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Links: Sewing, Knitting, Buying
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This FAQ is a work in progress, and is a collaborative effort. If you'd like to make a contribution, please write!
Any 80% or more cotton fabric can be used to sew nappies. 100 % cotton is best but 80% works as well. Examples include terry, flannelette, flannel, and sherpa.
Hemp is also very excellent - hemp manufacture is more environmentally friendly than cotton, and hemp is much more trim than cotton for the same absorbency. It does tend to be significantly more expensive, however. Hemp comes in different varieties - hemp jersey, hemp fleece, and hemp terry. Don't confuse hemp fleece with polyester polar fleece used for nappy covers, or with tracksuiting fleece, which is a synthetic cotton blend. "Fleece" just means that the fabric has a soft, brushed finish.
Bamboo is a new fabric on the market. Bamboo is very absorbent, remains softer than hemp, and has a good rinsability, resisting smells. There are different varieties of bamboo - some are all-natural and some are not. If you have more information on this, please let us know!
Some microfibre can be used as an inner absorbent layer in nappies. It absorbs liquid rapidly and is fast drying and light. Many people prefer that the microfibre not touch the baby's skin, because of the unpleasant texture, so a layer of cotton, hemp, bamboo, fleece, or suedecloth is often used against the skin. Some people get a little confused between microfibre and microfleece - read about the difference here!
There are a number of free patterns and websites offering hints and tips on sewing modern cloth nappies. Check out the Oz Cloth Nappies Links for details.
If you have tried any of these nappy patterns, please send us a brief review! Or if you've found a pattern we don't have, let us know.
100% polyester (eg polar fleece, or two layers of microfleece) or 100% wool, either woven wool fabrics or knitted wool soakers. PUL (polyurethane laminate) is also popular. Recycled "bum jumpers" can be made from woollen jumpers - acrylic knits have also been used but tends to be less absorbent than wool, and acrylic needs washing more often.
PUL is short for polyurethane laminate. It is a fabric with a super-thin lining of polyurethane applied for water resistance. The feel and performance of the PUL depends on the thickness of the PUL layer (1 mil and 2 mil are common thicknesses used in nappies) and the type of base fabric. The thinner PULs are said to be somewhat breathable.
Cotton PUL can come in beautiful prints; the downside is it can have a stiffer feel and when very wet will "wick" fluid to the outer (individual fabrics vary dramatically as to the level of wicking, and the nappy cut and fit also makes a difference). Polyester PUL, on a knit polyester base fabric, comes in plain colours only, but has a softer stretchier feel and doesn't wick.
At the time of writing this, PUL is not generally for sale in bricks 'n' mortar fabric stores in Aus. In the past nappy makers would buy it direct from US co-ops or diaper supply stores, or auction sites. There are now several online stores in Aus, and one co-op, who are selling or planning to sell PUL. See the Ozclothnappies Links section for more detail.
For a rough cost it is approx $10 - 12 Aus per Yard (1 yard = 90cm approx) including shipping.
There are a few ways of doing this. The most basic is to use a zigzag stitch over the stretched elastic. Another way is to anchor each end and fold over the fabric to create a pocket (casing) where the elastic is.
Thanks to Alexia Broome for this advice:
When sewing elastic on - if you have it on your machine - 3 step zig zag and really taut elastic (start tensioning while the needle is up!!!) gives a great result. You'll also need to back-tack substantially at both ends when zig-zagging, which means that even if some of the zig-zag stitching breaks down over time (and even good elastic/stitching will break down eventually under hard use) the elastic will remain tensioned and useable for a longer period of time if it's attached firmly at both ends.
The difference between the "right side" and the "wrong side" of polar fleece is cosmetic. If you sew a fleece-outer nappy with the "wrong side" out, it won't look as good, and it may not feel as soft.
You can always work out the right from wrong side of fleece by doing as follows:
Hook and loop is a generic term for fasteners like Velcro, Aplix, and TouchTape. Higher quality Velcro and TouchTape can be found in Australia via some of the online nappy supplies stores.
NEW - Snaps Australia has opened in NSW, selling snap presses, snaps, and die sets.
Some ozcloth members buy snaps and snap presses from Serena Johnson in China. http://www.picturetrail.com/xiaohua68847 xiaohua@netchina.com.cn
There is also The Diaper Shop in the USA.
There is not a great difference between micro and polar fleece aside from the thickness - microfleece is thinner.
For a detailed discussion of the different weights/kinds of Malden Mills fleece, see part 1 of the FAQ.
PUL goes shiny side in (hidden, in pockets), and only one layer is needed. The photos at DIY at the Nappy Network might help for a general idea, whether or not you're using the Wee Weka patterns.
It can be a bit tricky to handle PUL in the sewing machine. There have been several methods suggested, each works for different people. A walking foot appears to be the best option, but if you do not have a walking foot or a teflon foot for your machine some other methods are:-
Most Ozclothnappies sew-ers agree that the best elastic to use for nappies is swimwear elastic. Some use Lastin, but some find Lastin fiddly, tending to snap easily when stretching to sew.
FOE is Fold over Elastic and Lastin is a clear elastic both are used in nappy sewing. And as with PUL neither can be found on general sale in Aus. Check the same places as you do for PUL for both of these.
FOE is not recommended for pockets because it tends to wick. For fitteds and covers however it is fine.
Ozclothnappies FAQ copyright Di Kidman and Lara Hopkins 2005-2007. Images remain the copyright of the original photographers.
Please ask permission before reproduction and dissemination in any form.