Pattern: Very Baby Diaper Pattern
These photos and instructions were put together by Cindy at Shannyn’s Harvest - thank you Cindy!
Some people like their soaker pads to be sewn right into the diaper so there aren’t any parts to match up or lose. These diapers take a bit longer to dry, but they are great for babysitters and husbands who may not want to mess with a snap in quick dry soaker.
Step One: Mark and cut out diaper layers, pin together.
Step Two: Using the doubler pattern from the next size up diaper, cut out your internal soaker pieces (4), stack them all facing up, and serge or zig zag the edges.
Here is the soaker pad all serged.
Step Three: Center your soaker between the elastic lines of the leg openings also being careful to avoid the Aplix and snap placement areas at the diaper front.
Sew soaker to innermost fabric layer (with absorbent side of soaker layers facing towards baby) using long straight stitches.
Step Four: Apply elastic to the backside of innermost fabric layer or use the hidden method.
Bonus Instructions: How to sew elastic in using the blind/hidden method!
- 1. Slide elastic in between fabric layers and nestle the end of the elastic just under your elastic anchor point marking.
- 2. Secure end of elastic by going back and forth a tiny bit.
- 3. Firmly (but not to it’s fullest stretch) stretch elastic out between layers and secure by feel using either a long zig zag stitch or a 3 step zig zag stitch.
- 4. Go slowly, gauging where you are by the edge of the diaper and wiggling your elastic between the diaper layers to achieve proper positioning.
- 5. Secure the end of the elastic when you reach your end marking and clip elastic.
Step Five: Here is the elastic applied. Serge as you normally would, apply snaps or Aplix, and label.
Step Six: Here it is all serged with the snaps applied.
Front snap diaper with internal soaker.
Side snap diaper with internal soaker.
ozinoman says:
thanks for the tips on the blind elastic. I was wondering why all my purchased VB’s had the elastic stiched through all layers when the instructions say only to do it through the two absorbant layers.
this has been helpful, thanks!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Mel B says:
I’ve also made these with the soaker sewn to a middle hidden layer, so you don’t see the seams at all. Great nappies, just take a bit longer to dry than the standard VB!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
jenn h says:
Great instructions for the blind method on the elastic. I have been terrified to try this… but I just give it a go now!!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
coreynichole says:
That’s great- thanks. I know this is off topic, but what kind of serger was used for the diaper in the pics? It looks very pretty (and I may be looking for a new serger.)
September 5th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Very Mom says:
I’m not sure, but my serger outputs stitches that look just like that and it’s a Necchi. Cindy may have used Woolly Nylon - not sure.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
coreynichole says:
What is your Necchi like? How many threads? Does it do a coverstitch? Is it a household or industrial machine? Sorry for all of the questions, I’m just having a hard time figuring out what features I’d like/ would need. Thanks a lot.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Susan says:
I use a Baby Lock and for diaper sewing they are the best. They handle curves like a dream. I have a Viking and I would no recommend it for diaper sewing you always have to play with the tension and I always have stitch issues with it and I have tried 2 different ones. I have a Viking sewing machine and love it but their sergers just do not compare to the Baby Locks. If you have the money it is so worth having a Baby Lock. I recently purchase a lesser Model then My Baby Lock Wave and it too sergers diapers like a dream. Baby Lock sergers are designed to handle the garment sewing even better then industrial sergers. I have been test driving a lot of sergers and I can not find anything that is even close to how well the Baby Lock sergers work.
It looks like in that picture Wooly Nylon was used as the thread.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
coreynichole says:
Thanks Susan! Your babylock doesn’t have a coverstitch option, does it?
September 5th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Susan says:
No it does not. The wave is a 4 thread
Susan
September 5th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
hershyyyy says:
Just wanted to point out that the blind method can be done differently: First serge around the entire diaper leaving a 2″ gap. Measure the lengths of elastic you want, then reach in and pin the end of the elastic where you want it to start and pin again where you want it to stop. Your putting the elastic inside the layer where you want it to be and pinning through all layers. Sew using a zig zag going slow and pulling the elastic towards the serged seam so that it is right up against it. Finish off the serged edge.
I have done this leaving the front end open, doing the two legs elastics and the back elastic and then securing the ends of the front elastic with safety pins, serging the front closed and then sewing the front elastic and removing the safety pins.
Using this method you know that the elastic is right up against the serged edge without worrying about serging through it.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm