Fabrics for cloth diapers fall under 4 main categories: Absorbent, wicking & stay dry, water repellent / water proof, decorative. I'm going to to a point form rundown of fabrics for cloth diapers giving the main information you need for deciding if its a fabric you want to use, and how and where to use it.
Before I do I want to say the fabric you choose is personal choice. When you see a pattern you like that says use 1 layer hobf, 1 MF and 3 French terry (for a random example), you don't have to use those fabrics, they are all absorbent fabrics, use the absorbent fabrics you want to use. Top with wicking jersey? That is not a have to either, its an option.
While I do answer layers needed to the best of my ability, you don't necessarily want to use all one fabric for your layers.
I will write some other posts discussing extra information about various fabrics. This post doesn't include pictures of fabrics but that is best done when ordering as brands may vary.
Cotton Flannel:
•absorbent
•10/10 washability
•natural fabric
•affordable
•classic diaper fabric
•use for any absorbent part of diaper
•softens with each wash.
•has some minor piling
• 9 layers is sufficient and not bulky
*can be used as decorative layer
Birdseye and Muslin:
•cotton
•absorbent
•10/10 washability
•natural fabric
•low to medium cost
•classic diaper fabric
•use for any absorbent part of the diaper
•12 layers is ideal and not bulky.
•softens as washed
Jersey knit: (t-shirt fabric)
•absorbent
•cotton or hemp
•natural fabric
•washability 10/10
•need many layers for good absorbency, not an ideal choice for absorbent parts of diaper but can be used if you choose
•medium cost, easy to find in sale
*decorative layer (upcycled t-shirts with logos are a popular decorative layer
French Terry:
•absorbent
•cotton or hemp
•natural fabric
•washability 10/10
•use in any absorbent part of diaper
•6-7 layers cotton, 3-4 hemp, makes a trim soft diaper
•moderate cost for cotton, can be pricey for hemp
Burly knit terry -BKT:
•absorbent
• cotton or hemp
•natural
•washability 10/10
•has bigger loops then regular terry and is very thick and equally absorbent.
•4-5 layers or 2-3 layers hemp but would be bulky, can be used in any absorbent part if diaper but generally used for soakers and inserts
Cotton Sherpa:
•absorbent
•natural
•washability 10/10
• becomes very fluffy and pils but is supposed to do that, its part if the absorbency
•can be uaed in any absorbent part of diaper but generally used as a soft absorbent topper, has some stay dry effect
•4 layers, bulky
Cotton & hemp fleece
•absorbent
•natural (although some include poly).
•washability 10/10
•designed to pil and be fluffy, like cotton Sherpa but thinner and less absorbent. 6 layer cotton 4 hemp. used in any absorbent part of diaper but generally as a topper or soaker.
Cotton or Hemp Velour:
•absorbent/stay dry
•poly backing for durability makes this 80% natural, 20% synthetic
•washability 9/10
•can be used for any absorbent part if diaper but generally used as a topper that is super soft next to babies skin.
• to use as topper, replace two layers flannel or equivalent. Hemp version could replace 3 layers
•moderate durability
*can be used as a decorative layer
Cotton Batting:
•natural
•absorbent
•reasonably priced
•washability 10/10
•durability is 8/10 but it needs to be sandwiched between other fabrics and quilted (sew quilt lines through it)
•can be used in any absorbent part of diaper but to work it is best used as a single layer quilted between fabrics in the wet zone or an additional soaker, it will boast the absorbency of a flannel soaker or core.
(S)HOBF - (super) heavy organic bamboo fleece-
•synthetic (despite the name)
•bamboo and cellulose fibers
•absorbent
•washability 8/10
•4-5 layers, bulky, can be used on any absorbent part if diaper
•moderate durability (rayons have lower durability then cotton or hemp)
Bamboo French Terry:
• synthetic
•bamboo and cellulose fibers
•absorbent
•washability 8/10
•6 layers, trim, can be used in any absorbent part of diaper
•very silky soft
•moderate durability
Charcoal Bamboo:
•absorbent
•synthetic
•bamboo, cellulose fibers and charcoal (yes actual charcoal)
•washability 8/10
•used in any absorbent part of diaper but most often as inserts (known as CBI), or soakers.
•Moderate durability
•4- 5 layers
Zorb:
•absorbent
•synthetic made of bamboo, cellulose and micro fibers
•washability 7/10
•zorb 1 must be sandwiched between layers Zorb 2 has a topper
•6-7 layers can be used in any absorbent part of diaper if topped, bulky
•minor compression issues
• moderate to low durablity but based on look of it I think quilting it between other fabrics would help. It's form is similar to cotton batting.
OBV - organic bamboo velour:
• absorbent
synthetic fabric using bamboo, cotton and cellulose fibers , with a poly backing
•washability 7.5/10
•can be used for any absorbent part of diaper but generally used as a topper for softness against skin
•as an absorbent topper use to replace 2-3 layers flannel or equivalent
•moderate durability
* can be used as a decorative layer
Minky:
•absorbent
•synthetic
•pricey
•washability 8./10 -but if used as a single layer topper and or decorative outer for thinner layered diaper pieces I would rate washability 9/10. But if one were to use multiple synthetic layers or to many layers it would contribute to low washability
•durable
• can be used for any absorbent part of diaper at same ratio as flannel
•it's the softest, most cuddly of diaper fabrics, combined with the price it is generally used as an absorbent topper.
*can be used as a decorative layer
MF -microfiber:
•absorbent
•synthetic
•washability 3/10 (issues build over time, why and how will be discussed in a separate post)
•lower durability
•can not touch babies skin so must be sandwiched between layers
•can be used on the middle layers if the absorbent parts of diapers
•about 1.5 times absorbency of flannel but durability effects absorbency
•compression issues
•low cost
Microfleece:
•wicking - takes wetness through to absorbent fabrics, poop is said to roll off it fairly well
•synthetic
•washability 9/10
•used as inside layer if diaper next to babies skin
•used as a topper on soakers
•used as a single piece if fabric laid on top if inside of diaper as a liner to ease clean up and to keep non CD safe creams off of diapers
•thin fabric will not add bulk
Raw Silk:
•wicking
•natural
•Washability 10/10
•used as a topper to bring wetness into absorbent layers
•pricey
•thin fabric will not add bulk
Suede Cloth:
•wicking
•synthetic
•washability 8/10 for deep clean, 10/10 surface clean (it doesn't visibly stain as stain is pulled to bottom if fibers
•used at the inside layer of diaper or as a topper on soaker, not bulky
Wicking and Athletic Jersey:
•wicking
•synthetic
•poly
•durable
•washability 9/10
•used as inside layer of diaper or topper on soaker, not bulky
Blizzard, Arctic, Polar & Mountain Fleece:
•water resistant
•synthetic
•poly
•breathable
•durable
•washability 9/10
•reasonable price range
•used as the outer layer of an HF, sometimes bottom layer of a mini, to make fleece soaker style cover, fleece diaper wrap or longies
•dries quickly
Windpro Fleece:
•water resistant (more then the other water resistant fleeces)
•fairly breathable
•poly
•synthetic
•durable
•washability 8/10
•used same as other water resistant fleeces
•pricey (but it comes with increased quality).
Anti-pil Fleece:
•water resistant, but less so then other water resistant fleeces and some brands not at all so teat first
•poly
•synthetic
•breathable
•washability 9/10
•low cost
•used same as other water resistant fleeces.
PUL:
•water proof
•not breathable
•synthetic
• polyurethane
•moderate durability
•washability 9/10
•used as a diaper cover, outer layer of AIO and pocket.
Taffeta:
•water proof
•fairly breathable
•synthetic
•tpu
•durable
•used as a sized diaper cover. Not enough stretch to use in an AIO. Could be used for a sized pocket.
Wool:
•water resistant (yet more effective then pul)
•natural
•breathable
•antibacterial, antimicrobial
•somewhat self cleaning
•washability 10/10 (and much easier then people realize)
•takes long to dry
•durable
•temperature regulating
•pricey but can be up cycled from wool sweaters of 80%-100% wool (and no cotton)
•can be felted but not necessary (although practical for WIO's)
•used for wool soaker style covers, wraps, longies and WIO's
•comes in a multitude of knits and wovens. Thin to median weight is preferred over thick. All of them work regardless of thickness
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