accidental felting

So in a previous post I talk about how you don't need to felt wool, and I don't.

Sometimes it happens by accident when dad (let's blame him lol) throws your favorite night time wool in the wash.  Leya face it, he isn't going to do it to the pair you don't care about cuz they are in the back of baby's dresser.  There isn't much you can do.  If they are too small you can save them for the next baby or pass them on.

Now say you don't let dad do the laundry for this reason and you carefully hand wash and lano your wool.  You may find the crotch felts over time, or the knees (for older babies), or the thighs (for chunky babies).  Don't panic.  It is going to happen.  It won't be supper felted and (in the instance of the crotch) the felting will make it work a little better.

I consider this type if felting the natural wear and tare and breaking in process.  Let it be.  You might want a wool shaver if it gets fuzzy.  That's up to you and all about looks.

Enjoy and relax mama's! Relax.

Monster Bunz VS Katrina's (for woolies)

When I started with wool wraps, soakers, longies and shorties I went with Katrina's.  It was free and everybody raved about it and wool works so wonderfully and it was easy to use when up cycling.  Then my friend bought me the monster bunz pattern to make some non wool pants for Monkey.  I loved it.  Then  I made a pair of longies with the pattern and was blown away.  Next I made rompers, shorties and just got carried away modifying the pattern to my every whim.  Yes you have to pay for it and yes it is worth it and you will get your money back for all the woolies and clothes you will make with it for years to come. 

First we will look at 2 pics then a point form list (but the pics show my preference best).  

 This above pic is a pair of yellow shorties made with Monster Bunz (MB).  They fit great in the bum but notice they fit great in the front also, and the waist and well, just all over.

This is a pair of red shorties using Katrina's.  Notice the crotch droop?  Yes they cover his fluff bum but this pattern fits front and back the same and even a cloth diapered bum isn't as fluffy up front, even with the diapers soaker folded to catch boy pee.
*took both these pics this morning in the same diaper for best illustrations.

•MB is cut like pants but with a butt circle to accommodate a fluffy CD bum. The circle comes into the crotch to also accommodate fluff crotch (without droop).
Katrina's accommodates fluff bum by width.  

•MB is more narrow where you add the waist band this makes the waist band fit the waist better, especially if at the age where baby transitions to toddler and slims down in the tummy with all that running around.
Katrina's does not narrow at the waist and I always needed to re-size it. 

•MB grows with the child for a longer fitting time
Katrina's sizes are less accommodating

•Katrina's have an optional second layer in the wet zone
MB does not but I have added one.  It wasn't easy but it is doable for a more experienced seamstress or someone with a lot of patience.  Alternatively you could felt the wool (which will mean the item won't fit as long) or use a thicker sweater or interlock.  I have a pair if interlock shorties that didn't need the extra layer. 

Clothing your CD babe - longies, shorties, skirties

Clothing your cloth diapered little one is different then clothing a disposable diapered baby.  This is because CD babes have fluffy bums and disposable babes have increasingly trim bums.  As disposable bums get trimmer commercial clothing for babes and toddlers get trimmer too making it much harder to clothe a CD babe in commercial clothing then it was when I had my older children.  Thankfully as cloth diapering gets more popular (particularly in the states, cuz they have a much bigger population then there is here in Canada) more options come along for CD families. 

Today I am going to talk about longies, shorties and skirties.  Traditionally these are wool,  but they can also be water resistant fleece.  They can be knit, crocheted, sewn from yardage, upcycled or purchased (particularly online). 

These are a brilliant option that is both a diaper cover and clothing or pj's all in one piece!  The are adorable too.  Longies are wool or fleece pants.  Shorties are wool or fleece shorts.  Skirties are longies or shorties (or a soaker cover) with a skirt attached. 

Wool is an amazing textile for clothing in that it is temperature regulating.  So they are great whatever the weather.  They can be more then just pants and shorts too.  Overalls, jumpers and old school rompers are all possible in wool and fleece.  You can also make or buy wool or fleece sleep bags, cocoons and themed outfits.  The other great thing is no worries about damp clothes from pul leaks, the clothing is the diaper cover, and wool is known for its bullet proof leak protection .  Allergic to wool? You'll love soft cuddly fleece.

Baby might not be able to wear those skinny jeans like the baby down the street but the adorable options will have your neighbours oohing over your fluff bum and fluff bum clothing.    Stay tuned for more adorable options in future posts.