Friday, May 28, 2010

How do you sew a cloth diaper?

I have done a lot of craft shows and one of the most asked questions I get: "Do you make these yourself?" Yes, I do. I didn't realize that people would be amazed at that but after making hundreds of diapers, I've forgotten how much of a process it actually is. It takes a while, about an hour for each diaper when all is said and done, but if you do a large batch at once, it can cut down on production time considerably.

But really, sewing a cloth diaper is not difficult, and if you are here to learn how to sew your own cloth diapers, great ~ don't be afraid! You can do it! It's okay to make mistakes and if you're first ones are less than perfect, well, straight stitches are not necessary to make these functional (although they do make them purty :) And if you're here because you are curious as to the process, then enjoy!

First things first, you need your pattern and material. I like to cut out my body and soaker layers at the same time so that I make the most use of my fabrics.



I have my own pattern that I've designed and I use bamboo and organic cotton blend fabrics because I like my fabrics to have some stretch to them, bamboo fabrics are incredibly soft and durable, and the velour as an inner layer functions as a natural stay dry inner. You can use almost anything to make a cloth diaper, though, old t shirts, old flannel sheets, as long as it's absorbent it will work. Keep in mind that if you are using material without stretch then your cloth diaper will have a smaller fit.

Whatever material you choose, you should always prewash the fabrics to reduce shrinkage. Bamboo fabrics shrink a lot so I prewash on hot and tumble in the dryer to get most of the shrinkage done. When cutting out, I like to keep my waste fabrics for other projects.



I always work on the body pieces first. I pin the layers together and trace my pattern markings on the fabric.





Once the body layers are sewn together, I attach elastic before turning the cloth diaper right side out.



Once the cloth diaper is turned right side out, I topstich the opening closed and all around the diaper. Then I stitch on a label and size tag and attach the wing and soaker snaps.



Phew! That's the body finished. Now for the soaker. I cut out all my soaker layers. Then I pin the layers together, and serge around the edges.





Then I attach the snaps, snap the soaker into the cloth diaper, snap it all together, nice and pretty, and ta da! A cloth diaper! Or many :)



Now get sewing :)






Thursday, May 27, 2010

Fluff-a-Rump winner of a wetbag from Lyanna Jean Designs

The winner from this week's Fluff-a-Rump on hump day giveaway from Lyanna Jean Designs is comment #78!


Lesley Vernon said... 78
I love the green and orange abstract wet bag!
Congratulations! Please contact Lyanna through her shop - I don't see any contact info for her to reach out to you. Thank you everyone who entered! Check back next Wed for a new featured member and giveaway! 

Bye Bye Planting Theme

We hope you enjoyed this theme as much as we did stitching them up! Here's the last of our May themed dipes.










Check back next Thursday for a new theme!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Lyanna Jean Designs - Fluff-A-Rump Featured Member and Giveaway!

Shop link: Etsy Shop 
Blog link: Here
Twitter link: Tweet Tweet
Facebook link: Like Me

Getting to know Lyanna Jean Designs (BluJean83):

What got you started in selling items in your Etsy shop?
    I thought it would be a good idea, maybe it would help to fund my fabric/yarn/textiles addictions :). I have been making things since I was about 6, so it just seemed to fit.
Where did your shop name originate?
    Just my name... followed by the word Designs... I know, really original.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone would have told you when you started cloth diapering?
    It's not really fun. I mean, who really likes cleaning out diapers. With that said... I am so glad to be putting more natural products on my kids, making less waste, seeing my kids in adorable fluff, and above all, saving some dough.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not sewing/working for your shop?
    I really like to garden, bike with my kids in tow in our trailer, and just about anything to do with the beach/pool/water.
What is your current favorite item in your shop, and why?
    My favorite thing is the Medium Wetbag- Modern Fried Eggs Print, I just love love this fabric!! It almost didn't go up in my shop... hehe
What is your favorite material to work with?
    Hmm, I would say all-around material to work with is cotton. I love the simplicity it can have in forms like yarn and linen, and at the same time you can play with an array of colors and textures in almost any medium! I just love the versatility of it and the different weights it can have.
How long has your shop been open?
    Since July of 2008. It's been kind of slow going, but I had a 10 month old when I opened up shop, and have since had another baby. So, even though I've been open, I've kinda been a little slacking in that arena of my life, could you imagine why?! ;)
Personal bio:
    I am a stay-at-home mommy to 4 wonderful children. In my spare time (what little I may have :) ), I enjoy creating things. When I was a young child, my dear grandmothers got a hold of me to teach me what they felt were "the things every girl should know". Thus, I learned to sew, crochet, cook, etc. I am a self-taught knitter though, got the bug in high school ;). My friends growing up would tease me that I was an "old lady" knowing how to do such things. I have always loved it though. There is nothing quite like the feeling of giving a handmade gift!!!

Fluff-a-Rump Giveaway details! GIVEAWAY CLOSED
(Drawing to be held May 26th, 9pm PDT)  

This week, Lyanna from Lyanna Jean Designs is offering one winner this large wetbag!  Retail value $28. Open to Continental USA and Canada. 

 

Required entry:
-Visit Lyanna Jean Designs' shop; come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item (or past item from sales).

Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for EACH of the following that apply) (be sure that you are signed in or leave a way to contact you in each comment):  

- An extra 10 entries for purchases made from Lyanna Jean Designs' shop during the entry period!

- Follow Lyanna Jean Designs (BluJean83) on Twitter
- "Like" Lyanna Jean Designs on Facebook (formerly known as Become a Fan)
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team blog publicly
- "Like" the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Facebook (formerly known as Become a Fan)
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Twitter
- Tweet about the fluff-a-rump giveaways (limit one per day)  - be sure to use @etsyclothdiaper and @BluJean83 in your tweet

A random blog comment number will be selected using random.org. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. You MUST comment on this blog post to be entered, and have contact info in your profile. Each entry entry must be its own comment. If you combine entries into one comment, it will only count as one entry. Winning entries will be validated, and you MUST do the required entry to have any additional entries be valid. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Thank you for entering!



Check back in 2 weeks for another Fluff-a-Rump on Hump Day featured Etsy shop and Giveaway! 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Winner's choice!

Here's what the lucky winner from last week's Fluff-a-Rump on Hump Day giveaway won! (Winner's choice of size and fabrics, contest sponsored by Winkydinks last week). This is a Medium, Rockstar fabric with bubble gum pink trim. How cute! Congrats to Tiffany!

New contest begins tomorrow, don't forget to enter! 

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Fluff-a-Rump winner of a Winkydinks custom fleece soaker...

 This week's winner of the Fluff-a-Rump giveaway (for a custom fleece soaker) from Winkydinks is entry #110:
Tiffany Lamb said... 110
I like winkydinks on facebook

Congratulations!  Jen will be contacting you, or you can contact her via her shop. Thank you to everyone who entered. Don't forget to check back and enter next week's giveaway from Lyanna Jean Designs (5/19)!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

NEW - Unbleached Embellished Prefolds at Laina's Laundry


Unbleached embellished prefolds are now available at Laina's Laundry!! I have listed a couple of them and will be listing more soon. I love these unbleached prefolds because they are super soft and the natural look is really nice. Check them out! (Click on the pics to be taken to the listings.)

Your handmade items were born here!

We thought it would be fun to show you WHERE some of your handmade items were born. These are pictures of some member's work areas. Some people have a basement or work room dedicated to their craft, others have a table or closet. But regardless of how much space, its wonderful that each piece is hand made, and comes from a REAL place in someone's home.









Thank you to these shops for allowing us to see into your space (we know it wasn't easy getting them all straightened up for a photo!):
Boulevard Designs
Little Muffin Bottoms
Eli Monster
Le Petit Owlet
Blooming Bums
Munchkinbreath Handmade (harlebee)
Winkydinks
Monkeez
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