Cloth Diapers: Sew Your Own

As I mentioned in one of the previous cloth diaper posts, people usually react strangely when they discover that we use cloth diapers.  But boy do the eyes pop when they find out I have sewn some of my own diapers.  Like super freak.  So if you didn't know, now you do. ;-)  In this post, we'll talk about the pros and cons of making your own cloth diapers (all from my perspective of course), and I will share some excellent resources with you should you decide you'd like to give it a whirl.

But first, please check out the first three posts in the cloth diaper series if you haven't already:

Part One: Why Would You Even Bother?
Part Two: Not Your Grandmothers's Cloth Diapers
Part Three: Diaper Care and Common Myths

I know I know.  Brevity is not my gift.

The biggest reason that many people choose to sew their own cloth diapers is pretty obvious: it's cheaper.  It's especially cheaper once you enter the world of pocket diapers and all-in-ones.  There are some other advantages to sewing your own diapers as well.

Pros

1.  More cost-effective
2.  Options to customize (read: cute print fabrics!)
3.  It's fun, if you like to sew

Cons

1.  Finding a pattern that works for you (your baby's bottom) can be a pain and result in a bit of trial and error.
2.  Quality sometimes suffers as access to the best materials is sometimes limited.
3.  Time-consuming.  (As in an hour or two to make one diaper.)

My Diaper-Sewing Saga

When princess was little, and we were using a combination of prefolds and BumGenius pocket diapers, I thought the pocket diapers were to die for (they are), so I thought I'd save us a load of money by learning to make my own.  Of course I wanted to make my own pattern and took some of my favorite features from different diapers and put it into one diaper.  Maybe someday I'd even make them to sell.

I purchased all the necessary fabrics, elastic, and velcro and went to work.  I ended up wasting a lot of time and some money as well in my experiments, although I must admit it was fun.  It was a "waste" at first because 1.  My sewing skills needed...refreshed and 2. My diaper pattern needed vast improvements.  Here is a link to a post I wrote way back in 2008 about those first diapers.  Oh I loved them at the time.  Until I realized that they sucked. :-)  The legs were sewn too loose, the aplix (hook and loop) looked ratty over time, and the design was faulty.  They leaked a little bit.  :-(

Then I learned more, practiced like crazy, obtained the tools needed to do my own snaps, and came up with these delightful one-size diapers.  Aren't they nifty?  My design this time (still my own pattern) was good, the snaps held up like champs, I finally perfected the trick of sewing in the elastic tight enough on the legs, and they fit really well.  I used those diapers with Princess until she was potty trained at age 2.  In fact, I still use those diapers occasionally with Smooch-a-roo.    The only problem that I discovered is that my "one-size" actually only fits a child up to 25 lbs. or so.  That, and my microfiber inserts (which are actually auto cloths) eventually lost their absorbency as they were not meant for such intense/frequent washings.  However, the diaper shells are still excellent almost three years later (I just use a prefold for the insert nowadays).

It was fun.  I enjoyed sewing my baby's diapers, choosing my own fabric colors and that sort of thing.  However, in the end, with all the trial and error included, I think I hardly saved a penny over what I would have spent on buying them from the pros.  Well maybe a few pennies.

And I determined that at an hour or two per diaper, I would hardly find it worthwhile to make my diaper-sewing "hobby" into a little side-business.  I'd have to charge nearly as much as the name-brand cloth diaper manufacturers to make it worth my time. 

By the way, with snaps, the diapers cost me anywhere from $4-ish to $8-ish to make, just depending on where I bought my PUL (waterproof outter) fabric.

Finally, here is a more recent post of a diaper I made. This time, I literally traced a diaper that I really love to make a copycat pattern. Did I mention that I never intend to start that little diaper-sewing business?  And the moral of my diaper-sewing story is that it can save you lots of money, if you don't waste a lot of precious material figuring out what in the world you're doing.  

Here are some tips if you're interested in sewing your own diapers:

1.  Start with a "tried and true" pattern before you experiment.  In other words, learn from my mistake.
2.  Talk to other moms who have sewn their own diapers.  You might learn something.
3.  Find the highest quality materials - do your homework.  You would sure hate to spend hours making diapers, only to have your elastic fail after a month of use.  Even though my first diapers were a bust, it was because of pattern issues rather than materials.
4.  Make your first couple of diapers using cheap old t-shirts or something until you are confident in your diaper-sewing technique.
5.  Buy cute fabrics. :-)  This is a must.

Diaper-Sewing Resources

In this section, I will point you to my favorite diaper-sewing resources including helpful groups and vendors.

Sew Your Own Diapers Yahoo Group  - This group was a lifesaver for me.  From it I learned all the lingo, sewing tips, pattern tips, answers to laundry questions, and anything else you can think of.  The "files" section of this group contains a wealth of information, from general tips and tricks to free downloadable diaper patterns.  You can also search the messages by keyword to find the answer to just about any cloth diaper.

PUL Purchase Power Yahoo Group  - This group is an excellent co-op through which you can purchase regular solid colored PUL and fun, cute prints.  If purchased through this co-op, you will save 40 - 60% of what you would pay at a "retail" PUL seller.  Remember, PUL is the waterproof material from which virtually all waterproof pieces of cloth diapers and covers are made.  Even diapers that are "all natural" probably still have a hidden layer of PUL if they are waterproof.  PUL is usually a polyester fabric that has a polyurethane film bonded to it on one side.  (It is the shiny, wipeable side of  covers like the Flip.)

Currently I am sitting on a princess, two Hawaiian (one pink, one blue), and a giraffe print from this co-op.  I keep thinking I'm going to whip a couple more of these puppies out.  Just because they're so adorable and all.

Diapercuts - This is a retail shop for diaper fabrics, elastics, etc.  Actually, I see they're currently not open, so I hope they get up and running soon or I will have to find a new supplier for some of my goodies.  In the past I have purchased PUL (in a pinch b/c the co-op has a long turn-around time), elastic (lastin, fold-over, and polybraid), Aplix, and - just for fun - cute little tags.  Beth only sells the highest quality diaper-making materials and she only charges actual shipping costs, which is refreshing.  Seriously, I hope she re-opens the store.

Photo from Diapercuts

Very Baby  - This is also a great supplier of fabrics and notions.  Be aware that their prices are a smidge higher than Diapercuts, as are the shipping costs.  I have had great luck with them though, and would use them again.

The Snap Store - This is where I buy all my snaps, size 16.  The snaps are excellent in quality, and you can order a color card with one of every snap color on it so you know exactly what to get.   I also got my snap die set from this store, which I use with a drill press (instead of buying a snap press).  This is required to properly put snaps on your diapers. Yep, I love me some snaps!

Well that's about all I can think to share at the moment. 

And, as always, please know that no person or company has given/is giving me anything to mention them here.  I am giving you this info from my real life favorites by personal preference and experiences.  To make your life easier.   You know, if you want to sew some rockin' cloth diapers of  your own.