Layering questions before I sew it all together!

[GoddessMychele]

I have been reading so many posts and articles on diaper making that my head is spinning a little bit. So...I thought I'd come to the Diva Experts to see if I'm on track before I get my sewing machine going full steam ahead. Here's what I think I know/understand...any advice/ideas/thoughts are very welcome.

*I am trying to make diapers that are water resistant w/o using PUL. The ones I am working on now are newborn sized and will have a lay in or possible snap in soaker (I think that's the name for the absorbent inner layer?).

*The materials that I currently have in abundance to work with are- t-shirts, 100% cotton prints, fleece, "minky" esque material from Joann's, flannel, microfiber towels.

1. If I put 2 layers of fleece next to each other- water resistant diaper? 

2. Outer layer of 100% cotton print, t-shirt material or flannel w/ 2 layers of fleece- water resistant? 

3. Outer layer fleece, middle layer flannel (or 2?), inner layer next to baby 'minkee' or fleece- water resistant? 

Thanks for all your help as I try to figure all of this out!!!

[alexmom07]

If you put fleece as the outer or even some minky (haven't tried it myself yet) you dont' need a cover. BUT if your LO wets a lot then you may have compression leaking. If you put anything on the outer of the fleece it will wick onto that fabric and you will need a cover.

1- no cover needed

2- need a cover

3- no cover needed

[axidnurse]

Thank you so much for asking this!  You put everything in to words that I have been wanting to ask!  Thanks also Alexmom for answering!  Very helpful!

[xtwistedxlovex]

I got by with one layer of fleece as my outer. His thighs got a little damp around the elastic, but I blame that more on the flannel inner than anything. Probably helped that he doesn't wear pajama bottoms, though. Try different things, see what works best for you.

If you're just doing a lay-in or snap-in, I think a minkee inner and fleece outer would be great. Should provide good leak protection while also being very soft against baby's bum - and more comfortable when wet than flannel.

[GoddessMychele]

Excellent- thank you so much for helping me to understand what I'm doing better. I'm slowly starting to make some sense of all this...I think ;-) If I end up needing a cover, so be it, just trying to simplify things a little where I can. 

 

 

[GoddessMychele]

So I wouldn't needed a middle layer if I have minkee inner/fleece outer and using a lay in or snap in soaker? 

Quoting xtwistedxlovex:

I got by with one layer of fleece as my outer. His thighs got a little damp around the elastic, but I blame that more on the flannel inner than anything. Probably helped that he doesn't wear pajama bottoms, though. Try different things, see what works best for you.

If you're just doing a lay-in or snap-in, I think a minkee inner and fleece outer would be great. Should provide good leak protection while also being very soft against baby's bum - and more comfortable when wet than flannel.

[lilchikkis]

just do one layer fleece then minky thats it this will be water resistant and way trimmer than what you are trying to do

blizzard fleece is thicker so it would work great!

but other fleece is good too.

[hillmom]

Since you are asking about layers, if you don't mind I'll take the opportunity to ask a layers question:

I also want a water resistant diaper with out using PUL. I bought a bunch of suede (butter suede I think one side is soft and fuzzy the other side is silky). I want to use that in diapers. Have you had any luck with it does it sew well? Will I get compression leakage with it?

Thanks!

[xtwistedxlovex]

Inner layers are generally just used to sew the soaker on or to cover PUL with a decorative fabric. Even if you do need 2 water-resistant layers, as long as they're both on the outside of the soaker it will work. So in that case, you could do fleece inner and outer and just top your soakers with minkee so they won't feel as wet against the skin. Word of advice, though - make sure your soaker has good coverage! I tried a 4"-wide rectangle soaker with DS's wool shells and they leaked horribly, but with a wider contoured soaker (with less layers, even!) that was never a problem. Using a 4" rectangle with a flannel inner was fine, though, since anything that slipped off of the side of the soaker was just absorbed into the inner layer instead.

[alexmom07]

I use suedecloth for an economical alternative for some mamas. It wicks moisture away from baby a lot like the fleece does, but I don't think it can be water resistant without another layer on the outer, kwim?  Its really easy to sew and I prefer it over a lot of other fabrics. Try making 1 and see how it works for you. I'd love to hear it.

Quoting hillmom:

Since you are asking about layers, if you don't mind I'll take the opportunity to ask a layers question:

I also want a water resistant diaper with out using PUL. I bought a bunch of suede (butter suede I think one side is soft and fuzzy the other side is silky). I want to use that in diapers. Have you had any luck with it does it sew well? Will I get compression leakage with it?

Thanks!

[conejoazul]

 

Quoting axidnurse:

Thank you so much for asking this!  You put everything in to words that I have been wanting to ask!  Thanks also Alexmom for answering!  Very helpful!

Ditto . Thanks to the other moms too for chiming in  - the comments on the soaker designs are also helpful!