Pattern: Very Baby Diaper Pattern
Step One:
The Body: cut 1 layer microfleece or suedecloth
The Body: cut 2 layers of something that will still stretch for a good fit and also be very absorbent. I used 2 layers of organic french terry
Step Two:
Quick Dry Soaker: cut 1 layer microfleece
Quick Dry Soaker: cut 4 layers of something trim and absorbent. I used 3 layers hemp french terry and 1 layer of organic french terry
Simply Nights add on Soaker: using the soaker template, cut 2 layers 3/8" smaller all around. I used 2 layers of hemp french terry
Use your rotary cutter so yours don’t look as crappy as mine
Compare sizes of two soaker sets, make sure the Simply Nights soaker is not larger than the original. You can mark the smaller soaker layers and just serge them off where they need to be.
Step Three: Sew the elastic in the body layers as directed & serge body layers together
Step Four: Serge the regular soaker with microfleece on top separately
Step Five: Serge the two layers of the Simply Nights soaker separately
Step Six: Layer the Simply Night Soaker underneath the original soaker and sew through all layers just at the top using a wide three step zig zag stitch. Go slow and sink your needle by hand first it’s a lot of layers for your machine to get through.
Here you can see the completed soaker laid into the shell. If you want to make it snap in, apply the snaps near the top of the SimplyNights soaker underneath.
I didn’t make a doubler, but here is one I had in between the two soakers.
All done! Well, almost, it needs snaps.
catmom says:
I’m a little confused about where the elastic is using these directions… in the vb pattern, the elastic is sewn to the main diaper body, and then covered with the print fabric that covers the outside of the diaper (stretch cotton or whatever the pattern calls for). The SN diaper shown here doesn’t seem to have an outer cover, though, and just consists of the 2 main absorbant layers. So where is the elastic? Is it just exposed, or is it covered in some way I’m not seeing?
September 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
kimipie says:
I think I can answer your question because I just made one last night. I am pretty sure that the elastic is sewn using the blind method; i.e. you put your body layers together with the right sides facing out, you put your elastic in between and zig zag through the layers. You can’t see the elastic but you can feel where it is. I hope that helps some, there is also a tutorial on sewing the elastic that way.
PS: I love this tutorial because since I have the VB pattern I can do it myself and I’m waaaaaaaaay too cheap to actually buy one of these diapers from a WAHM.
September 5th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
may says:
If you want to sew the elastic like the instructions, just pick 2 layers to sew the elastic to. It could be the 2 outer layers so it doesn’t go through the inner fleece layer OR it could be the inner fleece and hidden layer as you described above and you would treat the outer layer just like the fashion print.
I believe you can still do it this way if only using 2 layers of fabric without the stay dry liner providing the fabric is heavy enough. Just pick either the outer or inner layer to sew the elastic to.
HTH,
May
September 5th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
m2nlb says:
Could I use Velour inside it and out instead with hemp inner? I’d love to make a few of these for nights.
September 5th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
may says:
That’s the great thing about making your own - YOU get to choose the fabric combinations. A high cotton velour would be yummy
September 5th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
m2nlb says:
I’ll try it
I’m trying to get out of these disp. I was all about cloth then started buying sposies now I barely use cloth anymore
September 5th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
jenn h says:
I don’t have the fitted pattern. Does anyone have experience doing this with the AIO?? Are there too many thick layers, or do you think it should work well?
Thanks!!
September 5th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Very Mom says:
One of my former contractors used the AIO pattern to make Simply Nights, but without the waterproof layer. I don’t think it would work well as an AIO for overnight, but definitely just as a diaper works great!
September 5th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Lori Reda says:
I’m a contractor and I have made a Night diaper using the AIO pattern. And like Jess said, you don’t use the outer PUL. I just did 2 layers of hemp, or organic cotton, or whatever absorbent body layers you’d like, the layer of microfleece or suedecloth if you want, and then the soakers. It IS bulky and a bit tricky to turn and topstitch, but it you take it slow, you can do it. I made them for several customers and they all said they worked great for overnight. I am now licensed for the Very Baby pattern and have to admit that now I just make the regular Simply Nights because the serging is so much easier than the turning and topstitching of all those layers.
September 5th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Very Mom says:
Oh thank you for chiming in Lori! For some reason I thought Nancy was the only one who made these - I can see now there are others. That was extremely helpful info!
September 5th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Jenn h says:
Thanks… I think I will give it a shot. By the way… I forgot to say that I never actually use the waterproof layer. oops… I prefer the look of the AIO pattern, so I use it for my fitteds. It has become a way of life here, and I sorta forgot that everyone else uses the PUL layer
Could I serge the AIO pattern?? hmmm maybe I’ll just stick to the basics
September 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Lori Reda says:
You CAN serge the AIO pattern, one of the former VB licensees did that. I’ve never done it but she sent me pictures of a few she had done and they looked great.
I too make fitted’s from the AIO pattern for customers. I have a lot of customers that don’t care for the leg ruffles that many other fitted patterns have. It is also very trim, which is a big plus!
September 5th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
erthymama says:
I think I am gonna try this with some Hemp I have coming. I dont have a Serger. Though I do have overlocking on my sewing maching I may try T&T I will let you know how it goes
Heather
September 5th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
mindy says:
This can be done with a conventional sewing machine, right? I’m very interested in making one for my little one. She always wakes up just soaked and stinky!!
September 5th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Very Mom says:
I haven’t ever tried it, but I don’t see why not! The layers are pretty thick - if you give it a go let us know how it turns out
September 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
m2nlb says:
Any update on the turned and topstitched way?
September 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Tara says:
I made half of a simply nights from the VB AIO pattern turned and top stitched. I used 2 body layers of organic cotton French terry and microfleece. I have not yet made the soakers, but the shell turned out very well. I would recommend extending the back a bit to make the wings wider if you really care about that. The only problem with it is my 19lb 4 month old cubby baby. He doesn’t fit in anything right now. The shell also works great on its own as a diaper without an insert if you need one in a pinch. I hope this was helpful.
September 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
frozendiva says:
Just wanted to say that I’m sewing a nighttime diaper (with the AIO pattern) WITH the outer layer of PUL, and haven’t had any trouble with turning & topstitching. Body is 1 layer of hemp jersey, 1 layer of hemp french terry, and 1 layer of microfleece. Soaker is 4 layers of hemp jersey and 2 layers of hemp french terry. Doubler (that I haven’t yet used with my son for this super absorbent and soft diaper) is one layer of hemp jersey, two layers of hemp french terry, and one layer of microfleece. It’s a big fluffy diaper, but great for nights!
September 19th, 2007 at 12:19 am