Here is a prefold-to-fitted that any of you with just a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch can make!
You'll need:- prefold (any size)
- basic sewing machine with straight and ziz zag stitches
- elastic (I use 3/8" for premium size prefitteds and 1/4" for infant size)
- thread
- safety pin
- scissors (fabric marker is only optional)
Where you'll be cutting (stop cutting around 3/4" from the center seams).
Sew the two middle sections together very close to their edges.
Sew lines/seams for your elastic casing channels on both sides of the thick middle section.
Wet-zone zig-zagged edges... and casing edge zig-zag finished edges. Leave enough open on the wings to thread your elastic.
Wet-zone and edge zig zags shown from the back.
Thread your leg elastic with a safety pin through the channels, tack, stretch, tack, trim...
Roll the edge in and zig zag down the rest of the open part of the wing to close it up.
Finished wing:
Done... just needs the marker washed out!
Small rise with the front and back folded down:
Where you'll be cutting (stop cutting around 3/4" from the center seams).
Sew the two middle sections together very close to their edges.
Turn right-side-out.
Sew lines/seams for your elastic casing channels on both sides of the thick middle section.
Wet-zone zig-zagged edges... and casing edge zig-zag finished edges. Leave enough open on the wings to thread your elastic.
Wet-zone and edge zig zags shown from the back.
Thread your leg elastic with a safety pin through the channels, tack, stretch, tack, trim...
Roll the edge in and zig zag down the rest of the open part of the wing to close it up.
Finished wing:
Done... just needs the marker washed out!
Medium rise with just the front folded down:
Small rise with the front and back folded down:
This looks great!
ReplyDeleteGreat Tutorial! I bet if you used fold over elastic along the cut and folded sides it would be an easier way to finish with the zig-zag stitch and look really clean as well. I'm a huge fan of less effort :)
ReplyDeleteAre the sizes of the prefolds before turning them into the prefitted the same after? (If I did this to a newborn prefold, would it still work on a newborn?)
ReplyDeleteThe rise and width does not change. The elastic being added is the only thing that might affect size in that way. I prefer to use a size up and then fold down the front so each size lasts longer though, but yours should work fine IF they snappi well. If you want them to fit like how trifolded prefolds fit in a cover, then you'd have a harder time.
ReplyDeleteI apologize if this is redundant, but if I wanted a newborn diaper (and only a nb diaper, I have sizes after that) would you use a newborn PF or an infant PF (in my case, I'm referring to GMD PF's since that what I have used in the past).
ReplyDeleteI am not super familiar with all the brand sizing of prefolds, but I would stick with infant. You can always fold down the rise, but can't size up. ;) Baabaababy.us has a GREAT no-seam extended wing prefitted tutorial too though. For those short chunks out there. :D
ReplyDeleteI sit here, mouth gaping wide, in AWE of this simple yet so profound "fitted"!!!!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I am loving the look of your patterns as well :)
when you draw out the lines for where you're going to cut, are you using a guide of any kind? i want to do this badly but i'm nervous to cut unevenly or cut wrong.
ReplyDeleteFor this tutorial, I just freehanded it. However, you can use any pattern as long as you don't cut too far in as to ruin the area that will be the elastic casings. Check out my newer no-serge prefitted tutorial too! The detail-oriented no-serge prefitted. :)
Deletehttp://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2012/03/non-serged-detail-oriented-prefitted.html
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ReplyDeleteI know this post is old, but I'm glad I found it! I used prefolds on my 17 month old son when he was a newborn and was not a fan of trying to figure out various folds with a wiggly baby. I was about to invest in some Diaper Rite pre-fitteds, but I think I'll try converting a few of my 30 prefolds first. :)
ReplyDeleteI made one, but added some t shirt as lining along the top and back since my prefold was such a loose weave and I didn't think it would hold the snaps I wanted to put on it. It also made it so that it has a flap on the inside of the front and back to hold an insert, as I only attatched it on the sides and along the top edge, leaving the inside edge open. This was so much faster for me than making a diaper from scratch, and makes use of prefolds I already have.
ReplyDeleteI added an extra step and made extended fleece wings on my smaller prefolds so they will fit my baby longer :)
ReplyDeleteI want to try this about how long of a piece of elastic do you use
ReplyDeleteWould you recommend prepping your prefold first or do you think starting with a new unprepped prefold would be okay. I'm really excited to try this.
ReplyDeleteIf you have unprepped prefolds, then I'd REALLY suggest this style: http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2012/03/non-serged-detail-oriented-prefitted.html
Deletecould yo make this diaper like the tshirt prefitted, by cutting out the pattern after you have cut the soaker in? So this pattern merged with the tshirt prefitted...
ReplyDeleteProbably, but this style of prefitted is already VERY thick in the middle and thus will take a long time to dry and be harder to keep build-up free when washing. The way the T-shirt prefitted is done is just an easier and better way to assemble prefitteds overall.
DeleteWow! Love this tutorial! I was wondering, since I'm a beginner sewer, what needle should I use and what tension on the machine?
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post and pics:)
OMG genius! I've been sewing my own one-use newborn/small cloth diapers but was disappointed in simple fact baby will grow out of them so I'd have to be busy at sew machine for all stages. Then I received a couple dozen prefolds at my baby shower and was trying to conceive my own idea on how to modernize them and cut down on bulk for tiny baby, but be able to use same cloth diapers during growth. Ill have to use this non pattern/pattern for the rest of my other homemade cloth diapers. Applause & Bravo!
ReplyDeleteHow far down did you start the line to cut on? I see it says to stop 3/4" from the center seam, but how far from the ends do you start cutting?
ReplyDeleteAnd about how far from the end does the cut stop? Sorry I'm new to seeing and wanna just make two dots and a line to connect them
How far down did you start the line to cut on? I see it says to stop 3/4" from the center seam, but how far from the ends do you start cutting?
ReplyDeleteAnd about how far from the end does the cut stop? Sorry I'm new to seeing and wanna just make two dots and a line to connect them
So glad someone pointed me yowards this! I'm excited to try this.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to zigzag the cut edges and sew the centre flaps together down the middle but did not sew them down to the diaper itself, do you think it would it cause problems with messes/cleaning? I wonder if having the flap open would speed drying time a bit. The prefolds I have already take forever to dry as it is.
Also, about how long do you recommend for the elastics (with the extra bits to tack and cut off)?
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