Fabrics For Diaper Sewing

Fabrics For Diaper Sewing

There are many different materials that are often used in cloth diapering. The fabrics you choose will be largely a matter of personal preference. Different people have different opinions as to what works best for them and their babies. Some people favor all natural materials. Others are concernd about cost. Still others choose materials based on laundering requirements. Even "cuteness" may be the deciding factor for some. We suggest that you read up on the different fabrics, check out what reasons different people have for linking or disliking different things, and then try them out. The only way you`ll know what you like it by testing out the various options.

In our opinion, there are only three hard and fast rules for cloth diaper materials.

1) The body/soaker fabric must be absorbent. Fabrics whilch have a high cotton content (greater than 80% cotton) will work well. Soft-textured, thick fabrics are better-suited to diapering than very thin cottons. Thin cottons will wear out faster. They also require more layers to build up enough bulk for absorbency, creating a stiffer diaper. Cotton flannel, terry cloth, stretch terry cloth, cotton velour, sherpa, birdseye, cotton fleece or french terry are all good choices. Check the fiber content, as some fabrics are available in a variety of blends (ie: velour may be 100% polyester or 80% cotton). Hemp/cotton blends are also excellent as hemp is even more absorbent than cotton and wears very well. Hemp also has some natural antimicrobial properties. Prewash all fabrics (hot wash and dry) at least once before cutting (up to 3-4 times for fabrics such as hemp). Prewashing removes natural oils, sizing, dirt and any chemical pretreatments that may have been applied ot the fabrics. It also preshrinks the fabric so that your finished diapers will not shrink and distort in the laundry. Do NOT ever use fabric softeners on diaper fabrics. These coat the fibers resulting in decreased absorbency.

2) All fabrics must be durable enough to withstand harsh diaper washing conditions. The fabrics listed above usually wear well. Look for good quality fabrics. Very cheap fabrics such as those from dollar discount tables may not hold up well. Most mid-to-higher quality fabrics found in chain fabric stores and even discount stores will make excellent diapers. Another option is to recycle fabric from items such as old flannel sheets, sweatshirts, t-shirts, towels, etc. If using recycled materials, choose articles which are gently worn and be sure to prewash to remove fabric softener residues. If you have materials which show more wear or staining, consider using them as hidden layers or soaker materials on the inside of a diaper.

3) The outer fabric (or cover fabric if fitted diapers are used with separate covers) must be adequately waterproof to contain wetness, even when the diaper/soaker inside is thoroughly weat through. Popular waterproof fabrics include polyurethane laminated fabrics (PUL), Ultrex, Goretex, Procare, some types of polar fleece (windpro and heavyweight fleeces), and wool.