Big DUH! here.

I kept thinking of washing/drying cloth dipes and all I was thinking of are thick fitteds and AIOs. But I totally forgot about prefolds. I think I'll get a 2-3 dozen and some covers and give that a shot. I could probably get that many clean and dry in one cycle in my machines!

Does anyone remember how to get Prowraps or some other covers inexpensively and the really good (are they Japanese?) prefolds?

Do you have a top or front loader? I have a front loader, and I have to do 2 cycles w/ my prefolds. I think you could get them clean in a top loader (we started cd'ing w/ a top loader) but you still might have to run a rinse cycle first to get all the poopies out.

Don't know how feasible this is (if you have a top loader), but if you wash dishes by hand, what if you saved your rinse water and dumped it in your diaper pail, that way you could just dump it all in your top loader and spin out the poops, then run a reg. wash.

Have you thought about flats? That is my primary method this time around, and I figure they will be very easy to get clean. BUT, I do not fear folding and pinning and DH does, so we will have a few fitteds, as well.

Tell me more about flats. We have prefolds (which I'd be open to getting rid of, if anyone is interested, lol) but our machine is a bit older, and I have to run 2 cycles. I'd love to try flats, but am a bit nervous about pinning and such. Is there a website or something you recommend on how to use flats?

To the OP: I loved prefolds. The only thing I missed was buying all those cute diapers, but saving on washing/drying, etc... really made me a lover of prefolds. I have a ton of them if you'd like to talk ;).

If you don't want to pin you can use Snappis. I need some eventually, but I am not sure where they are sold anymore. They did not work with hemp prefolds.

Kathy

I'm doing mostly flats/prefolds this time around. I may switch to fitted later, but probably not. I'm not happy with the amount of cycles my front loader has to do to get them clean, plus I have to add extra water at the first cycle, or use a wet pail (didn't have any problems before we got a water softener though!). But I used prefolds during the hurricanes, and they all came out clean in one cycle (prewash, wash, extra rinse - but I didn't have to reset it!) so that convinced me ;) Plus they'll dry on the line quickly, and even faster in the dryer.

I'm thinking of using hemp jersey for the flats. I know they'll probably get holes from the pins eventually, but I think they'll give a nice trim/tight fit since they'll stretch a little bit, kwim?

here is one page on different folds :) folding 101 (http://www.thediaperhyena.com/diaper_folding101.htm)

you can search this site for wahms that sell flats too :)

i am using a combo of flats, prefolds, fitteds, and maybe a couple of fleece outer aio's. i like the ease at first when i am tired of fitteds and aio's but when the baby gets to thenext size iwil lprobably have mostly flats/prefolds anda few ftteds for wheni wantto show off diapers lol or am gonna be soemwhere that will make quick changes more essential

I think diaperhyena has folding instructions. Also, born to love has some. Just google diaper folding or flat diapers and you will find some. And finally, ask someone older. My aunt is going to show me a few folds she did with my cousins.

Also, my aunt recommended muslin for making flats. I'm going to check into it. I have old jersey sheets I cut up into flats, too. On the snappis, there is something about what fabric they will and won't work on. I have never used them. Really, once you get the hang of pinning, it's no big deal. I have been told repeatedly that flats are the trimmest and most versatile diaper. I cannot wait to find out.

Catherine has put Borntolove up for sale :( Last I checked everything was still there to look at.

Kathy

Jinkies... (sorry, had to throw that Scooby Doo-ism out there, lol) I know I have that prowrap number for seconds at home. I'll look. I got a whole bunch of seconds a while back in size medium and I couldn't find a darned thing wrong with them=)

Nelle

I use flats with Caroline.
I have a LOT of rectangle flats, folded in half they are prefold size. I fold another flat for the soaker pad, first into thirds then into thirds again.

When she was smaller, I folded the main diaper into thirds instead of half.

I don't know anything about the Gerber rectangle flats, but someone gave me almost a dozen of the square flats. They seem to be holding up well so far, I use them for soaker pads.
(I've never found a fold I like for the square flats.)

i jsut wanted to add..taht snappi' aren't neccassarily the answer...i ahte snappis..i hate doing the one handed stratcha nd attatch...ahte it..and cant' wait until i order the rest of the new babies diaper so i can get a few sets of dritz diaper pins....so sick of snapping...lol

can you tel li dont' like snappis?
lmbo

msut be the hormones

I love my prefolds!!! The girls were both heavy wetters and IMO the prefolds were the trimmest and most absorbant. I am venturing into makin g my own fitteds , but I am doing it for fun and not for any other reason. My prefolds will definately be the first dipes i grab;)

i have never tried flats, I thought those and prefolds were the same thing:confused:

I'm doing half prefolds, half fitteds with the twins. With Naiya I could just fold a prefold, lay it in a Bumpy cover, and it worked great. No pins, no snappi. I wash all my diapers twice regardless.

Selissa,
I don't care for them either, so you aren't alone!
I much prefer the Dritz pins.


Originally posted by Selissa
i jsut wanted to add..taht snappi' aren't neccassarily the answer...i ahte snappis..i hate doing the one handed stratcha nd attatch...ahte it..and cant' wait until i order the rest of the new babies diaper so i can get a few sets of dritz diaper pins....so sick of snapping...lol

can you tel li dont' like snappis?
lmbo

msut be the hormones

If washing and drying is the main issue, not all fitteds are a problem. If you really want to do fitteds (or at least some) just make sure they have a detachable soaker. If the body of the dipe is 2 layers and then you have a lay-in, or snap-in soaker everything will dry much faster. Not to put down prefolds, but just wanted to leave the option open if you wanted to throw in some fitteds. I plan to do prefolds in the beginning just 'cause newbies grow out of them so fast. Several kind friends have given/loaned me some nb fitteds too so I think I have some good options.

I have mostly used pinned prefolds. Normal prefolds, I lay them flat, lay baby down w/ top seam right above her butt, pull up remainder between the crotch, twist, then pin each side. I cover w/ an Alexis Feather Lite for day, and an Aristocrat at night. Super, super trim, and eliminates all the bulkiness in the crotch. I'd imagine the same fold/twist would work with flats.(?)
I've never used flats except the gauzy store bought ones for burp rags or doublers. Would cotton flannel ones work? Thinking of serging some up today to play with.

I agree about the snappis...they suck for me, and tear up my dipes. I love Dritz pins, too...for some reason the colored ones seem sharper than the white (?) my imagination maybe. They are easy to sharpen on a knife stone, too. I've been a pinner for 5+ years and have never stuck a baby...and only myself once. Once you pin, you don't go back! LOL

For fun...w/ each new baby I buy some cute wahm AIO's for outings and dh when he's feeling lazy and thinking of buying pampers.
A great (IMO) diapering/supply site is www.weebees.com I've been patronizing them since we've had internet (6yrs) and they have the best customer service and an awesome selection. She has alot of diapering info as well. Nice family. I'll be shopping soon (especially for covers) as after 10.5 years of using cloth...my stash is in need of replenishing. (yay!):p

ETA: I think featherlites aren't made anymore...but with last dd, I bought a few of the weebees covers, better than featherlites, w/ plastic snaps rather than metal. Held up to wash awesome too.

I've done fitteds like this as well. My own fitted diaper is just the 2 layer diaper body with a long doubled flannel/terry unattached soaker.

I made up about a dozen PooPocket "shells" from a flannel sheet before Caroline was born. I used them for awhile, but gave them away to someone just starting out with cloth, along with a couple dozen flats for soaker pads. Great combination IMO.


Originally posted by bubbles
If washing and drying is the main issue, not all fitteds are a problem. If you really want to do fitteds (or at least some) just make sure they have a detachable soaker. If the body of the dipe is 2 layers and then you have a lay-in, or snap-in soaker everything will dry much faster. Not to put down prefolds, but just wanted to leave the option open if you wanted to throw in some fitteds. I plan to do prefolds in the beginning just 'cause newbies grow out of them so fast. Several kind friends have given/loaned me some nb fitteds too so I think I have some good options.

Other flat diaper people-
I have made my own flats and I made them square. Tell me the dimensions of the rectangular ones, because I am making another batch anyway, and I would like to experiment.

Apologies for not starting a new thread. I just thought others reading this one might want the info, too.

On the Dritz diaper pins, my fabric store sells them, too.

Other flat diaper people-
I have made my own flats and I made them square. Tell me the dimensions of the rectangular ones, because I am making another batch anyway, and I would like to experiment.

Apologies for not starting a new thread. I just thought others reading this one might want the info, too.

On the Dritz diaper pins, my fabric store sells them, too.

I just measured one of mine, roughly 15x34 with curled up edges.
They are based on the vintage Curity 21x40" flats.

Granitesmith (ebay username) sells what looks to be a really nice flat with the pinked edges (not serged) in that size. I'd like to have a dozen but don't "need" them. :)

Originally posted by Rach
Other flat diaper people-
I have made my own flats and I made them square. Tell me the dimensions of the rectangular ones, because I am making another batch anyway, and I would like to experiment.

Apologies for not starting a new thread. I just thought others reading this one might want the info, too.

On the Dritz diaper pins, my fabric store sells them, too.

There's so much great info here--thanks so much!! I'm excited about trying prefolds or maybe flats. I like the idea of the initial expense being so low. It was the combined expense of setting up a fitteds/AIOs system plus increased utility bills that was worrying me the most. I think I spent over $500 getting my stash together with DS! This way I can get a few dozen dsq prefolds and some covers for under $100 and if it doesn't work out, I won't be out much either! (Although all those adorable WAHM fitteds and AIOs and sets are soooo tempting!!!)

Rach.... link to your store please???;)

Also...what are good materials for flats,... flannel, knit??? Would 2ply or 1ply work best???

Originally posted by meemee
Rach.... link to your store please???;)

Also...what are good materials for flats,... flannel, knit??? Would 2ply or 1ply work best???

Receiving blankets are supposed to make good flats - so flannel would p[robably work well. I know birdseye is nice since it's thin, but in multiple layers absorbant. I'm going to make some out of hemp jersey - not too stretchy, but a little bit. I'm trying to replicate the old/vintage curity flats.

Hmm... Well, I've just shown my egocentrism. I consider the fabric store I can go to "my" store. Sorry for the confusion. It's just a JoAnn's, which is a large chain, I believe. I would think most fabric stores would carry them, as some people use them in sewing projects.

On what fabric to use, my aunt said she did not like birdseye, because it was harder to fold. She diapered three kids exclusively in flat diapers, so, in a way, she is my favorite resource on this. She recommended muslin as a fabric that is readily available and cheap. She preferred gauze, rectangular diapers over birdseye or square. I am certain flannel would work. Also, I think dootlebottoms makes a jersey flat, so I used some jersey sheets I HATE to make some flats. I hope I like them better as flats than I have as sheets. You might look to see what fabrics people are making flats to sell out of.

LOL, Rach...I am a little on the pregnacy-ditsy side lately. On the Dritz pins...you just use the regular pins? I'll bet they are sharper. The ones I buy have an extra safety cap on them that cannot come undone unless it is snapped up.

Okay, I have tons of muslin, will try that and flannel. Thanks!!! Sorry for continuing the hijack....Michele hope you are getting some use out of this! LOL
:cuc:

Jumping in....

I have about 18 motherease AIOs they are a double layer dipe with a sewn in soaker. Knowing what I know now I would have only done the double layer for the ease of cleaning, but after almost 3 yrs of use they all look remarkably new and are hardly stained, etc... SO I would have to say that I did well in cleaning them, I think I rinsed, washed, and rinsed.

I have a few NB double layer dipes and wouldn't mind a few more, but I also want to get prefolds and flats.

I do have some old receiving blangets I could stitch up, and I also have some hemp jersey I wouldn't mind using. COuld someone give instructions for making them? I do not have a serger. Can I do it without one?

Are you using wool soakers and covers over those? And what are Dritz Pins? WHy are they so well loved?

Ashley,
Here are some sewing links for free patterns.
http://www.diapersewing.com/
http://geocities.com/myfreediaperpattern/
http://goodnessgracious.welcome.to/
http://www.geocities.com/cyndiegran/diapertext2.html
http://www.mama2mama.org/contours.html
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/mothershelpinghands/mypatt.html
http://webhome.idirect.com/~born2luv/frugal.html

Others patterns and those for sale listed here.
http://www.cookiepants.com/sew%20what.htm

I do not have a serger. I just cut squares about 28 x 28 and put a narrow hem on them, tucking in the raw edge.

For the prefolds, I found them to be more work than I felt they were worth, as they can be purchased so cheaply. However, on the Diaperhyena site, there are two links I used for making mine. One is something like Make Your Own and the other was Confessions of a Diaper Fanatic. I think the diaper fanatic instructions are better, but I kind of did a hybrid of different things based on my onhand materials.

All of the sites I have looked at had instuctions for both conventional machines and sergers. I cannot even begin to tell you how easy flats are to make. There is no reason if you have the fabric laying around to not make these yourself. JMO

On the Dritz pins, they have a kind of safety cap that slides over the latch mechanism, and I understand that they are supposed to be better for sliding into dipes. I haven't used them, but I thought I'd get one pack to see if there is any difference. The ones at my fabric store are the baby colors, and they LOOK the same, but I have not actually opened them or even purchased them, yet, so it is possible that they are somehow different.

If the pkg is marked baby safe pins then they are the same.

Originally posted by Rach
On the Dritz pins, they have a kind of safety cap that slides over the latch mechanism, and I understand that they are supposed to be better for sliding into dipes. I haven't used them, but I thought I'd get one pack to see if there is any difference. The ones at my fabric store are the baby colors, and they LOOK the same, but I have not actually opened them or even purchased them, yet, so it is possible that they are somehow different. [/B]