The little boys needed some new diapers so I gave my precious sewing time to complete the above rainbow. I admit I would have enjoyed sewing spring/summer girl clothes more but diapers were high priority and by sewing them myself I think I saved more than a couple hundred dollars.
A few hundred dollars?...... Yes, cloth diapers are kind of a big investment but after committing to them for almost 4 years I believe the investment has paid off.
I already listed my reasons why back in 2007 but I will list them again.
-gentle for babies sensitive skin
-potty train earlier (I am convinced of this!)
-better for the earth (though technically debatable at least I feel better about decreasing our waste)
-softer landing for when they fall on their bums (only kidding)
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Switching to cloth diapers can be a bit overwhelming because their are so many options now. I started with a combination of bumgenius AIO (all in one) and Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers and now prefer to use a combination of prefolds (the old fashion rectangles) and pocket diapers.
I used Very Baby's one size pocket diaper pattern and only had to tweak it a little bit before going forward with mass production. The rest of the materials were ordered from Wazoodle fabrics and I could not have gotten the job done without good amount of time at my snap press .
Here are a few closer shots. I'd be happy to advise anyone interested in switching over or sewing their own.
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We switched to cloth with my second so have been using them for about 13 years now. I think over that amount of time we've saved at least $8,000 (at roughly $1,500 per child if we had bought disposables). No kidding!
ReplyDeleteSad to say I have never sewn my own though. Yours look so pretty! I've been thinking about sewing some but always seem to talk myself out of it. Where did you get your snap press? And do you need a serger to sew them?
Chocolate on my Cranium -
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with the savings! I should have started way back when.
I got my snap press from thesnapstore.com and you don't need a serger at all. You are lucky to have older girls that could help you with the mass production. If you have more than one sewing machine it would go so much quicker.
I lined some with microfleece and others with moisture wicking pique jersery. And sometimes I don't even stuff them and use them as a cover over a prefold when I'm out of soaker pads!
I wish I would have ordered more colors of snaps but it was cheaper to buy 1,000 white ones
I love your supply!
ReplyDeleteMy problem with the cloth diapering is that I don't have enough. I will use them for a couple days. Then do laundry for a couple days. It is really easy to get out of the routine. I guess I should invest in more diapers.
I really like your hybrid diaper. You took the best features from the best diapers!
How long did each one take to make?
A rainbow of diapers ... at least you didn't post a rainbow of USED diapers. ha! They turned out really cute!
ReplyDeleteMary - I don't know how long each one took because I did them all together in steps. One day cutting, a few days snaps, another day elastic. It took enough time though for me to get really sick of sewing them
ReplyDeleteCathy - I just can't get that image out of head now but at least I'm laughing at it
Your cloth diapers are so much cuter and hopefully more leak resistant than the ones I tried using with Rachel. The plastic pants were a disaster and there was a microburst one day when the diaper service was to pick up the dirty diapers. We had sick dirty diapers strewn all over the yard and street! I think I would have stuck with cloth diapers if they looked like yours and didn't leak all over!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking forward to this post. What an accomplishment! And you made all these while caring for seven children. you are a super mom! I am serious.
ReplyDeleteI full heartedly agree with early potty training with cloth. Jerome and Asha were both in cloth, and they did well. Kai and Quinn... not so much.
I am almost done painting Asha's room, and then I will join you for summer sewing. I am itching to do it, but one project at a time.
For my 4th baby born March 15 2009, I went to MCNs, How I wish i had of known about them 15 years ago lol I always used folded cloth nappies of a day for the others, but the MCNs are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have tried sewing up a couple of my own which was fun, but bought a stash instead lol
First time visit to your blog, love it and what you do, you are an amazing woman :)
Al, the diapers are fantastic! You must feel such a sense of accomplishment. I am in awe of your sewing abilities! xo Karen (I can't remember my logon)
ReplyDeleteThey look great! I have bought most of my diapers. But I want to get into sewing again, so I think it might be wise to try making some. If nothing else I can sell some of my pricier name brand diapers to pay for making my own.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed! I always am! You sew beautifully, even your diapers are pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteI stummbled across your blog looking for diapers. I have to say your diapers are beautiful! I have sewn many diapers in the past and am currently working on a few more, but I think I like yours better. Maybe I will have to switch my pattern. :)
ReplyDeleteMindy - I have tried free patterns online and even tracing some that I bought and also Ottobre but this one from verybaby is by far the best!
ReplyDeleteThe thing about cloth diapers is if there is even the slightest error in fitting then they will leak.
What I changed about the verybaby pattern was I added 1/2" to the top because I couldn't sew a 1/4" seam with the snaps already in place. I also added to the side tabs because I knew I needed the extension for my chubby toddler's belly.
Good luck!
I've decided to try sewing my own. I have a couple of questions though.
ReplyDelete1. Was the PUL difficult to sew with? Did you need a special needle or foot?
2. Have you used Zorb before?
3. For lining, do you like the microfleece or jersey better?
Thanks!