Thursday, December 30, 2010

The last Thursday post of the year....

Thanks to all of the EtsyClothDiaper Team members for participating in the Thursday Themed posts. Check back next week for some exciting new creations!

And now for the final Winter / Holiday themed diapers...enjoy!



Friday, December 17, 2010

Get some local fluff!

Christmas is only a week away, and many of the procrastinators are scrambling to purchase some last-minute gifts. If you are still wanting to buy some Christmas fluff from the cloth diaper team, you might find some sellers near you and skip the shipping time & cost! Visit our team website and click on "go local". This lists all our shops in alphabetical order by their State (or country for all shops out of the U.S., including 23 in Canada). You can browse through this list for your own city to find some cloth diapers near you.

I was reminded recently of the advantages of shopping local. I was contacted on Etsy from someone in my own town who asked if she could pick up some diaper covers and skip the shipping cost. Not only did she get to avoid paying shipping, I invited her over to see some other fabric choices that were not listed in my online shop. She got to see everything in person before she made her final purchase. Not to mention she got the instant gratification of purchasing something and having it immediately, instead of waiting for something to arrive in the mail.

And for those of us looking for non-diaper gifts, don't forget to use Etsy's Shop Local feature to find any etsy sellers in your area.

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

More great Thursday finds...

Just have a look at these great Winter / Holiday Themed items! We have some very talented Etsyclothdiaper team members.






Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The cuteness factor

(written by Kristin of Beat's Boutique)

The thought of cloth diapering never crossed my mind with my firstborn. Even though my mom cloth diapered all of us, disposables had been around for quite a while at that point and I hadn't heard of anyone “still” cloth diapering.

When I was pregnant with my second, as I was browsing baby items online I came across some Kooshies cloth diapers. I put them on my wishlist for the heck of it – mainly because they were pretty cute! But even then I didn't think much of it. And when I realized that I would have to put rubber pants over them I took them off my wishlist. If I knew then what I know now about how cute diaper covers can be...and that it's not just rubber pants anymore...

When my third baby was about 9 months old I had 2 in diapers and one in Pull-Ups. The Pull-Ups were what was killing me. My son was pretty much potty trained, but we used them for overnight accidents, which were very infrequent. I started researching cloth training pants because I was tired of buying Pull-Ups.

Once I started researching cloth training pants, I ran into so many sites about modern cloth diapering and the CUTEST diapers!


In the end there were many reasons why I switched to cloth, but the cuteness factor was definitely one of the top reasons. Even the solid color diapers and covers are way cuter than plain old white disposables. I'm all about cuteness for everything that goes on my baby.

Fashionable options are endless with cloth diapers. A lot of people use fancy knit prints for fitteds and let baby go coverless at home. It's a great way to tell right away when baby is wet and lets baby get plenty of air (which is great to help heal rashes quicker).

You can even have adorable combinations with regular prefolds and wool, fleece or PUL covers. My favorite summer diapers for my son were prefolds with either wool or fleece shorties. Wool covers can be anything from recycled sweaters to hand knit or crocheted. And I loved making appliqued fleece shorties for my son and daughter. You can find many really neat designed and appliqued wool and fleece soakers made by many of the Etsy Cloth Diaper Team members.


For my daughter, this summer she loved her fleece skirty and her ladybug wool shorties. But now she's mostly in cloth trainers. I've mainly stuck with the cute printed PUL for the outer layers of her diapers, as she needs a little more waterproofing than wool or fleece.

Overall, I am so happy that I chose to dress my babies’ booties in the cutest cloth options I could find.

~ Kristin

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Winter wonderland

Here are some more great finds for Thursday's theme of Winter / Holidays!







Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Winner of The Jilly Bean Jar Longies Giveaway!

The winner of this week's Fluff-a-Rump giveaway is number 55!

AEK said:
LOVE the Sock Monkey Longies! Too cute!


Congratulations! You win a pair of longies from The Jilly Bean Jar. You will be contacted shortly, or feel free to contact The Jilly Bean Jar through Etsy. Thenk you to everyone who entered. Check back next month for another giveaway and featured member from our team!

Longies Are on SALE at Little Moose Diapers

Until this Friday, December 10, ALL longies are on sale! Stock up now! Lots of nice warm cuddly wool pants for your little one...and if you don't see something you like, CONVO me...I have only about 20 pair I need to finish...I might just have the color and size you want, waiting to be completed!

Follow this link:

Little Moose Diapers

Monday, December 6, 2010

Cloth Diaper Starter Stash

There are a thousand different lists on various sites, some complicated and some simple, concerning what you need to start using cloth diapers; how many to keep in rotation, and what accessories are essential. Since there are so many opinions, it might seem like this is a complicated, highly subjective issue, but it is really pretty simple. (If you don't believe me, skip to the bottom of the post)

You need as many diapers as your baby will wear in two days, plus 2 or 3 extras for those days when they need extra changes, or to wear during the laundry. Most will agree that 24 is Newborns will go through 10-14 diapers in a day, so you might want a few more. As baby grows he or she will need fewer and fewer changes throughout the day, and you will use less, but it never hurts to have extra.

Some may argue that a larger stash allows you to do laundry less often, but most diaper manufacturers recommend washing every other day. Going longer in between washes leaves stains, and staying wet so long can break down fabric fibers. Who with a house full of kids can go much longer without the laundry taking over anyway? Even detergent companies, and other sources for laundry instructions recommend washing in loads of no more than 24 diapers.

Next, if you are using prefolds, or fitteds, you will also need covers. I have heard many people recommend six, but Baby Beehinds has the best explanation for this number, "We recommend rotating between two covers throughout the day- one worn by baby, and one airing after you've done a nappy change, with one clean spare cover in case of an accident and then the other in the wash. The other 2 are for night time use; one tonight, the other tomorrow night. Hence the need for at least 6 covers. It really does make life easier to have the recommended number of covers on hand- it is very frustrating when you discover that you don't have enough because they are all in the wash!"

As far as accessories are concerned it is up to you. Starter Stash implies the basic requirements, so we'll start there.

The only things, besides diapers, that you need to use cloth instead of disposables are a place to put your laundry, both at home and on the go, and cloth diaper approved detergent. If yo want you can just use any plastic trash can with a lid for your diapers pail, but most people feel it is a lot easier if you have a pail liner you can throw in the wash with your diapers and not have to wash the pail each time. You will also need a wet bag for bringing wet diapers home when you are out.

Cloth Diapers can't be washed with detergents that have softener, brighteners, or enzymes as these leave a residue that will cause your diapers to smell bad after a while and/or repel water. We love Allen's Naturally Biodegradable, but there are many brands. Country Save is another that is very popular. You can look in the laundry section on cloth diaper websites, or even look on Google to find homemade recipes.

Beyond that you may choose to use cloth wipes, which is really no extra trouble, in which case you would need a container to put them in and possibly a solution for them, although you can wet as many as you use in a day or two with just water without them mildewing.

The other main concern is what to do about poop. Newborn poop can be put straight into the wash, and most solids can just be shaken off into the toilet. As far as stickier situations, you may choose to get a diaper sprayer, or use fleece or flushable liners to keep your diapers cleaner.

So I said this was simple, and then gave you several paragraphs, but it's all to say this:

24 diapers per baby
6 covers for every 24 non-waterproof diapers
2 pail liners (so you have one to use when the other is in the wash)
2 wet bags

Optional:
2-3 dozen wipes
recycled wipes container
wipes solution
diaper sprayer
liners

You can find nearly all of these things in EtsyClothDiaper team shops. Just click on the links to the left!

Friday, December 3, 2010

FancyCloth Christmas diaper on sale with FREE shipping!

I like to make festive diapers sometimes, we came up with this appliqued reindeer piece of fluff..It is constructed of anti-pill fleece outer..super soft, with a butter suede inner lining. I put a pocket to stuff your favorite insert! but you can use it over fitteds or even a disposable just for pictures! If you are not familiar with Fancy Cloth diapers, they are made with stretchy hook closures, have laundry tabs..and come in 3 sizes
XS/S (5-15lbs)
S/M (10-20 lbs)
M/L (20-40 lbs)

 If interested in one for the holidays please e-mail fancyclothorganics@gmail.com
       retailing @ 20 dollars with free shipping! You just choose size.
The turn around time for this item is 3 days to complete and ship out
 Thanks

or just BUY NOW @ Etsy dot com


FRONT

BACK


SIDE VIEW




Thursday, December 2, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Welcome to the next instalment of themed posts. There are some really great Holiday & Winter Themed items this week. Stay tuned for more!






Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Jilly Bean Jar: Fluff a Rump featured member and GIVEAWAY




Getting to know The Jilly Bean Jar
What got you started in selling your items in your Etsy shop?
I'm a SAHM who loves to sew, knit, and crochet. I'm always looking for affordable and cute ways to cover my kids in their cloth, and I wanted to share my creations with others.

How did your shop name originate?
My nickname has been Jillybean since I was a little kid, so it seemed natural to use that in my Etsy shop name. The Jar part came in to play because what I stock is kind of a surprise... there's lots of variety and choice, just like in a jar filled with jelly beans.

What is one piece of advice you wish somebody had given you when you started cloth diapering?
Don't be afraid to try different styles and types of diapers. What works for one child may not work for another. I used one type of diaper for my daughter, and had to switch to another type for my son since they had different body types. Don't get frustrated if your first try doesn't work perfectly. There are lots of knowledgeable people out there to help you - just ask any of the Etsy Cloth Diaper team members!

What is your favorite thing to do when you're not sewing/working for your shop?
I love playing with my kids. My 2 year old has the most unique and entertaining sense of humor, and it's fascinating watching my 7 month old discover new things. I also love sewing, knitting and crocheting for my family as well, and most nights you'll find me with some yarn and a hook or needles in my hand.
What is your current favorite item in your shop and why?
I love my rocket longies. The elastic waist band means they're quick to pull on and off a squirmy baby or toddler. The wool is soft and thick, giving it great protection from wetness, and the rocket design is cute and unique.

What is your favorite material to work with?
I love working with soft wool yarn when I'm knitting or crocheting. When I'm sewing, fleece is one of my favorites!

How long has your shop been open?
My shop has been open since July of this year


Personal Bio:
My name is Jill Giovannetti and I live near Chicago with my husband and 2 year old girl and 7 month old boy. I started cloth diapering when my daughter was a newborn, and I made most of her diapers myself. From there I moved on to knitting and crocheting longies for her, and I haven't stopped since! In addition to sewing and yarn crafts, I also love baking and I'm always playing around in my kitchen trying to figure out how to make things tasty and healthy.


Fluff-a-Rump Giveaway Details




This week Jill from The Jilly Bean Jar is giving away a pair of fleece longies (retail value $9). Open to USA and Canada.



These longies are soft and cuddly. The winner gets to choose the size and color (red, black, blue, pink, white or Christmas plaid available). An extra layer can be included to provide extra protection through the wetzone at the winner's request. All seams are serged for durability and a professional finish.




To enter the giveaway, first do the required entry:

- First visit The Jilly Bean Jar then come back here and leave a comment with something you love from her shop, or something you learned from visiting her shop.



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:


-Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper Team blog publicly


-Tweet about the Fluff-a-Rump giveaways (limit one per day) - be sure to use @etsyclothdiaper and #giveaway 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 must be its own comment. If you combine entries into one comment, it will only be counted 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!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Christmas Giveaways!

Several of our team members are participating in Christmas giveaways on other blogs. In fact, 3 of us are participating in the same one!


On this one, you'll find (along with many more giveaways):
December 1st - Custom Fleece soaker from Winkydinks
December 9th - Red pocket diaper from Little Muffin Bottoms
December 12th - Blue diaper with snowflakes from Northern Mom

Plus, December 1-5th is the Merry Fluffy Christmas blog hop, with daily giveaways on each blog as well!

Also, have you seen this site? Cloth Diaper Giveaways

Happy blog giveaway entering! Who can beat FREE???

Friday, November 26, 2010

The amazing cloth wipe! by FancyCloth

I am in love with cloth wipes. Using cloth wipes with your cloth diapering routine can save you atleast an extra $500 dollars or more. I will cover some basics about the fabrics I have used, wipe solution recipes, and storage. There are so many options to choose from it's incredible. My first creation on cloth wipes was 5 cut up baby towels given to me my sister in law. I was used to disposables so I just eyed that measurement, I turned out with sizes ranging from 4 x4 to 7 x6 to 8 x 8, serged edges, one-ply, and two-ply. to see what I liked. I didn't stop there I started getting fancy with the wipes and using my soft cuddle minky and cotton knit combos, they ended up being AMAZING lathering wash clothes because of the way I stitched them. I ended up using them to pamper myself.
Myself and everyon eother wonderful diaper maker on the Etsy cloth diapering team take a lot of time out of their life to make these cloth diapering items for my our families and others because it's what we do. Personally I have been sewing for 10 years and went to fashion design school, AND in school I thought I was going to France working in a Haute Couture house *end of tangent*

After the number of experiments we have our favorite household favorites.
-My husband likes 2 ply-cotton knit wipes. There are soft, wipe up well, and you can get them in the cutest prints ever!
-My favorite is one side hemp fleece and one side hemp knit which I do offer at my shoppe as well as many other one of a kind novelty fabrics for fun!
When I am done using the wipes I just toss in with the diaper pail..sometimes I pre-rinse in the toilet sometimes I don't it depends on what is going on at the moment.

WIPE SOLUTIONS
As far as wipe solutions, I haven't tried any special solutions on the market but I have thrown a few together with stuff around my house starting with my favorite at the top feel free to use this recipes for your wipe solutions too. I use a glass bottle or jar of some kind usually. I do not like plastic. Some people store in a spray bottle or peri bottle (like what dish soap nozzles look like)  I made using most of these using a 32 oz bottle.

Olive Oil TSP
Baby soap TSP
Water 32 oz

Tea Tree Oil (1-3) drops
Lavender Oil (1-3) drops
Water (32 oz)

Chamomile tea ONE TEA BAG SEEPED
Water 32 OZ
Olive oil TSP

Tips
*be careful with tea tree oil, it may irritate baby or you. If i get a good enough smell I will have a migraine for 2 hours.
*be cautious with any essential oil, it is potent stuff
*do not use A lot of soap it can dry babies bum
*Use 5-10 drops of tea tree oil in a old spray bottle for a great antibacterial spray..spray your diaper pail with it, spray your wipe storage with it, it's great to have around. I usually spray in my wipe storage before and after each change weekly.

 WET STORAGE

-OLD WIPE CONTAINER
-WIPE WARMER (I use this, but this is not necessary for cloth wiping at all)

Put dry wipes in container of your choice, shake wipe solution, or make right in container, pour perfect amount of solution over wipes to absorb..don't drench the wipes, you don't want them to soppy, squeeze out excess if need be. I kind of have it down to a science and you will have to figure that out on your own with practice

DRY STORAGE

Keeping your wipes dry at all times and using a spray bottle or wetting them with water each change is a lot of work it seems, sometimes I do it, If I haven't made a bulk of wipes. This method also prevents any risk of getting moldy or smelly if they sat too long.

ON THE GO
All my wipes are packaged in a wetbag pouch to store your wet or dry wipes on the go. This is how you easily store wet wipes to bring a long with me anywhere, no leaks ever. (or use a travel case from disposable wipes) If you do a dry method maybe bring around a travel spray bottle. Then store dirty wipes with dirty dipes. use a ziplock bag or I make a simple reusable wetbag pouch..for that ;)

Here are some fun cloth wipes, Serged edges assorted fabrics, colors. I mostly use hemp in ALL of my products unless other wise noted. I am a simpleton but  having fun is always necessary!!!!


Please see my cloth diapering blog for more helpful tips and experiences about cloth diapering


I am under going remodeling which is very exciting but that doesn't mean I can stop writing!


I would also like to announce the launch of my AIO quick dry, ultra thin cloth diaper that I am ever so proud among other products I spent hours, weeks, even months on creating



Next up, I am working on a detailed piece on laundering of cloth diapering. It is on my blog but I would like to add front loading washing machine tips before posting here!

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