The long awaited D-I-Y "PUL" cloth diaper cover journal.

[MythicMMM]

First off I will say that this adventure turned into a failure of sorts by the standards of what most people think when they envision what PUL ( Polyurethane laminated) fabric is. I did however achieve *my* desired out come- a washable-low heat dry-able (I do however recommend air-drying for a longer life) diaper cover that keeps the wet stuff in the diaper and off of clothes/bedding/carpet/your lap and that folks is good enough for me.

The simplest, easiest way to explain it without pictures is this. You take your diaper cover pattern, use regular cotton fabric (I have yet to try it with fleece FYI, so good luck and let me know if you try it!), add in a layer of plastic 2 mil drop cloth/painters plastic to the pattern so when you turn it right side out it ends up on the inside (obviously, it should be cut to the same shape as the pattern).

Now, before you attempt to sew the thing together, you MUST iron the plastic to the cloth on the highest iron setting THROUGH the cloth, NOT on the plastic side (setting the hot iron on the plastic side will melt the plastic to the iron and you will need to let the iron cool so you can peel the plastic off and cut another piece of plastic to match your pattern. Yes it took me two tries to learn this...).  Reason A) it makes the plastic shrink so you are less likely to have issues with drying it as the iron is usually hotter than the dryer will get, and B) it helps keep the plastic in place while you sew.

So yeah, that was pretty much that. You just continue on with the original steps of making the diaper and iron it once again when you are finished to close the holes.

The only difference I have found so far between actual PUL and this method is that with this method the plastic will loosen it's self from the fabric after a washing. It how ever does not tear, stays sewn together, and has proved to remain very liquid resistant despite it. Oh and it is kinda noisy when he walks... ~grin~

I think the next time I get some spare time to fart around with this I will experiment in using the oven to adhere the plastic to the fabric better.

Tags: cloth diaper, diy

Add A Comment

[caitxrawks]

Nov. 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM

You said fart around :-3

[MythicMMM]

Nov. 3, 2009 at 4:48 PM

I figured change of pace was needed since I have been mostly farting on. Teehehe.

(Original Poster)

[logansmomma2007]

Nov. 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM

Thank you :-)