Came across a blog called "The Mindful Home", this blog needs sharing, the posy I'm sharing covers all things wool and I totally recommend giving this a read.
Click here :)
There is a part one and part two, check out both.
Tutorials
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Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Wool Blog Share
My Buttetfly Fitted Pattern
This is my butterfly fitted, it is a large os. It fits larger then Arfy's, for those with bigger babies.
The punched out holes are elastic placement for a chunky thigh baby.
For an elastic that goes all around the leg (for a skinny minnie) use the red dots, and take a 1/2 inch off the "cut on fold" edge.
The back elastic placement is hard to see in this pic but it lines up with the leg elastic for a chunky thigh.
I usually place this on my fabric, trace, flip and trace. As opposed to cutting on the fold.
Monday, 30 March 2015
Folding Diapers With Monkey
Bibs For Heavy Droolers
We've all heard of heavy wetters, but what about heavy droolers?
When Monkey is cutting teeth he drools like Niagara Falls. This caused a rash (much like a diaper rash), on his neck, edge of face and chest.
I tried a bib topped in wicking Jersey and backed in blizzard fleece. It didn't help. He seemed more wet against his face and neck....and against by skin when nursing. Did not feel nice lol.
I tried flannel backed in blizzard fleece. This did help. I think topping in micro fleece would help more, and will get on that soon.
Also I made a wool sweater vest. That worked great.
Monkey is back to drooling this week so my fleece bibs are out and on.
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Send Your Kids Outside
This past week my fb, blog roll and even my newstream has been bombarded by the rise of free range parenting and the nanny state and over protective parents. Which results in adults wanting to be over protected (trigger warnings, safe rooms and "shame free").
I'm glad free range is finally rising in popularity. Also it leads to many solutions.
Send your kids outside - less fat kids
Send your kids outside - less screen time
Send your kids outside - learn the skills to look after themselves so they can leave home before 30!
Send your kids outside - less sibling arguments
Send your kids outside - develop imagination
Send your kids outside - hungry kids who will eat whatever is placed on the table
Send your kids outside - something to talk to mom about at dinner, with enthusiasm even.
What if they get hurt? Yeah but that happens inside too, at least they'll have a good story to go with it.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Easy Diaper Washing Routine
So if your using cloth diapers or thinking about it, you've likely learned that diaper laundry is this totally complicated thing of trial and error. And so you saw this post. And here we are.
Diaper laundry can be easy or it can be all the crazy things you've heard. If you want an easy routine you need 2 things.
1. Possibly a top load washing machine. They clean better. Sell the expensive HE with its gadgets, go to a second hand appliance store and buy an older washer. But maybe with step 2, step one isn't necessary.
2. Use natural fabric diapers, or minimal synthetics. Don't use any MF (that includes zorb). Skip the aio's and probably the pockets and ai2's. Use Fitted's, prefolds, flats, wio's, and even HF's. Buy or make diapers where layers are separated. Cotton and hemp are your new best friends. And use a regular laundry detergent so long as it doesn't have softeners (tide, gain, xtra).
So how does my easy wash routine go? Well I take the diapers out of my open diaper pail with no liner. I throw it in the top loader with one thing of laundry detergent, some vinegar and some regular laundry to make a full load. It goes in hot on a regular cycle. No extra rinses or anything. Then into the dryer.
My diapers are mostly cotton and hemp. There is a few with poly fleece, CV, or Minky. Such layers are minimal. This makes them wash easy. And so my diaper laundry routine is the exact same as my regular laundry. This is how it should be, but it starts with your diaper choices.
Wool Washing Day
Last night I washed almost all the wool. At this point I'm using the bathtub instead of the sink cuz there is just that much. I wash with baby bath wash. I scrub dirty parts and knead the rest like bread. Then soak it a bit.
Next I lanolized. I emulsify the lanolin in a pop bottle with hot water and a drop if baby wash. Add that to the tub, add lukewarm water and let them all soak. Then hubby and I squeezed out the water, shook out the water. The shaking step had us laughing as plenty of water came out soaking us, making us smell like wet sheep. Then we rolled them in towels and hung to dry.
They start out hanging in the bathroom. But one by one they go in the back of a fan. I turned the fan of this morning with two dry. I need to dry the rest bit its so cold. I need to decide which room will be made colder by the fan.
In the pic below the fan is in the hallway only for the sake of the pic. It's grey and cold outside and pics are looking dark.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Kushies Taffeta Bibs
Apparently my SIL and I hit the same sale. She got the Kushies Taffeta diaper wrap and I bought the Kushies taffeta bibs. I wanted the ones with sleeves but they were sold out. So I got the ones without sleeves.
These bibs are huge. I like that. They cover the whole front of Monkey. The pocket catches the falling food. The tpu cleans up easily even after spaghetti, and nothing seeps through to stain. Clean up is easy. I wash it up in the sink before doing dishes, hang on a hook and let it dry over night. Between meals I wipe it down with a cloth.
I prefer natural fabrics, I really do but Monkey is a very messy eater and food mess has always grossed me out a bit. I can handle any poop or puke mess my kids throw at me, as long as it comes from my kid and not any other human being lol. But food mess, I don't know, its a thing. But I am one of those people who doesn't let their food touch on the plate.
So meal time has become a little cleaner with a blw Monkey which makes me a happier mom.
Kushies Taffeta Diaper Cover
My sister in law and I never had a great relationship but have but effort into getting to know each other as moms this past year and a half. We are very different moms. Different in almost every way except she's boarder line free range and I'm fully free range. Her kids are younger so I expect she'll become full fledged also.
Ok back on topic lol. She bought be a Kushies taffeta (TPU) cover for Monkey. That's pretty awesome if her being she's a sposies mom. Now I've used these in the past and found they fit average babies to skinny Minnie's. Well they have new sizes and so I have one that fits my chunky Monkey.
I do like it. I still love my wool the most. But when we are out in a stroller all day with snowsuit on, or in a car compression leaks can cuz dampness in wool. Cuz wool works best without something over it. So I decided this will be our out and about cover.
However, as expected, my Honey loves it. Thankfully I know more about the ins and outs if cloth diapering. So I let him use it over night. Well nothing is better at night then wool. So now he sees the light, and gets it, everything has its place. I am anxiously waiting for winter to end (its March 22nd, but here in Ontario we are still well below freezing with snow on the ground), when spring comes wool won't be covered by a snowsuit in the stroller. That taffeta cover will still be good for our non wool outfits or a long long day out and about.
The Kushies taffeta diaper wrap has a lot to like. The taffeta (TPU) functions much like PUL but it is thinner and breathable. Not as breathable as wool, but more then PUL. I always preferred it to PUL for this reason. It functions as well as PUL in being water proof. It isn't lined so you can wipe and reuse. It has double gussests which are great leak protectors. It has a ruffled elastic waist which is great for leak barriers and wicking preventions. It is Velcro. I hate snaps cuz I'm incompetent at doing them up, so I like the Velcro and since this doesn't need to be washed with each use it has (in my past experience) held up well. In the past I always hung these to dry (and will again). TPU is much lighter the PUL and dries pretty quickly. Since I have a pile of wool I wash each week. I'm thinking I'll hand wash this at the same time. Not that it needs hand washing but it won't be extra work to do so when I'm washing my wool. So I figure I might as well.
So thanks SIL, it is nice to have one tpu cover for when the day or outfit calls for it, and thanks Kushies for making more sizes.
Thursday, 19 March 2015
But That Was My Favorite Diaper!
This is the nighttime set of diapers or the ones when you're gonna be stuck in a car, on a bus and just want to guarantee baby arrives dry. Not that leaks are usual but you want to be 110% percent sure, cuz your change options are limited or its nighttime and you want to sleep. This diaper is so absorbent a college student could wear it after to much partying....and baby his a lil half hearted size pee. You throw on any old scrap of cloth in frustration and baby then pees a river.
This is the the porcelain trophy of all poop catchers. Monkey could have the runniest of ebf poops (although those days are past), a full on poopsplosion, doesn't matter cuz it holds it all like a champ. Sposies moms would go green with envy if they saw this diaper in action!...and Monkey has a shart. Like no pee even, just a shart. Total waste.
This is the cuddly teddy bear of diapers. You take it to play group or your sister in laws house so everyone can witness this softest of soft diapers go OTB (in action). This is likely a Minky or CV diaper. My cuddle bear diaper is hemp inside, CV outside....And Monkey falls asleep, wakes up after and you never even had a chance to change a diaper till you got home.
Monday, 16 March 2015
Let's Talk About Sleeping Through The Night
If there is one topic that can put a tired mom in tears as she stresses out about her babe vs others in the first 18 months it's sleep. Mom's don't get sleep, Dad's don't get sleep, but often get more then Mom, and baby's sleep is the topic of debate (and this will tie into night time diapering - briefly).
There is the CIO mom, the co-sleeping breastfeeding in her sleep Mom, the get up nurse and rock baby to sleep Mom and the my baby just falls asleep on her own like an angel Mom and everyone is up in arms about "am I doing this right".
Well I'm gonna let you in in a secret. For the first 18months sleeping through the night is technically 5 hours. Yep, 5. Monkey goes to bed at 8, wakes at midnight, 5 am then up at 7 (that is all "ish", its not clockwork and some nights are "better" then others.. Other nights are "worse"). So Monkey (10.5 months as I write this) "sleeps through the night". I am not sleeping through the night cuz I'm changing a diaper, nursing and rocking and laying Monkey back down and trying to fall back to sleep. Yes I change the diaper when he wakes its part of how I get that 5 hour stretch. I could just sit and brag that Monkey sleeps all night (despite the circles under my eyes telling you that isn't quite true), but I'd rather explain that statement to you.
So is your monkey getting a stretch close to 5 hours? Congrats. Your Monkey has achieved that magic goal and you don't feel any less tired lol. At least you can stop stressing. If your Monkey isn't change the diaper, that might do it depending on age, bladder and digestive system. If not, change it anyways because very soon that diaper change will help you achieve those precious 5 hours (of which you likely sleep 3.5)
Oh but your SIL or friend or that snot in your baby and me class has a baby who sleeps 8-10 hours and yours only sleeps 4 hours 45 min to 5hours? Its ok. Actually its Awesome! I know you don't believe me as you drink coffee #6 and worry about your new caffeine addiction, but it is.
Let's jump forward in time a bit. Before you know it you'll be potty training your Monkey and so will all the other Moms you know. And very soon after that will be night time potty training. Guess what? No ones Monkey is going to go 8-10 hours with out peeing! So your Monkey had a baby system that max's out at the average 5 hours and was accustomed to a dry bum? Your Monkey is going to be waking up to pee in the potty and not in bed. You might want to help this at first by encouraging your Monkey up about 15 min before the usual wake time, but they will do this naturally pretty quick (relatively speaking). That 8-10 hour sleeper? Yeah either they are peeing the bed every night or Mom looks like she needs an IV of Timmie's dark roast cuz she isn't used to this up twice a night crap.
You? Your rocking it, you wonder why you ever needed 8 hours sleep in a row....which you'll be getting just another very small jump into the future.
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Breastfeeding With Dad
For this post I'm putting on my LC hat. For many years I worked as a lactation consultant, doula and childbirth educator.
Breastfeeding often has one complaint: that it doesn't include Dad. Well that depends on how you do it. Cuddle up together while breastfeeding. Its good physical and emotional support for mom. Dad can partake in the bonding. Mom doesn't feel in it alone. Dad really experiences the time put into breastfeeding and so understands some of what Mom did all day while he was at work. There are many benefits here. In our house dad plays with monkey during more awake nursings and the time can be playful or cozy. If baby is cluster feeding settle in to bed with a DVD as a family.
Helping Dad Use Cloth
Many moms use pockets and aio's to help dad CD baby. But if you prefer Fitted's and prefolds like I do, have no fear, dad can CD too!
Fitted's are as easy as an AIO or pocket in my opinion. It does up just like a sposie but you add a cover. Its an extra step, not rocket science. A Velcro cover is often preferred by men. Many men hate snaps (I do too). Wool soakers, shorties, longies....my hubby likes these. Pull them on and the diaper has a cover and baby is dressed! He likes these over wrap style covers. It suits his sensibilities.
Prefolds.
There are many folds and they can be googled, this site here does a great job.
So how to get dad to do this? Simple, fold prefolds fresh out of the laundry and put away folded. Angel fold is best for this, and ooey fold. Then get dad to help you fold diaper laundry. It is so much easier to learn this way. No baby crying at change time, easy, low stress and repetitive. Did I teach monkey's dad this way? No, my teen daughter did lol. He was so pleased to show me what she taught him. And if he doesn't quite get it, using it when already folded is easy, easier for you too then folding at change time.
Butterfly Fitted's are my hands down favorite diaper, dad likes it too. He hates my pins but loves snappi's. Now he did try to put this on with wings unfolded. I laughed till I cried! Once shown (at laundry folding time) he was all good to go. I do have to say he realized it didn't look right. He put it on and with wings hanging down monkey's thighs said "is this right?".
So once again I vote go old school. It isn't as hard as it seems. And dads are all about performance so they don't like leg wicking. I have hybrid Fitted's. My teens prefer these but dad does not. Yes they are easy to use but it comes to performance and he doesn't like that they aren't waterproof should monkey have a super long nap in a stroller, or that sometimes they need covers and sometimes they don't.
So there you have it.
•put diapers away ready to use
•have some snappi's on hand
•pull on wool covers or Velcro wrap style covers.
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Cute in blue.
Made a turquoise set of shorties and leggings last night to go with the sweater from my Aunty Judith. The colours remind me of the ocean.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
From shorties to longies - mod'd 2in1
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Wool Shorties (mod'd bunz)
Monday, 9 March 2015
One piece short set (mod'd from monster bunz)
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Common Cloth Diaper Sewing Mistakes
This will be a trouble shooting post as the topics here have been (or will be) covered in depth in other posts.
1. Not Understanding the function of your fabrics:
It is important to understand the function of each fabric. I have covered all these in the "fabric reference page". Example: Use a poly fleece in the absorbent section of your diaper and it wont absorb, cuz its the wrong fleece. Likewise some fabrics have a right and wrong side.
2. Improperly sandwiching MF, zorb or cotton batting:
First off non of these are fantastic diaper fabrics, but if your going to use them they need to be sandwiched. These "fabrics" are actually fills, well MF isn't but functions as one. Now MF and zorb (because it contains MF) can't touch babies skin so needs a layer between them and baby. Plus fills need support. That means it needs another fabric on either side of it, sewing quilt lines through the sandwich increases support. So that's: one "bread layer" (flannel for example), one "meat layer" (zorb, MF or batting) and one more "bread layer". Doing: flannel, zorb, zorb, flannel, is incorrect.
3. Wrong Stitch Length:
Most diaper fabrics have stretch to them. If yours does you need a long stitch length otherwise your stitches will break when stretched.
4. Using Mystery fabrics:
If you don't know exactly what a fabric is, you don't know the function, proper use etc. Most fabrics cannot be accurately guessed by pics (to many are similar).
5. Pre-washing:
Washing fabrics before use removes dirt, germs, oil and shrinks the fabric. Don't pre-wash and your diaper could end up to small, or wonky (different fabrics shrink different).
6. Use The Right Needle:
Make sure the needle your using is the correct needle for your fabric. Also make sure you change it often. Needles get burrs on them which causes sewing problems.
7. Keep Machine in Good Repair:
You should clean your bobbin run frequently (q-tips are awesome for this), oil regularly and have your machine tuned yearly.
8: Poor Thread Choice:
Cheap thread is a nightmare, the wrong thread also is. Your best bet is gutterman universal, universal meaning all fabrics.
9: Too Many Layers:
This is a 2 fold issue. First you don't want any part of your diaper being thicker then 4-5 natural, thin layers or 3 thick layers or synthetic layers. Doing so will lead to washing issues (ammonia) and drying issues (time and mildew).
The second part is too many layers. Cloth diapering is about changing baby when baby pees. If this is an issue for you then cloth diapering might not be the right choice for you.
10. Understand What Your Sewing:
You can't sew an AIO, HF or WIO (for example), if you don't understand what that is. Try and you'll likely make it wrong and wonder why it didn't work. The 3 examples I gave; they all sound similar, function similar but HF's and WIO's are actually are constructed like an AI2. This is cuz they won't function optimally if constructed like an AIO.
Check the "diaper styles review page" for starters, then watch a tutorial, look at pics etc. The other side of this is not understanding your options means you might not be choosing the best style for you.
11. Using 4 absorbers or 2 barriers: I see this often. There is no need and only a few reasons to use more then one absorbing fabric. Absorption is created by number of layers, not number of fabric choices. And some are nearly identical. There is also no reason to use more then 2. Read "how do I combine my fabrics".
Less often, but still often enough I see the use of multiple barrier fabrics. Adding pul to an HF means its not an HF, and you've just wasted the fleece, it no longer serves its purpose.
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Diaper Pails
When I started cloth diapering dirty diapers were stored one way, in a diaper pail. Everyone had the same diaper pail which came in white, blue, pink and yellow. They had an etched animal on them, mine had a bunny. My moms had an elephant.... Yes these pails have been around a long time. So imagine my surprise when I couldn't find one in stores for Monkey!
Diaper laundry is not what it was. Modern diapers with synthetics need heavier wash routines, HE washers are apparently a pain in the poppy bum and in the age if diaper genies even the cloth diaper pail got a make over, and a liner, and accessories.
Well it's no secret that I'm a fan off k.i.s.s (keep it simple stupid), so I wanted the same pail our family had always used. I had a few pregnant tears over it about this time last year. In the end I got a plastic kitchen garbage can. Pretty simple lol.
Then I bought my first ever wet bag and was all pumped to dry this new idea everyone was so gaga about and found so necessary....I hated it. Seriously if you've always used one then try an open pail for 1 week. That wet bag made everything stink of wet cloth, like a mildew smell. Back to my pail, air flow, yep, that's what wet bags don't have is airflow and wet fabric needs that so as not to breed must and mildew.
This is what I do. When a diaper is wet or poppy I change it, I rinse it (yep, every single one!), wring it out, throw in my open (no lid cuz I threw out the lid) pail. And then I wash every two (2) days. I add regular laundry to make a full load. Remember I've rinsed away the poop and pee so my family is chills with this ( as my teens would say).
You heard wet pails were bad? This isn't a wet pail. Wet pail is a pail if water and vinegar that you soak diapers in till laundry day. Dry Paul is no sitting water. Yes the diapers are wet...with tap water as opposed to wet with pee. And I wash every 2 days cuz I was taught that's important.
So there is my suggestion: try an open pail (no lid or liner) with rinsed diapers. Also, I rinse the pail with water and vinegar yo clean each time. I think you'll find less dirty diaper smell awaiting laundry day.