Caring for wool, its easier then you think

I was always afraid to try wool diaper covers.  I loved the idea of them but they seemed like hard work. 

I finally tried them and fell in love. 

If you have machine washable wool or fully felted wool (shrunk), its super easy, not that hand washing is hard, wool is easy hand washing (promise)  

To wash felted wool
•just throw in washer or dryer with clothes or diapers. 

For those that need hand washing:
• throw in sink of lukewarm water
• add baby wash
•gently knead like bread
• for a poop soiled area rub together
• squeeze but don't wring out water. 

Drying wool:
• roll inside towel to remove water
• hang to dry
*hang on back if fan near heater to speed drying time

Lanolizing:
•put inch or two hot water in a water bottle or similar container.
•add drop of baby wash
•pea sized amount if lansinoh nipple cream (its pure lanolin), or similar pure lanolin product
•shake till lanolin is emulsified.
•add to lukewarm sink of water
• lay wool in flat, inside out
• flip in 15 or more minutes
• follow above drying instructions.

Using wool:
• use for about 12 hours (unless soiled)
•hang to air about 12 hours. (Wool is self cleaning
•wash every 3-4 uses or when airing doesn't remove hints of urine smell
*optionally use wool refresher spray between uses and reduce washings
•lanolize every 3-4 washes

I recommend every cloth mom get one wool cover at least and try it out at night.  I think trying it out will make many new converts and solve many night time diapering issues.

Below: monkey in wool in his first month.  He's in a wrap from yardage in the basket pic.  The blue outfit is wool shorties from up cycled sweater and baby legs. 

What Would My Dream Diaper Be?

So with all the posts I've made I have tried to be somewhat impartial.  If you've read a number you know I love wool and use flannel.  And I do love flannel because it is hard working, easy cleaning, soft diaper fabric and affordable.  Yes you can buy it for $15 a meter but I never have.  I have numerous adorable prints and always paid between $2.50 - $4.50.  Most often I pay $3. 

But what would my dream diaper be if I could spend any about of money I wanted? Well I'd make a contour mini WIO.  My wool would be nature's fabrics hot blue poor boy knit 2 layer wrap.  The contour mini would be 2 cuts hemp fleece with one soaker cut inside and a sewn in soaker flap of 1 cut hemp fleece and 1 cut blue cotton sherpa.  It would be trim, so washable, so absorbent and so super soft and cuddly. 

Every month I tell myself "this month I am treating myself to these three fabrics".  It hasn't happened yet,  hopefully next week lol.  If I do I'll post it. 

What about you?, what's your dream diaper?

Below: screen shots of my dream fabric.

Good Cloth Diapers On A Budget?

So you want to cloth diaper but don't have $500 to spend - me either!  So today's post is about affordable cloth diapering for those on tight budgets or are just financially savy.  There are affordable options to sew or buy. 

Not all budget diaper options are going to make the cut for this blog post.  My criteria is good performance for about $120.  If you don't have $120 laying around think of it spread out.  Anywhere from $60 over 2 months to $20 a month for 6 months. 

How is the $120 to be spent?
24-28 diapers (mostly flannel)
•4-6 covers
•thread
•diaper pins.  (I love pins but feel free to try snappi's or boingos.) 

Flats 2 dozen:
•Buy @ Kelly's closet 1 doz Birdseye cotton flats for  $24.97.  ($50 for 24) At this price you can afford to buy or make covers
•Buy at Kushies 6 cotton flannel for $19.99 ($60 for 24).  You can also buy or make covers
• you can make flats but it tends to cost a little more and waste fabric due to the width of a flat unless you get a 60" wide fabric for about $3.

24-28 prefolds
• buy at kushies  6 cotton flannel $27.97 ($110 for 24), comes in prints.  You'll be making upcycle wool wraps to keep the budget though. 
•buy at Kelly's closet 6 bummis organic cotton prefolds $19.99 (size 1; 7-20lbs) ($80 for 24)
•make cotton flannel prefolds.  You can often find flannel for around $3 meter or yard.  Try Joann's or fabricland.  You can get 2 prefolds from 1.1  meters. That's 26.5m for 28 diapers = $80.

Butterfly's
14 butterfly Fitted's of 3 layers flannel from 10 meters/yards flannel @$3/m is $30, so $60 for 28. Plus you'll need 3/8 in braided elastic.  1 pkg does about 6 diapers (so 5 pkg). 

Mini's
14 mini's  with soaker totalling of 9 layer flannel (3 mini cuts, 6 soaker cuts) out of 10 meters flannel.  Plus elastic.  Fabric and cost wise its the exact same as the butterfly's. 

Fitted's
1 meter makes one flannel fitted with soaker using 2 layer diaper cuts, and 7 soaker cuts.  So at $3 meter that's $72 for 24 or $82 for 28.  Again you'll need the braided 3/8 elastic. 

Hybrids on a budget? 
•hybrid shells are fleece wraps that can go over your butterfly's, mini's or Fitted's, prefolds or flats. It will make your diapers function as a HF. I can get 6 diaper cuts from a meter of blizzard fleece (its wider then flannel).  And I can always find it for around $5 a meter.  If you want them 2 layers thick that's 6 hybrid shells for $10! You'll need some elastic again, but just 1 pkg.  It comes in solids and cute prints.  The newest prints will often be $10/m, but you don't need the newest print.  Want a decorative outer?  Dig through your families old t-shirts or ask Facebook friends. 
• you can make HF's using blizzard fleece with fst's (flour sack towels) as your soakers.  And instead of snapping in the soakers you can sew one at front and one at back so they are like flaps.  Just tri fold an fst, trim the ends with a nice curve and sew together.  Fst's are about $1 each.  And with blizzard fleece at about $5/m which makes 3 HF outers (or shells), that's $3.66 per HF which equals $47 for 28 plus elastic.  If your using all HF's you'll only need about 3 wool covers.  And could buy second hand or make and still come in on budget.

Wool
•You can upcycle wool sweaters into wraps, wool soakers, shorties and longies.  1XL sweater will do 1 lg wrap and 1 pair of longies.  For small wraps you get even more.  You can seek old sweaters from friends, 2nd hand stores and missions.  Katrina's soakers are a great pattern for free.
•buying wool is about $30 a meter.  A 2 layer wool wrap will yield 3 per meter, 1 layer plus soaker will yield 4 per meter and 1 layer wool wrap will yield 6 per meter.  So making some from yardage fits the budget for most of these diaper options.  You'll need the braided elastic for these too.
•buying wool covers often starts at around $40 a cover.  Look around for deals though.  Also you can check out CD swaps and wool swaps for second hand wool. 

PUL
• pul can be pricey but if your just making a few covers it will work out to about $10 per cover, less if you fins a good sale.  Likewise you can buy wraps from Kushies or Kelly's closet for about $10- $15 so it could be done on this budget with some if these diaper options.

What No Pockets?
Sorry, no.  The average price of pul means pockets don't make this budget cut.  You need one pocket for each diaper plus inserts and snaps or Velcro.  Buy if your a Google queen perhaps you can find some great deals and do pockets on budget.  In this case use fst's for inserts.  MF might be cheap to buy but it's performance and disability don't make my cut. 

Pregnant? 
Ask for a T&A shower (that's right tits and ass lol),  all gifts for cloth diapering and breastfeeding.  My family did this for baby #5 and we had a ball, plus it saved me tonnes of money.  I got pregnant with #5 about 6 months after giving away my diaper stash. 

How come I always say buy flannel?  It's quality diaper fabric that's affordable.  If your not on a budget feel free to buy any absorbent fabric you like.  How come I don't suggest T-shirt diapers? Cuz they don't meet my absorbency standards.  And yes I have followed the advice here.  My stash is 100% flannel. 

I love in person fabric shopping but check Joann's for affordable flannel and blizzard fleece if you don't have a near by fabric store. 
Also check Nature's fabrics for wool. 

Diaper Covers

It actually just occurred to me today that we haven't discussed diaper covers!  In the modern cloth diaper world where pockets and aio's are a popular choice you might not be surprised but I'm a wool lover lol, I love my covers. 

Plastic pants:
This is what people used in the 70's and 80's if grandma didn't knit.  They have zero breathability and according to my mom (cuz grandma only knitted socks lol),  they often left marks on the legs.  They are made of plastic and pull on.  Gerber still makes and sells these (I don't know why). They are hand washed and not that durable.  Don't use them they are not good for baby's bum. 

PUL
Polyurethane fabric of some breathability but its waterproof. It wears out over time but as a cover only it could last 3 kids.  They are generally made as a wrap style cover.  A few babies are sensitive to either the synthetic fabric or the lack of breathability.  Sometimes they wick around the legs.  They are washable and wipeable.  They need to be washed and dried on a low heat.  They do up with snaps or Velcro.  Flips are technically a pul cover. 

TPU
These are a treated taffeta much like pul but more breathable.  The only difference between these and pul is the breathability and lack of stretch  so don't buy os, buy sized and forget about it for a chunky monkey

Wool
Sorry if I gush, I love it lol.  Wool is breathable, antimicrobial, somewhat self cleaning, easy to care for (you have to try to believe me).  It is made of 80-100% wool.  It can be knitted or sewn or upcycled.  It will last and last and pass down to your grandkids.  Some are even washable and dryable, others are hand wash and hang to dry only unless you felt (shrink by washing).  Felting is optional.  Cashmere is cuddly soft.  They come in soakers (pull ons with cuffs), wraps, longies (wool pants double as cover and clothes), shorties (wool shorts double as cover and clothed and skirties (all of the above but with skirt attached).  They are so natural people will call you crunchy lol.  They are bullet proof-not-gonna-leak-all-night (especially if paired with HF).  Unfelted varieties are stretchy.  They can be pricy unless you upcycle from wool sweaters. Some like a second layer particularly in the wet zone. Some people are allergic to wool though.  I have a wool addiction. 

Fleece covers
Made if water resistant poly fleece (see fabric reference page).  They are as breathable as wool.  They can get compression leaks and so ideal for home.  They come in all the same styles as wool.  It is affordable (windpro is pricey but the Best). They can be washed and dried.  They are stretchy.  Durable (put some pilling).  Will last 3-4 kids.  Soft and cuddly.  Also used as PJ pants to help with night diapering.  Sine like a 2nd especially in wet zone.  As a wrap style cover they can make your diaper act like an HF. 

Contoured Mini

A contoured mini diaper is similar to a fitted diaper but it doesn't do up, instead it lays or snaps into your cover.  Basically its the soaker pad only. I highly recommend snap in.  Lay in tends to put drag on your cover leading to a droopy bum. Adding snaps to both the front and back of cover will hold the mini into place better.  These usually don't have a separate soaker flap or snap in insert.  I also recommend making a mini with one, like I've said before; less layers clean and dry more easily.  For people sewing their own diapers this is a great design in that it uses less fabric then a fitted diaper. 

Pros:
•less fabric
• elastic to help contain poop
• easy to wash and dry if made with a soaker flap or snap in insert
•easy to use

Cons:
• causes droopy diaper if it doesn't snap into cover
• bunching may occur in the crotch leading to poop on the cover unless it snaps into front and back if the cover.

http://rocketbottoms.com/product/contour-mini-diaper-pattern/
This is a link to a pattern to purchase for $2.50. Alternatively you could use this page:

http://www.verybaby.com/sew-a-mini-diaper-an-elasticized-contour-diaper/
To draft your own pattern based on the size and shape if your cover.  If doing this measure fully stretched length if your cover.  This page says you should use specific fabrics.  Ignore that, use the fabrics of your choice.

To make you need:
Absorbent fabrics, elastic.
Optional: wicking topper, decorative outer, water resistant fleece bottom layer. 

How Do I Decide? - decision help for making your cloth diapers

It can be overwhelming deciding what type of diaper you are going to make, what fabrics you are going to use and what pattern and sewing method.  The thing is there really isn't a wrong choice, just a right choice for you.  Using some of the blog posts here I am going to help you do this. 

Choosing your diaper style:
Start with the Diaper Styles Review page.  As you read through it make notes.  If you can print it off that may make it easier.  But note which ones appeal to you and cross off the one that don't.  Then read up further on the styles you like to firm up your decision. The name  of each diaper on the review page is a link to a more indepth look at that diaper style.  Next write down the types of materials needed for your top style picks.  Its probably good if you have a few top picks at this point. 
Also in this part read about diaper covers here

Finding your preferred fabrics:
Next take a look at the Fabric Reference Page. Use this page as you did the diaper styles review page.  Go through and note in some way which fabrics appeal to you.  Also consider reading my posts about key fabric decisions
•the truth about bamboo here
•MF - a fabric to think twice about here
•how do i combine my fabrics here
I have other posts also but I feel these three are important to understand.

With your preferred fabrics notated compare with your preferred diaper styles.  Do they match?  If you checked off pockets and aio's but then checked wool; take another look at wio's, Fitted's and minis.  Likewise if you picked HF's and not fleece take another look at aio's, Fitted's Wio's etc. 

Now you are getting some where and your style is really starting to show!  With your top picks make a list of fabric types needed (include optionals) and list which fabrics you picked for the types needed.  For example:

HF:
Water resistant: blizzard fleece
Absorbent: hemp terry
Topper: cotton sherpa
Decorative outer: none
(Just to clarify this is a random example)

Your final decision is the pattern.  DSS has a list of free patterns here.  You can also find patterns for sale online or the babyville pattern book available online and in many fabric stores.  You can even draft your own.  If you love the pattern of a pocket diaper but want to make an aio don't worry!  Take the pattern you like to get the fit you want then Google or YouTube a tutorial for the style you want.  They all fit together.  I use the same pattern pieces for each style cuz I adjusted to fit my Monkey.  When choosing a pattern for cut keep your baby's shape in mind.  I've written a post about that too called Chunky Monkeys & Skinny Minnie's.

Now its time to enjoy sewing.  Your last decision will be to serge or t&t (turn and topstitch).  There are only 2 things to look at when making this decision:
1: which do you like the look of.
2. Do you own a serger. (If not t&t is your best option). 
Happy Sewing Friends!

How Do I Combine My Fabrics?

In today's cloth diaper world there is a huge multitude of fabric choices to choose from.  It can be overwhelming.  I often find people wondering what combo of fabric is best or what combo of fabric are they supposed to use.  Really its more simple then that.  I promise.  Read on and I will explain. 

For barrier fabrics (pul, water resistant fleeces, wool and tpu) you use as cover, shell or outer layer.  You choose one and use it.  People get that so we are moving onto to the insides: absorbent layers and optional wicking/stay dry layer. 

Basically choose your absorbent fabric of choice, then the fabric you want next to baby's skin.  This could be the same fabric, a fabric chosen for its softness or a wicking/stay dry fabric. 

You truly do not need to choose three types of absorbent fabrics.  One is generally all you need to choose. Using multiple types of fabrics doesn't increase absorbency.  You increase absorbency by using additonal layers if fabric.  Are there times you should choose a second absorbent fabric?  Yes.

When to use 2 types of absorbent fabric:
• if you use MF, zorb 1 or cotton batting.  MF and zorb 1 needs to be covered cuz they can't touch baby's skin. Cotton batting needs to be sandwiched and quilted to last. 
* MF is the one fabric I recommend never using.
• you are choosing a synthetic absorbent fabric such as shobf (yes it is synthetic).  The reason to consider using a 2nd absorbent fabric is that synthetics are harder to wash so layering with a natural fabric makes it easier to wash. 
*It's not a must, just a suggestion. 
•you are choosing a very bulky absorbent fabric such as  bkt.  You would need less layers of these fabrics but using them with a second absorbent fabric can be a bulk cutting option.
• cost.  You really want a specific pricey absorbent fabric but for your budget purposes you prefer to combo with a more affordable option. 
•you want a certain absorbent fabric next to baby's skin (such as Sherpa) but its not your fave pick for absorbency so you use it just as a topper. 
•you like the different performance options of 2 fabrics.  An example would be layering flannel (absorbs quickly) with hemp (heavy absorbing). 

When might I need one more fabric type:
•wicking or stay dry layer.  If you want a wicking or stay dry top layer for a topper then you would add one layer of your choice of any wicking or stay dry fabric.  You never have to, but some people prefer this next to baby's skin. 

Why choose just one?
• you'll get more out of a larger single cut of fabric.
•saves money especially when ordering on line.
•it makes life easier (why complicate things?)

But my child is a heavy wetter
If your child is a heavy wetter you need additional absorbency not additional fabric choices. 
•Add an extra soaker or  use a snake style that you can just fold over. 
•use a very absorbent fabric such as hemp fleece.  If cost or bulk is an issue then combo with one other fabric. 
•check the fit of your diaper
•check the absorbency. 

I can't decide which fabric:
Read my fabric reference page this might help.  There really isn't a wrong choice.  Or use your favorites if its easier then choosing, that's fine too. 

SHOBF & HOBF?
It's the same fabric, SHOBF is just heavier

Cotton Fleece & Hemp Fleece?
Its almost the same fabric except the hemp is hemp and cotton so more absorbent.  Hemp also has antimicrobial properties.

I really hope this clears things up for people.  Relax and choose the fabric that appeals to you!