Preemie Testers

I made two sizes of preemie tester templates (based on a request) today.

Size 1 Template (about 3-4.5lbs) and Size 2 Template (about 4-6lbs)...  all depending on girth, development, and build...

A fitted made from the size 1 template from stretchy fabrics like interlock, knit, bamboo or cotton fleece, or T-shirts is actually a size 2 (approx. 4-6lbs), and a PUL FOE cover for it should be made from the size 2 template.  For smaller preemies (too small to be brought home and most NICUs won't use home-made CDs), make a cover from the size 1 (with the foldable dip and not the snap-down) template and sew lay-in contour pads/soakers using the inner soaker shape of the template.  :)

Here is a size 1 PUL pocket diaper next to my XS pocket AIO (which is a pretty typical newborn sized AIO).

 Size 1 front pocket diaper (stuffed with a rectangular insert) with 1/4" elastic.

Fold-In-Fitted with a Print or Fleece Outer

I've seen others do this with my Fold-In-Fitteds, so I thought I'd do one myself.

I have used a cotton interlock print here, but you could also use a woven, or  even fleece and make it a "hybrid fitted."

Cut out your body fabric (2 layers of cotton fleece here),
and then cut out your outer fabric like below:

Fold and pin the edges under, but leave enough room at the top and bottom for your sewing foot.

Next you add your other body layer(s) (on the top for T&T or on the bottom for serged) and sew up the edges like normal.
 For this example, I made a T&T diaper, however, you could also serge it with the same method.

 Sew down the tucked-under edges of your outer fabric.  You will use those as the outside of your leg elastic casings.

 Close-up showing where the two fabrics meet.

 View of the inside.

 Elastics added and all closed up.

 The inside is all your main body fabric showing.

 But the outside has your pretty print or whatever fabric you choose.

 It sort of gives the look of ruffled legs as well, but without as rough an edge.

Templates can be downloaded here:  http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2012/10/online-free-downloads.html

Comfort-Serged Fitted

There is now a VIDEO tutorial posted for this on my YouTube channel.

This was brought up today on my cloth diaper sewing board.

Those diapers where the legs appear to be turned and top-stitched, but the rest of the diaper is serged.

I don't really understand it, because it sure doesn't save time or effort like a normal serged diaper does. To me, I'd rather just T&T the whole thing.  Anyway, some people really like the look and feel of them, so here is a basic simplified tutorial for them.

I used two SUPER-thin prefolds that were donated to me by a friend.  They are only 2-4-2 but the size of regular prefolds...  So, really, you'd need two anyway.  I probably should have used two different colors of cotton fleece to really show this off, as the serging is hard to see with white-on-white.

First, you serge around from the start of where your turning hole will be until just to the first end-point of your leg-elastic.  Then you serge again from the back end-point of your leg elastic, around the back, and to the other side's back end-point of the leg elastic...  Leaving the areas where your leg elastic will be run un-sewn/serged.

 Next...  you turn the diaper inside-out.

 Then, making sure to overlap your serging over all the end-points of the first side's serging, you serge just down those sides.

 Then you turn inside-out AGAIN.

 Then you just sew your elastic casings and install your elastic as usual.  Then serge up the front as usual to close your turning hole.

I used my general M-L Fitted template for this.

Most of my templates are available for download and printing at http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2012/10/online-free-downloads.html

Cloth Diaper Cake #4

This was the second winner of the last drawing.  She is expecting a baby boy and has a fish-themed nursery planned.  It was HARD finding suitable prints...

 Wipes, prefolds, and contours as a base.

 Covers, pockets, AI2s, AIOs, and fitteds on the outside.

 Boxed up for transport.

I hope she takes some nice pictures of it set-up.  :)

Squaretab AIO revisited

There is now a VIDEO tutorial for this style of diaper up on my YouTube channel.

I made this one seriously fluffy.  I think it'll be a bedtime-worthy diaper.  ;) 

My diaper templates are available online here: http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2012/10/online-free-downloads.html

Pattern Modification Preview

I have been working up some simplified and adapted templates for my upcoming eBook.  Here are two of them stitched up as AI2s.