Make Your Own Diaper Pattern - Tutorial

So this tutorial is to help you draft your own diaper pattern and soaker.  My goal is to help you navigate between all the small changes from one pattern to the next in shape and size.  Choosing what will likely be best for you.

I recommend making a single layer cut in any diaper fabric to test out your fit without making an entire diaper.  You'll see the pattern samples I used are cut in flannel.

I suggest starting with newspaper, then something like flannel.  Quickly sew some elastic on (like I did in some of these samples) and test fit with a distowel or similar sized fabric (for bulk).  Then you'll know if / where to make an adjustment.

First up is diaper sizes.  There is a wide range and the chart below should help you with a guide to the deminsions you want to work with.  If you draw max and min measurements in marker and draft your pattern in another marker colour this will help.
Also draft just half.  Them fold in half length ways to cut both sides the same.

(Max & Min dimensions drawn in pink, half diaper cut drawn in blue)

Size.     Length.    Crotch    Back.    Front.
Nb.        14 - 15     4.5-7       12-1 .      8-10
Sm.       16-18.       4.5-7.5   14-15.5   9-11
Med      17-20.      5- 8.        15-18.     9-12
Lg/os    18-21.       6-8.         18-20.5  9-12.5

* measurements in inches, before sewing
** 5 & 7 are the most common crotch width sizes.

So now that you see how to draw the pattern, and within what measurements, how do you decide what shape to draw?  Well obviously you want all around bigger for a chunky baby, and smaller for a skinny baby, but there is a bit more to it then that of course.

Leg shape:  some leg holes have a gentle curve. Others are more scooped.  A gentle leg curve fits a thunder thigh best.  A more scooped leg curve fits slender legs best.  Somwhere in between is your average.  The gentle curve will increase crotch width (best for chunky).  All newborns have little legs, so if making a newborn diaper or cover, use a scooped leg. 
The leg hole is going to shrink when you add elastic. Shrinkage equals X1.5

Wing to leg ratio also effects leg elastic.  The longer the crotch,  the higher it comes around the leg.  Wing shape; looking above you see the square tab on the left with gentle leg curve only has elastic on bottom of leg. This is because it has a shorter crotch, deeper wing. 

So if baby has no booty or long butt crack you want a deeper wing that comes up higher on the waist.   Think of it like high waisted jeans and a more narrow wing is like low rise jeans.  Skinny baby with no butt?  Long scooped leg with deep wing.  

How wide is the back?  Measure your baby's back.  Multiple by 1.5 (elastic with shrink up the width) . Wings are added width to this measurement.  Generally you want enough wing to come around baby's side and to the front.  Keep this in mind when deciding wing length.  

Alternatively a side snap diaper required very short wings. Measure your baby's sides, this is your wing size + seam allowance + overlap for snaps (1, 2 or 3 rows across).  Also you snaps will run vertically down the wing.  Having multiple rows allows you to snap the top or bottom tighter if needed.  

Next is tummy panel.  You might wish this to be just a little wider then the crotch, or wrap around the sides of babies tummy.  This is pretty much personal choice.  Just make sure your wings cover and and do up well.  With a side snap your tummy panel will match the back wings.  Shape wise you want it to visually go with the look if the wings, not so much for appearenc, but for a corresponding fit.  Do you have a tummy sleeper, or slender waist?  Add some width to accommodate some tummy elastic.  

Making a contour mini?  Design the same but round off instead of wings.

This mini is finished put you can see it is a diaper with no wings at all.  Make the tummy and butt wider then the crotch though to cover butt and front.

Butterfly fitted?  Take your diaper design and draw a wing on each side in the leg hole area.

These wings fold over and become your soakers (so need to add one).  And once folded in you have your diaper shape.


Now you'll need to add soakers for absorbency (except the butterfly's that's what the wings do).   You will want at least 2 diaper cuts.  Then perhaps a soaker pad sewn in and soaker that lays on top,   snaps on is is sewn to one end like a flap.

A sewn in soaker pad will be oval or conoured.  It will be about 1.5 inches more narrow then your crotch,  and a few inches shorter.

For an additional soaked you could do
 1 oval.. This could be srwn in  soaker pad and snap in or flap.

2 ovals for easier separation when drying and cleaning.  These would be snap in or flap.

It could be contured to give full coverage.  This can be soaker pad or snap in /flap

Where to place your elastic.  At the back leg curve place it where the curve starts on the wing.

Or a very long oval that folds over to double up absorbency.  This sryle soajer is dnap in ir flap.

Elastic placement:  see the red lines on the pic below.  This is elastic placement.  The back elastic lines up with the back leg elastic.  The front leg Marj is where the leg curve ends in front and the diaper turns vertically to the wing.  If adding front elastic, just center it, and never wider then the crotch.  

There you go!  You've just designed your very own diaper pattern!  No need to pay for one ever again cuz you have the skills! Practice, play around with it and have fun.  You can use this in any if the diaper tutorials on my page or any other tutorials.  

And notice to the right where the tutorials and reference pages are?  Well those will help with fabric choice etc but also check out the new "Let's talk" section".