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A Few Tips on Sewing Your Own Cloth Diapers from Babyville Boutique

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You want to sew your own cloth diapers? That’s awesome! I want to help, I really do…but I cannot even get a button sewn on right! So I enlisted a little help from someone that actually knows what they are doing to give you a few great tips and get you started off in the right direction.

This post is written by Ellie Joos of Babyville Boutique. She also posted with us back in 2012 for their one-year anniversary! Click here to check out their page for more great project ideas!

Ellie wanted to help us celebrate our 15,000 Facebook fans, but in the meantime we have gone over 17,500 fans! Thank you so much to all of you for all of the amazing support! We can’t tell you how much we appreciate it. And now over to Ellie…

 

Congratulations to All About Cloth Diapers on reaching over 15,000 Facebook Fans! We are delighted to help celebrate with a Babyville Boutique® giveaway for one lucky fan.

Girly Prize Assortment
Girly Prize Assortment

 

You want to sew your own cloth diapers! You are in great company with the thousands of families that have made this choice for a number of reasons:

1.     $$$  – Start a college fund with the money you save

2.     Mother Nature – reduce your impact on the environment

3.     Good for Baby – chemicals in disposables may be harsh for tender baby’s bottoms.

4.     Bragging Rights – express your creativity by selecting adorable products to make baby’s diapers and coordinating accessories

Sew – let’s get started.  First, dust off the sewing machine and if necessary have it serviced to be sure it is in good working order.  You will need some basic supplies:

  • Good quality polyester thread – at Babyville, we have been very pleased with the results from thread by Gutermann
  • Sharp scissors – fabric scissors, and a second pair for cutting paper patterns
  • Patterns – Babyville’s “Cloth Diapers Made Easy” book guides you step by step with a pullout pattern, instructions, and full color photos. The Ultimate Pocket Diaper pattern by Krista Tracy is complete with pattern, tips, and techniques. There are also a number of good free patterns on various websites.
  • Ballpoint needle #9 or 11, ballpoint pins

Now that you have your basic supplies, read the pattern books and directions carefully for guidance in selecting your fabrics.  If you have not already joined a Facebook cloth diapering community, we suggest you do.  The gals (and guys) there are so helpful and supportive, especially to cloth diapering newbies.

Of course, we believe that our products are the best for DIY cloth diapering, and we know that there are many other fine products from which to choose. Now, some tips on sewing with Babyville PUL and other products:

  • Start with a simple project such as a diaper cover, then try other styles to see what works best for your baby
  • Prepare your fabrics as directed in your instructions
  • Pin only in the seam allowance of PUL fabrics
  • “Read twice, cut once” – take your time
  • If sewing fold over elastic, stitch with a Three Step Zig-Zag

Once you have made your first project, it is time to expand your creativity with all of the cute appliqués, labels, ribbons, and other embellishments that will make your project stand out. Why not make matching apparel to go with the diaper? Baby bib and placemats, changing pads, and wet bags are very easy projects you can make in no time. You can even iron-on the Babyville appliqués and iron-ons onto cotton fabrics to add fun and personal decorations to your projects.

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Related posts:

  1. DIY Cloth Diaper Pail Liner
  2. 10 Tips for Washing Cloth Diapers
  3. How to Make a Changing Pad
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Comments

  5. Have made about 4 newborn and 5 small babyville cloth pocket diapers so far, a number of bibs, and a couple of changing pads. All gender neutral, due April 15! Would love to win and make gender specific items!

    Reply

  7. Just started making my own cloth diapers to get ready for our 3rd little one and I am hooked. I am loving all the Babyville products and patterns! Can’t wait to make more and to use them all when my little man gets here! :)

    Reply

  8. I would love to have extra supplies and make diapers for a friend who is having twins! I love the bbv products that I have used for my baby.

    Reply

  12. I don’t actually know hot to sew :( but my mom is willing to try and make some so I guess I’d need some PUL (girly) and some snaps and elastic and well, everything you need to make a diaper, except the books because I have those ;)

    Reply

  13. I love the pul packaged fabric!! It’s so cool to be able to make a few diapers that coordinate with each other.

    Reply

  15. Would love to get this, so I will be able to make my own diapers. Hubby not a fan, but if I make them he is alright with it.

    Reply

  22. I’d love to make several diapers from each of the girly prints of the PUL. I’m getting addicted to cloth diaper & matching my baby girls outfits to her diapers ????

    Reply

  23. I would like to try the snap pliers. I have a few cloth diapers with broken snaps and some odd things around the house that I would like to add snaps to.

    Reply

  27. i have the cloth diaper book and would love to have a snap press and anything else to try to make my own!!!

    Reply

  29. I have used many of their products, love them! I haven’t tried the PUL yet, and would like to get the size tags as well.

    Reply

  51. I love babyville. I have the book, but I would love more items to play around with. The stores near me don’t sell them anymore :(

    Reply

  53. I would love to try the PUL. I have two of the pattern books, but haven’t made anything yet. I’m a little nervous!

    Reply

  55. I have sewn all my cloth diapers (economic necessity!) and I love Babyville. The pattern books are really easy to follow and the fabrics are so cute–and available at my local craft store–huge plus. I borrowed a few of my friends store-bought cloth diapers to compare, and they were very similar. I got brand-new diapers for about $5 a piece–not too shabby!

    Reply

  57. I would love to get and try the Dinos and Monsters printed and solid PUL packaged fabric 3 count package

    Reply

  59. I would love to get my hands on some snaps and pliers, they would give my home sewn diapers a nice “professional” touch

    Reply

  63. I’d love any of the above packs!. I’ve uses BB fabric to make some cloth trainers for my 2yo, and am toying with the idea of making a few new dipes for #2 due in Sept!

    Reply

  68. The white pul paired with a cute print for the outside is fab for making adorable wetbags that don’t leach nasty smells. i would like to try their snap pliers and snaps…my KAM doesn’t produce results like I had hoped.

    Reply

  69. I think this is such a wonderful giveaway! Fingers crossed! I love making things while babe is asleep! The PUL prints look lovely!

    Reply

  71. would love to try there pul fabric and snaps just got a sewing machine and this would be great to try im just starting out!

    Reply

  77. Love Babyville goodies! I would especially like to try the size tags, they are so cute!!! And I love the chevron print/colors in the PUL too! Thanks!

    Reply

  78. I’ve used a lot of babyville products. I’m excited about the new prints and the new stay-dry wicking fabric in colors.

    Reply

  86. I’d love to try out some of these babyville products! I’ve only ever used their PUL and it’s GREAT I know! :)

    Reply

  90. I want to try the snaps. This post came at a great time for me because I am planning to make some diapers here soon.

    Reply

  99. I would absolutely love the pattern and tutorial books and the snap press and the new prints of pul are adorable! I love the little birds print!!

    Reply

  107. I still have a very small stash. Sewing my own though would definitely help…if only I could find the time and energy. Do I get a free babysitter for the day if I win?

    Reply

  112. Love the Chevron PUL Little birds design. I would use the PUL to make a new wetbag (we already have lots of diapers, and I prefer wool covers right now)

    Reply

  119. I’ve already made some bbv pocket diapers and “totally trainers” for my son and others from the owls, monkeys, blue, brown, dinos,and monsters. I made my girl some pockets from the pinks and purple pack, some covers and wet bag from the pink with polka dots (use them ALL the time), and have been wanting to buy some of that darling chevron and birdies PUL, so this would be perfect for the all-in-ones I’ve been wanting to make! Sewing cloth diapers has become my hobby. I love trying out different designs and it still saves us so much money.

    Reply

  124. I love the robots and monsters!! Have made 2 diapers so far, one red and one orange… I tried the solid colors first in case they didn’t work because I’ve never really sewn on a machine before!!

    Reply

  130. I really want to try their snaps and snap pliers. I’ve been wanting to convert some hook and loop diapers over to snap for awhile.

    Reply

  136. I love the idea of making your own diapers. That way you can custom make covers and prints. d love to try my hand at this!!

    Reply

  137. I am seeing some newborn diapers for our new baby due in June. I would love to try the appliques. And stay dry fabric.

    Reply

  138. I love this blog and the variety of reviews it gives. When we found out we were expecting we looked at Babyville diaper kits. My mother in law has bought the kit and has found it great for making the diapers!I love all of the cute patterns and accessories.

    Reply

  139. I have made several babyville diapers. I would vole some little pirates and skulls pul and maybe some monsters too :).

    Reply

  141. Oh wow, Babyville has improved their image. Hopefully the quality of the PUL has improved too. I’d love to test it out myself with the Little Birds and Chevron printed and solid PUL packaged fabric nand matching accessories.

    Reply

  142. I love the new prints. We have the duck/frog set, the cowboy/robot set, and a few by the yard cuts. I particularly like the new chevrons. I might need to make some more diapers…

    Reply

  150. I’ve sewn just about everything – except diapers. I would LOVE to try this as my almost 2 year old will be out growing our night diapers soon, and any type of disposable is not an option – he looks like raw meat almost immediately.

    Reply

  151. This is perfect timing! All weekend I worked on setting up my sewing closet (51″ x47″ lol). I am currently preggo with baby #3 and am going to try my hand at making diapers. This would be so awesome and would get me started!!

    Reply

  152. I made two fitted diapers but I really really want to make cute covers and all in ones!! I really love the girly set, I generally buy gender neutral so I think my daughter needs some cute girl diapers.

    Reply

  154. I would love to try the Ultimate Pocket Diaper Bookette and some of the Little Birds PUL fabric!
    RC name: Mechele JOhnson

    Reply

  165. I would love to try the wicking fabric. Its still secret, but I am due with number six in October. I will need some new diapers by then! :)

    Reply

    • No Problem Neomi! The winner gets their choice! It is awesome, I don’t even sew and I want all of it!

      Reply

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