OCN Sewing Nappies

This FAQ is a work in progress, and is a collaborative effort. If you'd like to make a contribution,please let us know!

* What kind of fabrics are suitable for sewing nappies?
* Where do I find patterns for modern cloth nappies?
* What kinds of fabric are suitable for sewing covers?
* What is PUL and where can I get it?
* How do I sew the elastic into my fitted nappies?
* How can I tell the right and wrong side of fleece?
*"Hook and loop"? What's that?
* Where do I get plastic snaps?
* What is the difference between micro fleece and polar fleece?
* How do I sew PUL?
* What about elastic? And what is FOE/Lastin?

* What kind of fabrics are suitable for sewing nappies?

Any 80% or more cotton fabric can be used to sew nappies. 100 % cotton is best but 80% works as well. Examples include terry, flannelette, flannel, and sherpa.

Hemp is also very excellent - hemp manufacture is more environmentally friendly than cotton, and hemp is much more trim than cotton for the same absorbency. It does tend to be significantly more expensive, however. Hemp comes in different varieties - hemp jersey, hemp fleece, and hemp terry. Don't confuse hemp fleece with polyester polar fleece used for nappy covers, or with tracksuiting fleece, which is a synthetic cotton blend. "Fleece" just means that the fabric has a soft, brushed finish.

Bamboo is very absorbent, remains softer than hemp, and has a good rinsability, resisting smells. There are different varieties of bamboo - some are all-natural and some are not.

Some microfibre can be used as an inner absorbent layer in nappies. It absorbs liquid rapidly and is fast drying and light. Many people prefer that the microfibre not touch the baby's skin, because of the unpleasant texture, so a layer of cotton, hemp, bamboo, fleece, or suedecloth is often used against the skin. Some people get a little confused between microfibre and microfleece - read about the difference here!

* Where do I find patterns for modern cloth nappies?

There are a number of free patterns and websites offering hints and tips on sewing modern cloth nappies.

PLEASE NOTE that these patterns are for personal use, not for re-sale, unless specified by the author of the pattern.

Fitted Nappies

Free pattern comparison: A pictorial essay comparing the sewing of three free fitted nappy patterns side-by-side: the Mamabird, Wee Weka, and Ottobre. By ozclothnappies member Siobhan. Great reading for new nappy sew-ers!

Ottobre pattern: needs sizing down, it's huge!

DIY at the Nappy Network NZ: Patterns including the Wee Weka patterns. Step by step photos instructions on sewing your own fitteds, pockets, pocket nappies with gussets, and training pants. Free for home use (not for resale).

Mayna's "How to Sew a Fitted Diaper": photo tutorial

Kristy's "Make Your Own" Gallery: tips on the Poopockets pattern, a doll nappy, wipes and more

Fast 'n' Friendly Fitteds: Basic patterns and photo instructions for a fitted nappy in three sizes. Can be adapted to a stuffable.

Pocket Nappies

How to Sew A Pocket Nappy: Simple pocket-nappy photo tutorial by Jodie from Nappies Covered

Prefolds

Fern and Faerie El Cheapo Prefolds: Brief photo tutorial on sewing a prefold from recycled fabric - like an old T-shirt. Also with info on making a stuffable prefold or a prefold with Snappi patches.

Nappy Covers

Stacey's NEFPUC Prototype pattern for a no-elastic fleece pull-up cover.

Miala free diaper cover pattern (hook and loop) and links to other free patterns

Training Pants

Simple training pants pattern

Collections of patterns and tips

Sew Your Own Diapers: Instructions for sewing AIOs, fitteds, prefolds, pads and covers

Sew Diapers.com: Sewing all-in-ones, fitteds, covers and more.

Chloe Toes multi-size fitted/AIO/pocket diaper pattern with fold-over elastic (FOE)

How to repair shot elastic: photographic tutorial on how to replace the elastic in an serged (overlocked) nappy

Clothes Cut for Cloth

Flat pants: (scroll down, it's at the bottom of the webpage): A quick and easy method of sewing pants from rectangular pieces of fabric, with room for a cloth nappy. Can be used to make fleece longies (flongies) for winter (doubled through the centre panel for extra water resistance). A little extra seam allowance and rise could be added for use over heavily boosted night nappies.

Recycled T-shirt pants: How to recycle a T-shirt into a pair of kids pants. Note - be sure to allow a seam allowance.

If you have tried any of these nappy patterns, please send us a brief review! Or if you've found a pattern we don't have, let us know.

* What kinds of fabric are suitable for sewing covers?

100% polyester (eg polar fleece, or two layers of microfleece) or 100% wool, either woven wool fabrics or knitted wool soakers. PUL (polyurethane laminate) is also popular. Recycled "bum jumpers" can be made from woollen jumpers - acrylic knits have also been used but tends to be less absorbent than wool, and acrylic needs washing more often.

* What is PUL and where can I get it?

PUL is short for polyurethane laminate. It is a fabric with a super-thin lining of polyurethane applied for water resistance. The feel and performance of the PUL depends on the thickness of the PUL layer (1 mil and 2 mil are common thicknesses used in nappies) and the type of base fabric. The thinner PULs are said to be somewhat breathable.

Cotton PUL can come in beautiful prints; the downside is it can have a stiffer feel and when very wet will "wick" fluid to the outer (individual fabrics vary dramatically as to the level of wicking, and the nappy cut and fit also makes a difference). Polyester PUL, on a knit polyester base fabric, comes in plain colours only, but has a softer stretchier feel and doesn't wick.

* How do I sew the elastic into my fitted nappies?

There are a few ways of doing this. The most basic is to use a zigzag stitch over the stretched elastic. Another way is to anchor each end and fold over the fabric to create a pocket (casing) where the elastic is.

Thanks to Alexia Broome for this advice:

When sewing elastic on - if you have it on your machine - 3 step zig zag and really taut elastic (start tensioning while the needle is up!!!) gives a great result. You'll also need to back-tack substantially at both ends when zig-zagging, which means that even if some of the zig-zag stitching breaks down over time (and even good elastic/stitching will break down eventually under hard use) the elastic will remain tensioned and useable for a longer period of time if it's attached firmly at both ends.

* How can I tell the right and wrong side of fleece?

The difference between the "right side" and the "wrong side" of polar fleece is cosmetic. If you sew a fleece-outer nappy with the "wrong side" out, it won't look as good, and it may not feel as soft.

You can always work out the right from wrong side of fleece by doing as follows:

* work out the direction that stretches more easily
* hold your fabric at the edge using two hands so that the stretchier part is between your hands
* pull your hands apart a little
You will notice that the fabric tends to roll in one direction - the "inside" of the roll is the WRONG side.

*"Hook and loop"? What's that?

Hook and loop is a generic term for fasteners like Velcro, Aplix, and TouchTape. Higher quality Velcro and TouchTape can be found in Australia via some of the online nappy supplies stores.

* Where do I get plastic snaps?

* What is the difference between micro fleece and polar fleece?

There is not a great difference between micro and polar fleece aside from the thickness - microfleece is thinner.

For a detailed discussion of the different weights/kinds of Malden Mills fleece, see here.

* How do I sew PUL?

PUL goes shiny side in (hidden, in pockets), and only one layer is needed. The photos at DIY at the Nappy Network might help for a general idea, whether or not you're using the Wee Weka patterns.

It can be a bit tricky to handle PUL in the sewing machine. There have been several methods suggested, each works for different people. A walking foot appears to be the best option, but if you do not have a walking foot or a teflon foot for your machine some other methods are:-

- being sure that the non-shiny side faces the foot as you sew
- holding the fabric firmly on either side of the foot, being careful to go with the machine's pace as you feed it through
- using a low tack spray adhesives to hold layers together
- having the PUL between other fabrics
- using a piece of greaseproof/baking paper along the seam line as a tearaway layer
- Sewing on an outline drawn on PUL

* What about elastic? And what is FOE/Lastin?

Most Ozclothnappies sew-ers agree that the best elastic to use for nappies is swimwear elastic. Some use Lastin, but some find Lastin fiddly, tending to snap easily when stretching to sew.

FOE is Fold over Elastic and Lastin is a clear elastic both are used in nappy sewing. And as with PUL neither can be found on general sale in Aus. Check the same places as you do for PUL for both of these.

FOE is not recommended for pockets because it tends to wick. For fitteds and covers however it is fine.

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