HOW TO FOLD A PREFOLD PART 1 -Tri-fold- using my prefold hybrids.

So if you've decided your going to start using prefolds, it is good to know a few folds.  There is no need to learn all the folds, as no single mom is likely to need all the various folds in her repitoire.  Sure someone should know them all to keep that knowledge alive.  But if your like me, and your an average mom then a few will do.  So I will create a few posts with each detailing a different fold. I will be using the prefolds I have made as having velcro and gathered legs changes a few things.  Rember I said when a mom makes changes they work for her? Well the folds I use aren't really effected by either, so they work.  If I was a mom who used the bikini twist fold, I never woulda designed these prefold hybrids or used velcro.  However I've never used it, so I am not concerned about that.  See; the diaper with the best options for you.

The Tri-Fold

                                         

The pic on the left is my flat prefold in tri_fold.  The pic on the right is my prefold hybrid (inside a diaper).

The tri-fold is used to turn a pre-fold into an insert, for extra absorbency in a diaper.  The are used in all types of dippers as a soaker layer, especially for overnight diapering.  a Tri-folded diaper is also common as the insert for a pocket diaper.  To be honest I don't see my prefolds being used as a soaker layer, they are just way thicker then needed as an insert in a regularly changed diaper (except maybe at night for a heavy wetter).  The would be great as the insert in a pocket diaper.  I'll be making 3 layer flannel inserts anyway.  So why share this?  Any cloth diaper Mom should be aware of the tri-fold because it is useful,  especially in a pinch.

 

Tri fold is simple:
1. lay diaper flat.
2. fold 1/3 over.
3. fold other 1/3 over.
Now you have an insert for a diaper.  When done with my hybrid, the tri-fold curves up into shape of baby.

Yes that was simple.  The other folds are simple as well.  Not fold in 1/3rds, but still very basic.  Next will be the Angel Fold.

DESIGNS THAT ARE OUR OWN - When Moms make diapers

When I became pregnant with baby #6 this past summer, I knew I would use cloth diapers again.  It's my norm, its how I grew up, played with dolls and how I raised my other 5 babies.   Making them wasn't originally my plan.  It was my solution to being poor lol.  But I've been sewing since I was 3, so it was a natural solution for me. 

I set out with the decision to just make a plain, typical prefold.   Then I added Velcro.  This wasn't my design idea.  It's my moms design from about 35 years ago when she made a few diapers for my dolls.  It was her solution to not giving her clutsy pre-schooler pins to diaper her dolls.  Many design ideas tend to be just that;  A solution to a problem.  There are draw backs to a Velcro prefold in that some of the folds just won't work.  That was not an issue as the folds my mom used (and so the folds I as a small child used, and use today as a mom), were not effected.  So design draw back for some but not for my Mom, not for preschooler me, and not for adult Mom me either.  Some folds I just do a little different to work with the Velcro.  These will appear in a series of posts on folding a prefold diaper.  So when I decided to add Velcro to my prefolds it was a design decision of my Mom's that I knew worked for me, which is all I need; a diaper that works for me.

Now when I had the gathered leg thought, that was different.   It was my own thought and I discounted it originally.  I figured 'Who was I to reinvent the wheel (diaper)'. I even came across a few posts on the internet suggesting the same thing.  Who are these mom's who think they can re-invent the diaper?  Their design changes are small, similar to others sometimes.  And again I discounted my idea, cuz yeah, who was I? 

Well this is who I am:.  A Mom of (soon to be) 6, who has been cloth diapering for 18 years, sewing for 35 (I started when I was 3).  Im a seamstress who has sold powwow regalia and my regalia's are known and identifiable over this whole powwow region.  Im a person with a mind that can figure out how best to do something my way so it works better for me. And hey, 10 years ago I came up with my own way to add ribbon to a fancy shawl at powwow.  One that has grown in popularity.  Moms making small changes to things they use and do everyday is just that:  the thought "for me this would work better this way". 
So I began sewing my prefolds with Velcro when just the other day I was sewing my night wraps and decided to make the gathered leg.  Just sitting there at my sewing machine.  Doing what I do at my sewing machine, sewing my way.  I long ago started to make my own patterns.  It began with making small changes to commercial patterns and the more I used them and changed them, the more familiar I became.  Its how I changed puttinng ribbon on a fancy shawl.  Its how seamstresses make design changes.  Just sitting at a sewing machine.  Sewing with the end product in mind.  Your mind sees a better end project and you change course sewing to achieve it.  It's how designs in sewing sometimes change.  The seamstress invisions something a little different and knows she has the tools to make it reality.  Honestly I dont think my sewing machine would have let me discount the idea.  It taunts me lol.  "Just do it, you can undo it if you don't like it".  Its true.  I even figured out how I'd let the elastic go if I dont like it, before I did it. 
But here's the thing.  I haven't reinvented the wheel (diaper).  I took the design elements I liked of two different diapers and combined them into a hybrid.   I simply made what I most wanted in a diaper.  I didn't do it for others.  I didn't do it to design my own thing.  I did it so I could have everything I wanted in a diaper.  (So I doubt I'll be taking elastic out).  The push from family to sell them (and with my parents help that's being looked into,  cuz im busy sewing and getting ready for baby). Is more about me loving to sew, beinng good at it and being broke and without a current job.
Solution to a problem: no job so create my own job.

Fancy shawl with ribbon added in my own way (now very popular method)

So here's the reality.  Other moms out there making small or big diaper design changes are just doing something to improve their lives, they sit at that sewing machine and work the fabrics into their visions of what they need.  Its no big ego trip that we can make a better diaper then those before us.  That said: Let's keep in mind that we would all be learning to fold flats if a diaper service hadn't had the idea to make flats easier for their customers by sewing them together.  Let's remember that the first fitted diaper was a Mom making a cloth diaper as easy as a sposie.   A pocket diaper was another Mom's  idea to make her life easier.  The many small design differences from one brand or style to the next has all been the same thing.  The fitted hybrid (AI2's) was a person combining their  favorite design elements of two different diaper styles.  Remember I said, all diapers work, its just personal preference; what design elements, what pros and cons are important to you? Chose your cloth based on that, based on invisioning yourself using them.  I'm not out to re-invent things.  Im just a mom who sees and makes changes in life to best suit my family, like all Moms do.

What I would agree with is a mom making changes in diaper design should probably be vey familiar with cloth diapers (even if its just one style of diapers) first.  Why? Cuz you have to know how to use something correctly in order to see improvements.  Besides someone looking for a new invention ego trip isn't going to have a great design change.  I saw a blog (yesterday) where a mom makes a rather cool design change to a prefold (I've asked to share her post here, so we will see).  Its one I dont see using for my purposes but I can totally see this being a solution,  an everyday improvement for many moms.  I feel likewise about my prefold hybrid design.  Its got what I like most about prefolds, and basic fitted diapers all in one new diaper. The two diaper designs I like best and am familiar with.   And yeah it wasn't a big design change.  And yeah I'm sure many people are doing similar things.  The point is.  Im doing what I need, making what I want, and if Im smart enough to be able to sell some; well good for me.  I believe there most be other moms like me who will see my hybrid and say "that's just what I want, that's how I want a cloth diaper to work".  Its not re-inventing, its personally improving.  And in the cloth diaper world that is exactly what has given us the many choices to fit the many different parent-baby combos. 

My velcro prefold and my prefold hybrid (also with Velcro)

 
LESSONS, deign changes are:
•a solution to a problem
•the thought "for me this would work better this way". 
• a seamstress invisioning something different and knowing she has the tools to make it reality
• combining your favorite design elements for what you most want in a diaper. 
So lets me thankful for the changes before us, the changes we make, and the changes to come after us. 

Some examples:
1950 - diaper service owner invents prefold, made by curity.
1950 -  Sybil Geeslin (Kennedy) invents first fitted diaper, the safe-T-di-dee-diaper.
1987 - bummis creates modern diaper cover.
1995 - Motherese comes on the scene by mail order.  Owner Erika Froese had been selling these one size diapers which she had designed and named for her children.
2000- Fuzzibuns creates pocket diapers.

WHY DIAPERS SHOULD BE CHANGED OFTEN - The summary that doesnt hold back

Ok, if you follow my blog you have an idea what I'm going to say.  However I felt this summary was needed and it's to later become part of my "cloth care and use guide" 

Diapers should be changed often!  If you do they wont leak.*  You probably figured that, but the issue is how often.  I say about once per feeding or every 2-3 pees (the third pee being those situations where life held you up a wee bit).  And of course immediately if baby poops.  There are several reasons to change diapers this often. 

1. Its just unhygienic to not change diapers this often.  Regardless of if the diaper feels dry or not.  Sitting in urine for many hours and many pees is not a clean thing to do and can lead to diaper rash, even if the diaper feels dry.  Disposable diapers have sought to create diapers that are continuously more absorbent then the last.  Cloth diapers are also hopping on this train.  And they all make it sound appealing; who wouldn't like to go 5, 6, or more hours without changing a diaper? ...until we consider that what we're really doing is having baby sit in urine to increase our personal leisure. 

LESSON: change diapers often cuz leaving your baby in pee for hours is gross and unhygienic.
And by the way this applies to disposable diapers too, its still unhygienic even if they are designed for that kinda use.

2.  If you let baby pee more then 2-3 times in the diaper your building up a fair amount of urine in that diaper.  Urine build up leads to ammonia build up.  Ammonia is the scurge of the cloth diaper world.  It makes diapers smell bad (even when clean) and  it destroyes the cloth diapers absorbency, which requires diaper stripping and reduces diaper longevity.  If that's not bad enough, ammonia in diapers leads to diaper rash.  For this same reason they should be washed often too.*

LESSON: Change diapers often so you dont cause diaper rash from dirty-ammonia-build-up-diapers.

3. A baby who is used to sitting in a diaper for hours on end is harder to potty train.  This is so because they are used to the feel of urine against their skin and dont have a desire to change that.  A child who is always freshly diaper is used to a consistent clean fresh feel on their skin and will potty train to maintain that comfort. 

LESSON:  raise a child who is used to a clean fresh bum to make potty training easier.

4. This isn't medieval Europe!  Back then it was acceptable to have baby sit in dry urine.  You see they dried out urine filled swaddlings, then reused them, washing only  after several turns.  But they didn't understand hygiene back then, they bathed (maybe) once a year (if wealthy).  Eventually they realized the health and rash connection and were encouraged (finally)  to clean after each use. 

LESSON: We are cleaner then those in medieval times in all ways...except diapering.  That's a scary step back for humanity.

So next time someone claims their 3/3/3/ prefold works great, know your dealing with clean healthy parents.  And when someone advises you that some 8 layered fitted diaper leaks - run! Either they dont know how to use and/or care for the diaper they have, or they let their baby sit in urine for hours....either way get your advice elsewhere.

*cloth diapers need proper care and proper use not to leak.  And some leaks just happen on occasion.  Check out my 7 types of leaks post. 

My Prefold Hybrid

The other day I brought my gathered leg prefold diaper (or prefold hybrid) into being.  And yes I did post about it.  But as a diaper itself I think it needed a little more, some comparison pictures particularly.   And well if it turns out to be a great idea it would have it's own post right?  So here it is. 
I think I'm calling this the prefold gathered leg hybrid.  And the following is a series of photos showing my reg prefold next to my gathered leg prefold. 

Diaper Creams & Cloth Diapers

So one of the things you will receive as a shower gift (or have purchased yourself) is diaper cream to protect or heal diaper rash.  And the two best out there are thick, creamy diaper absorbency destroyers.   And your wondering what on earth are you supposed to do? Protect that little bum with cream or with absorbent diapers.  And why can't life just be easy enough to let you do both? 

Well actually you can.  Remember me mentioning disposable diaper liners that are flushable, biodegradable and make cleaning poop into the toliet so simple?  Yeah well they also protect your fluff from diaper cream.  So...

Solution #1: use a disposable diaper liner. 

And of course there is...

Solution #2: dont use cream. 

Ok dont worry, most of the time your cloth baby won't need cream cuz a healthy, natural, clean cloth diaper that is changed and laundered often wont lead to diaper rash.  However foods, teeth etc will lead to a rash on occasion.   So return to solution #1: disposable liners.  *of course there are diaper rash treatments that are cloth friendly and they will be covered later, this is about creams.  The cloth safe items are usually oils.  Also I haven't used them and I am skeptical as natural oils are one of the this.gs we remove when prepping cloth diapers to increase absorbency. 

Why?  I always wonder this so I will assume others are likewise curious
  The creams are designed as a wetness barrier for babies skin.  Of course as it builds up in the diaper it becomes a wetness barrier for your diaper.  This isn't so great as you need that diaper sucking up wetness not lettinng it roll off. 

If your diapers are starting to be less absorbent and you've been using cream, this is why.  Having made this rookie mistake myself years ago I can tell you that you van see the white build up on your white diaper.  Or more likely your cloth liners.  They will need to be stripped.  Since for me it was just liners, I replaced them. 

Ever since I make sure to use the disposable liners.  I still use cotton ones for absorbency but over those is my poop catching diaper build up saving disposable liner.  They are worth the money.  Actually they are worth more then the money (the are very affordable) . 

So keep your fluff fluffy and not weighed down with cream build up. See, the fix was simple and you can still have your cake and eat i it too.   

MY NIGHT WRAP AND BIG PREFOLD HYBRID IDEA!

So when I decided to make my own diapers I had contemplated a hybrid idea of a prefold with a gathered leg. 

My final decision was to not try something new.  Who was I to think I could re-invent the wheel. 

Well this morning I decided to make my night wraps.  Which I've designed in the less typical manner.  See I know fleece is great at handling night time diapers.  Except I don't like it as a material inside a diaper.  And its not water proof,  its water repellent.   So I made myself a 2/2/2 fleece prefold, to be used between between cotton prefold and a waterproof wrap (like PUL or taffeta). 

And then I thought im gonna try my hybrid idea.  Im gonna put elastic where prefolds wrap around the leg.

So fold like a prefold

Place cotton prefold diaper inside.

Do up diaper and fleece, stretching fleece over diaper.

Then put your wrap over top. Might sound bulky but its not. Its only 4/6/4.

Then I thought well I'll try it with the remaining prefolds left to sew. If I dont like it I can pick the threads and the elastic will let go. If I love it I can get some covered elastic and add it to the prefolds that dont have the gathered leg. I dont know if others are doing this. I was told there is a similar concept on YouTube. There is, its kinda cool, lil different, little more involved. Mine is more basic.

I'd love feedback on this. And I will totally be giving feedback after baby is born. Plus a post on either letting elastic go or adding it.

DIY UPCYCLED KNIT BABY LEG WARMERS TUTORIAL - 3 different styles

So after yesterday I woke up today still very excited about my (in the mail) baby leg warmers.   When I had a great thought: knitted baaby leg warmers would be So Cute...except I can't knit.  So I decided d I would make some out of sweater sleeves. 

Now I love my knit sweaters and didn't want to cut them up
  Plus then I wouldn't have sweaters.  So I went to the local mission (I live in the ghetto) where they have free everything including clothes. 

I found three sweaters with knits, colour and feel that I liked.  Also 3 different styles and sizes (toddler, child, adult).  So this tutorial actually shows 3 different (and easy) ways to make upcycled baby leg warmers from sweaters.  Also I did them all long so they will bunch on the legs, and not be grown out of. 

LEG WARMER #1 (Toddler size, hand knit, cuffed wrist and neck hole):
1. Cut straight up from armhole to neck. The wrist will be one cuff. The neck the other cuff.
2. Starting at the base of the wrist cuff sew (with sleeve turmed.inside out) in a solid zigzag in a straight line up to neckline. Now you have a tube

See the solid zigzag stitch in the red?

3. Cut off excess material (careful not to cut the stitches). Turn right side out and your done.

*note: the finished width is 8.5cm which would be a diameter of 17cm. The length is about 33cm.

LEG WARMER #2: Adult sweater with rib knit cuffs, waist and fold over collar in neck.
1. Cut sleeve straight across at bottom of arm hole.

2 sew in a straight line from base of wrist cuff to top.

3. Cut off excess.

4. Cut 16cm of rib knit collar off. Sew to non cuffed end of leg warmer. *the leg will.stretch more then the cuff while sewing. Use much finger pressure and guidence at Presser foot to prevent stretching.

5. Sew cuff together. Turn tight side out andyour done.

LEG WARMER #3 - child sized sweater with no ribbed cuffs:
1. Cut sleeve straight off.

2. Cut off 16cm of a rib knit cuff, waist etc from another sweater.

3. Sew cuff ends together creating a circle.

4. Place sleeve I.side cuff.with raw.edges together. Stitch and turn right side .out

So there we go; 3 knit baby leg warmers at zero cost. And regardless of the sweater, there are.ways to make it work. Style 3 is a good way to add colour to a plain coloured sweater/leg warmer. Enjoy.