker!  Even though I think I qualify as an official baby maker, I now officially qualify as a diaper maker!  Would you like to see how easy it is to make your own cloth diapers?

I figured you’d say that, so I prepared a little demo for ya. (applause!)

Step One:  you have to be willing to break out that sewing machine.  You know, the one that’s been haunting you from your closet since you got it for Christmas…two years ago. If you don’t know how to thread your machine, leave me a comment with your machine type and I’ll tell you how it goes.  Shoot, I might even be so kind as to do a video.

Cause I’m nice like that!

Step Two:  get your material.  Depending on what you are desiring to make will determine what kind of material you buy.  I tried several different things but I will be showing you how to sew your own all-in-one diaper.  This will include the inner lining, the “soaker” (which is sewn in), and the outer flannel layer.  However, there are variations if you are only wanting a diaper cover or if you want to leave a pouch for a removable soaker.   I won’t be demonstrating those today though.  Only the all-in-one diaper for today.  Material for this diaper includes the following:

• Outer layer- flannel or fleece (it can be a print or a fun pattern/picture).
• Diaper lining- birdseye (I just bought a package of the pre-folds from Target cost $11- not shown here) you can also find that stuff at a fabric store.
• Sewn-in soaker- fleece strips  (You can also use dishtowels or any other scrap material for this.  Sounds strange, but it can save you a few bucks!).
• thread to match your outer layer.
• velcro (I used one inch, sew on and you will use about two inches per diaper).
• elastic (1/4 inch).
• 1 cloth diaper final pattern.  You can download this one and print it, or measure your kid to create your own. .

Step Three:  Lay flat your outer layer material (flannel or fleece) and pin the pattern to it.

I know I know…I boast “no patterns”, but in this case it will ensure that you don’t accidentally make the diaper so short that it hangs down to the baby’s crack, or so wide in the crotch that the poor kid winds up bow-legged.

Unless you’re a cowboy, and then be my guest.

*Be sure when you are cutting out your pattern, if you download “Rita’s Rump” pattern above, that you cut out the triangle shapes.  In other words, when you come to a triangle create a diamond shape by cutting the fabric in a mirror image of the diamond on the paper pattern.  This will allow you to see where your elastic will begin and end.  If you forget though, it’s no biggie.

So don’t get your panties in a wad!

Step 4:  cut around the dark line of the pattern leaving about 1/4 inch which is called “seam allowance” in seamstress terms.  Remember, both layers that are now pinned together (paper pattern to the outer layer material).

Unpin the paper from the material and you should have one layer of fleece or flannel that looks like an alien spaceship.

Like so…

Step 5:  now you are ready to begin pinning and sewing the soaker.  That great thing that catches all the liquid that your child will protrude.  In this tutorial I am using several scrap pieces of fleece, up to seven layers of whatever you use.  Be it fleece, dishrags, other such material that are good at soaking and keeping wetness away from that soft baby booty.

Pin the scraps together if you need to or just pin them all to the center of the spaceship (as far up and back as you think they should go, but not all the way to the edge of the diaper.

By the way, this is my children’s “art” table that I’m using as a backdrop for the pictures.  The table itself is not art, it’s just what they use to do artwork.  Sometimes they miss the paper and that’s why you’ll see marker and/or cheesedip.

Continue.

Now that you have the soaker pinned to the outer layer material stitch it down around the edges.  Remember this stitch will show up on the outside of the diaper so make it pretty and use thread that matches or coordinates with your diaper.  In honor of Homemaker Chronicles I used black & white fabric with teal thread.  (truly it was just a coincidence…I’m not that put together!)

Step 6: the elastic comes next, or you can save it until after you sew on the lining depending on how advanced you are. Doing it this way allows you to see what you are doing, waiting for the lining means you will be sewing “blindly” because the lining will the covering the elastic as you sew. I recommend this way.

I’m not advanced.

Remember those little diamond shapes you made when cutting out the outer layer? Now is when they will be used. Pin the elastic right at the little triangle that is jutting out of the outer layer and stick the pinned together piece under the foot of your machine. Pop that foot down and turn the needle so that it inserts into the elastic. Now you can remove the pin that was holding the elastic in place. The key to getting a good cinch on your elastic is pulling tightly.

As tightly as the elastic will go in fact.

Holding the elastic tightly, sew all the way to the other triangle on the same side.  Now repeat all of this on the other side of the diaper.

Your outer piece should now resemble a crinkled up mess!

Good job!

Step 7:  it’s time to add the inside lining or birdseye.  If you bought the pre-folds from Target just use one of the pieces and lay it out ontop of your outer layer…right sides together as they always say.  For me, that means that the checkered side is what I will pin the lining to.  Just straighten out the elastic edges as you pin, or just don’t pin it…whatever is easier for you. I prefer to pin it because I can’t sew evenly otherwise.

You, however, are probably better than me and are capable of doing marvelous things.

Just be sure to leave a small opening so that you can “turn” your diaper inside out after stitching.  You will not be able to see this stitch on the outside of your diaper so it doesn’t have to be beautiful, but try to stay about 1/2 in. from the edge around the entire diaper.

Once you’ve finished sewing around, turn your diaper inside out using that little hole that is left.  After you have turned it simply stitch that hole closed on the outside or hand stitch if you want it to be more invisible.

Step 8: top stitch.  This is an optional step, but I think it will allow your diaper to hold together better and longer.  All you do is sew around the whole diaper about 1/4 in. away from the edge.  This makes the diaper look finished and really nice.  It looks like this extremely close up!

Step 9: velcro. Separate a two-inch piece of velcro so that you can sew the bottom piece onto the front outside of your diaper. Sew around the outside edge of the bottom piece of velcro. Now cut the top velcro piece in half and sew each piece onto the “wings” of the diaper so that they connect and hold the diaper on your baby.
Does this make sense? I forgot to take pictures.

Step 10: gloat because you’re finished! Great work guys! Here is my diaper (minus velcro).

inside:

outside:

Please let me know if you actually try this! Send me some pictures, shoot me an email, and for heaven sakes leave a comment.

Here is my diaper model…

Cute little toosh!  Oh yeah, and he has an extra layer of pre-fold on in this picture…he’s a super-duper pee-er I guess.

Have fun with it y’all!

~Angie

Homemaker Chronicles