Monster Bunz Mod to Soaker Tutorial

It's no secret I think monster bunz aka MB (by opulent monsters on etsy) is the greatest fit for a cloth bum.  So today I am going to show how I use this pattern to make a soaker.  I should add I have the luxe fit.

(Toddlers are not always the best models lol, this is the only still shot I managed to get).

K first up pin your leg pattern price to your wool.
Cut from 1/2 inch below small circle cut out to 1/2 inch below large circle cut out (I sew in a 1/4 inch seam allowance - quilting habit).

Next fold the pattern peice up at this 1/2 inch mark
Cut across straight edge.

Cut your waist as normal or make it shorter.  I like shorter on a soaker.

Finally cut your leg peice in the opposite stretch direction and not on fold. (Mine was pre cut so I eyeballed it).  We want the leg cuff more narrow height wise, but longer length wise as it now is going around a thigh not an ankle.

Finally sew together in much the same way.
Sew edge of cuffs then fold over and set aside.

Repeat for waist.

Sew top back seam.

Top front seam

Join leg seams forming a leg hole.
Next (and I'm so sorry I forgot a pic) cut from 1.5 inch in from the leg seam out towards the side on a scoop up by 2 inches.  This will make it a soaker and not a shorty.  Now that it is on him, and he is thinned out, I could have cut up 3-4 inches.

Place butt circle in hole.  Pin top and bottom first then ease in pinning more.  Sew (circle up).

Inside out place cuffs and waist band in leg holes and waist.  Then sew.

Lastly I fold the cuff over once more and sew up.

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. 

Cute pictures in wool shorties

Monkey is wearing one of his wool interlock shorties today.  I used monster bunz for these cuz I prefer the fit.  Ignore the mess please lol.  Its a Saturday morning which means the teen siblings were allowed to spend the night up watching movies, playing video games and crashing in the living room.  When they get up they get to tidy their mess lol.  

Wool Shorties (mod'd bunz)

In the process ofif getting ready for spring and summer Monkey is going to need wool soakers and shorties instead if his fall/winter longies.  And so the sewing has begun.  

So this is a very basic mod from monster bunz.  Basically you use the whole monster bunz pattern (available to purchase at opulent monsters).  Then you draw a line across the leg portion on the pattern.  I did this at only 1.5 inches down from the crotch (and sewed with a 3/8th inch seam allowance).  Also I cut the leg cuffs wider.  His wide depends on your monkey's thighs.  But cut smaller then their thighs, to accommodate stretch.  Also my cuffs are much shorter, they are cut at (um guessing) just over 3 inches.  (I free hand many patterns).

The other thing you can see I did was sew in a soaker layer in the wet zone.  This is 100% merino wool (un felted), but we walk a LOT in the sprung and summer so monkey will be in the stroller or carrier a fair bit, so I wanted the second layer of wool for the wetzone.  I'll be honest, sewing a layer in the wet zone after the butt circle did take sine pinning  patience.  So if your a beginner either felt instead or breathe deep, take it slow and use lots of pin .  

*yoga is ideal for projects requiring patience.  I greet the sun then either down ward dog to pegion or butterfly my legs then turtle.  You can repeat but I opt to hold each pose for 5 min.  If find this really slows me down.  

One piece short set (mod'd from monster bunz)

I really love the monster bunz pattern for my chunky monkey.  I think even for a smaller boy I'd love it.  If I had a girl, I'd try maxaloons with their more legging like fit.  

So as you know I mod'd the pattern into a one piece. 

Well here I've shortened that into a one piece shorts set.  To do this draw a line across the leg portion of the pattern 1.5-4 inches down from the crotch.  (More or less depending on baby's size / desired length). 

The other thing I've done is sewn the back waist of the pants half with elastic in the hem.  This prevents the but gap I was getting before.  (I can easily sew elastic with a zig zag into the previously made one piece sets).  This has made this outfit not require snaps,  but could have booth if you prefer. 

There will be other outfits coming for Monkey's spring/summer collection. I'll be using monster bunz one way or another I'm sure. 

pattern conversion: monster bunz to back snap wool romper

This post is the pattern conversion only.  The sewing tutorial is (here).

I love butt circle pants and I love wool.  Combining the two has been awesome.  Tonight however I was thinking I'd like a one piece old style romper that snaps shut at the back waist .  Trust me, they are awesome .  So I am combining the two.

I start with the purchased pattern.  The seams are in the wrong place for what we are doing thoug . We need side seams not centre seams.  So fold in half and tuck under pieces that form front of pants.

Lay on your new pattern paper (I use newspaper), with the waist on the fold.  Trace the pattern adding seam allowance to the outside of legs.  Also add a substantial hem allowance at waist. I fold my paper to get even on both sides when I cut. Then cut.

Now fold purchased pattern tucking back under.  Trace again with seam allowance at leg.  Leave lots of room at top of paper.

Grab one of baby's shirts.  Trace to make a pattern piece for shirt back.  Swing out side to match pant width.

Use that to make front shirt pattern piece (cut front neck lower though).  But make shorter shirt length then back and draft so the waists meet making one solid front piece.

Using shirt neck lines draft a front and back yoke.

Make a sleeve and cuff piece using your shirt and seam allowanc .

Use the butt circle and leg cuff pattern piece from your purchased pattern.

Pin pattern pieces to fabric. Make sure the stretch goes across the width of the pattern.  You will cut one piece of:
Pants back
Outfit front
Shirt back
Front & back yoke.

Cut two pieces of:
Sleeve
Sleeve cuff
Leg cuff
Butt circle.  (If made of jersey or fleece cut one, for wool cut 2 for water resistence.

Maxaloons & Monster Bunz -clothing your CD baby

The problem with mainstream baby clothes and the fluff bum is an ever growing problem.  Those pants have no width in thee bum because sposies are like paper thin now.  So a CD mom needs a wide bum pant....enter maxaloons and monster bunz.  These are home made or wham made pants with a super cute circle extender in the butt.

Kushies is a cloth diaper company that's been around since 1984 and makes clothes and they make clothes that fit fluff bums too....with an added piece in the butt. My younger kids had these....lots of these lol.  Kushies clothes are also super soft, and organic cotton.  So you can buy those and I think the butt circles were evolution 2.0.

                (This is a Kushies outfit)

The awesome thing about butt circle pants is they aren't just designed to fit fluff bums, they are designed to grow.  They have large cuffs and waists that you can turn up or down and are often made of stretchy knit jersey or rib knit cotton.  (Just cut your pattern with the stretch in the right direction).  

You can even make a shirt to match.  These aren't included in the patterns but you can find shirts online or take apart a shirt to make a pattern. 

And when you go out everyone will ooh and ahh over the cuteness.  And if you made them you get added mommy points (or in some cases added jealous snarls).  Either way you feel awesome! 

See cloth diapering  gets cuter and cuter.  The more mainstream stores exclude us from their baby clothes the more cloth moms fight back with even better trends!!