amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

anikasmama · 02-24-2005, 11:22 PM

As per a request here it is....

Let me preface by saying I am far from a perfectionist sewer. I wing a lot of things and tend to eyeball placement of elastic, snaps etc.

Also, these instructions are geared towards snap useage, but if you are going to use aplix, touchtape, etc., it would probably be best to apply it to the PUL (reinforcing it on the backside with a rectangle of PUL so the stitching doesn’t tear through) before you start to prevent wicking at the stitching. You could apply it afterwards, but wicking would be much more likely.

Supplies:

Pattern (I made my own through trial and error to fit my dd)
PUL
Pre-fold
elastic (my preference is 3/8” polybraid, but you may have another)

Step 1:
Place your pattern on the prefold (I used a toddler size to make a size large 20-30+ pounds - what size you need depends on how wide your wings are) and cut. I like to line up the top of the back of the pattern with the top serged edge of the prefold. Then cut out your pattern piece of PUL.

Step 2:
Place your cut pre-fold and PUL piece right sides together (the pre-fold doesn’t really have a right side, but you will want the shiny side of the PUL wrong side so you will want it out for this step). I’ve found it easiest to serge with the PUL side down rather than the prefold - it tends to stick to the presser foot if it is on the top.

Start your serging anywhere along the back edge of the diaper at least a couple of inches away from wing.

Step 3:
Serge the two pieces together all the way around leaving a 2-3” opening making sure you catch all of the layers of the prefold as you serge.

As you can see, I tend to leave too small an opening which makes turning a bit tricky, lol.

anikasmama · 02-24-2005, 11:23 PM

Step 4:
The elastic should be sewn with the PUL side up. This makes the PUL turn in preventing wicking. Tack down one end of your elastic at the bottom of the wing/start of the leg curve in the serged seam allowance. Zigzag your elastic onto the serged seam allowance stretching tight as you go (hold the elastic on both sides of the presser foot - see pic) to the end of the leg curve/beginning of other wing, tack down and cut. I use a three-step zigzag, but a regular zigzag would work too.

Starting:

In progress:

Elastic is in:

Step 5:
Weave in, tie off or whatever it is you do to your serger tails and turn the diaper right side out. Make sure you push the curves of the wings out. (No pic, sorry, my camera said invalid file format, but the pic was just of the turned dipe.)

Step 6:
Now topstitch 1/4” from the edge starting about midway down the curve of one wing across the back and to the midway curve of the other wing tucking under the seam allowance of the opening closing it you sew. Repeat for the front edge.

anikasmama · 02-24-2005, 11:23 PM

Step 7:
Apply snaps. I use size 20 resin snaps. Also, I eyeball their placement in the middle of the wings spacing them about 1-1/2” from middle of snap to middle of snap.

Open dipe - you can see my snap placement. I like to have two front snaps to prevent wing droop.

Completed AIO:

Step 8:
Wash and dry on hot to seal up the holes in the PUL or you will probably have some wicking with the first use.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Other notes on using these diapers:

Sometimes the pre-fold likes to stick out at the leg holes so just tuck it in. When I’m changing dd, after I close the diaper I do a quick finger sweep along the leg holes pushing anything that is sticking out in.

For added absorbancy, I made a bunch of lay-in doublers out of two layers of hemp french terry (hemp fleece would work too) and a layer of microfleece.

If you want the back gathered some, you could add a piece of elastic at the same step where you are adding the leg elastic - you would need to leave your opening for turning in the front then though or closer to the wings.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Now you can make your own AIOs for just a couple of dollars and a little bit of time. Happy diaper sewing!

ETA: Modeling pics and some Q&A on page 2

~Becky

miahswife · 02-24-2005, 11:34 PM

thank you!

TipToe Fairy · 02-24-2005, 11:35 PM

Thanks! I'm going to try that with my diaper pattern, I wondered how to do the legs so it would turn inwards.

thrillhouse · 02-25-2005, 12:02 AM

that's awesome, thank you!

veghmschlmommy · 02-25-2005, 03:24 AM

thanks! i'm glad to hear how you get the elastic on to keep pul turned in.

jillbertx4 · 02-25-2005, 08:48 AM

Thank you for posting this!!!! I need to get some PUL and do some of these --- they look so quick & easy.
Thanks again!!
-Jill

Marielle · 02-25-2005, 09:19 AM

didn't see if you did but if you topstitched all around including the leg openings while straightening this would eliminate the gaping on the prefold or possibly a PUL gusset?

warneral · 02-25-2005, 09:30 AM

wow that's really cool!

anikasmama · 02-25-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marielle
didn't see if you did but if you topstitched all around including the leg openings while straightening this would eliminate the gaping on the prefold or possibly a PUL gusset?

I've never tried topstitching all the way around because I am worried about a greater risk of wicking if you topstitch around the leg holes, kwim? Also, topstitching the leg holes wouldn't allow the PUL to turn all the way in. Thanks for the ideas though.

To eliminate the little bit of excess pre-fold, you could probably just trim down the prefold through the inside leg curve so the PUL piece is a bit wider - does that make sense? I've never tried it though to see if it works so I don't want to recommend it.

I'm sure there may be other ways to make these, but this is just what I do and they work great for us.

I need to add to the instructions though that they should be washed and dried before using to seal up the holes in the PUL or you do get wicking - ask me how I know, lol....

~Becky

the6dunlaps · 02-25-2005, 02:39 PM

That's awesome mama.
I wanna see an action/modeling shot.
I love those!!

Marielle · 02-25-2005, 03:49 PM

ahhh, hadn't thought of wicking. THAT'S why you're doing the sew along and not me - thinking ahead. LOL

I may have to try one.

Half dozen mama · 02-25-2005, 07:20 PM

Thank you for sharing this with us! I am going to try this tonight, Ive been wanting to use the prefolds I have stowed away

beckysboutique · 02-25-2005, 09:31 PM

goodbye basket full of 40 prefolds and 9 yards of PUL... hello new AOI's!! AWESOME mama!