Sewing Materials and Supplies Guide

** I strongly suggest that everyone (no matter your sewing skill level) starts first with a very basic practice diaper using just 2 layers of flannel and not worrying about closures like hook & loop or snaps.


For THAT, you'll just need:

• Some cotton flannel.  You can even use old flannel sheets or an old flannel shirt.
• Really any kind of thread.
• Any kind of machine needle.
• Some 3/8" or 1/4" braided elastic.
• Pins or clips
• A safety pin or bodkin
• A pair of scissors

For a fitted diaper that uses knit fabrics:

• Your absorbent fabric choices.
• Poly or Cotton thread.
• A ballpoint machine needle.
• Some 3/8" braided elastic.
• A safety pin or bodkin.
• Pins or clips
• A pair of scissors

For a waterproof pocket diaper:

• PUL or TPU fabric for your outer fabric.
• Microfleece/Microchamois, Suedecloth, or Wicking Pique/Jersey for the inner fabric.
• 100% polyester thread.
• A 8-11 gauge ballpoint or Microtex sharp machine needle.
• Some 3/8" or 1/4" polyester braided elastic.
• A safety pin or bodkin.
• Hook and Loop OR snaps for closures (and snap pliers and awl if using snaps).
• Clips for holding your fabrics together.
• A pair of scissors.

[You CAN make a fleece outer pocket as long as you use a high quality thicker fleece that has tested very water-repellant.]

Now...  For absorbent fabrics to incorporate into things like pocket inserts, AIOs, AI2 soakers, and fitted diapers, there are LOTS of choices.


Old fabrics like:

• T-shirts, other cotton clothes, or jersey sheets.
• Other recycled materials like cotton terrycloth towels or microfiber terry shop towels (stripped).
• Prefolds, flats, or flour sack towels.

New fabrics like:

• Microfiber terry
• Cotton/Bamboo/Hemp terry, baby terry, french terry, or microterry.
• Cotton/Bamboo/Hemp fleeces (as long as there is no more than 20% synthetic content.)
• Cotton/Bamboo/Hemp interlock or knits.
• Natural fiber rayons.
• Wovens like flannel, birdseye, or even muslin.
• New generation diaper fabrics like Zorb or Zorb2.

For covers, you'll use 100% polyester thread and:

• Certain high quality polyester fleece fabrics.
• Wool knits or felted thinner knits.
• Wool interlock.
• PUL or TPU (with a 8-10 gauge ballpoint or Microtex sharp machine needle.)

...  Or you can also knit or crochet your own with wool yarns as well.  Superwash is NOT recommended and don't use any blends that contain any plant fibers or more than 20% synthetics.