Fabric for cloth diapers.

The following is an opinion piece on fabrics in diapers.  I feel an opinion piece is valid as I have been sewing since I was 3 and am now 39.  Also I am currently cloth diapering my 6th child over the past 18 years.  Understanding fabric choices is important.  One thing all good seamstresses know is that the best seamstress with the best pattern won't make a good item without the right choice of materials. 

CLASSIC COTTON FOR DIAPERS: diapers used to be all cotton, usually flannel or Birdseye.  There is even diaper flannel.  Cotton is a natural fabric and washes and dries well. I rate it 10/10 on a scale of 1(poor) to 10 (excellent) on how well it washes.  If stained it suns well (hanging in the sun to get out stains) .  It is absorbent and has stood the test of time when it comes to diapers.  This is a healthy, clean and reliable choice for cloth diapers.  You can use other cottons too such as t-shirts (not very absorbent)  or old sweatshirts. You can also use cotton batting in the core of a diaper so long as you quilt it.  You can use FST'S (flour sack towels) and cotton Terry (old towels), both are very absorbent.  Softer French Terry (still absorbent because the shape of the fibers draws wetness in and distributes it).  Burly Knit Terry (bkt) is a Terry with extra long thick loops.  Its super absorbent but very thick so best used as an insert rather then through a whole diaper.

HEMP:  Everything I've said for cotton goes for hemp; just double the absorbent factor, unfortunately the cost is also higher. Its a wonderful addition to the natural fabric options for diapers.  For wash rating I give it 10/10

BAMBOO (rayon): If you can find it in hemp you can find it in bamboo rayon. Like Hemp it is very absorbent. The difference is bamboo is chemically processed into rayon and is not a natural fabric.  If you see it listed as such (except for bamboo linens which aren't used in diapers) you should report it.   Zorb I & II are also bamboo rayon .  Zorb is very absorbent! However it doesn't always hold everything it absorbs.  Its texture and construction are much like batting, but thicker.  Charcoal Bamboo is popular but it is exactly what it says, bamboo (rayon) with actual charcoal in it.  It washes great for a synthetic and I'll give it 8/10.  If you want to read more about the truth behind bamboo check out this news article here. You can also read my post titled "the heartbreaking truth about bamboo".

MICROFIBER: Its generally used to make inserts to stuff pocket diapers.  It cannot be used against babies skin as it will suck the moisture out of your babies skin.  As an insert it will be effective in the diaper.  What you should know is that microfiber was created by the cleaning industry to trap dirt and germs.  It does this effectively. The downside is it's very effective which makes it difficult to clean. It is more prone to ammonia issues then any other fabric choice. The trapping germs part (personally)  worries me about its use in diapers. I'll rate it 1/10 on its ability to wash clean

FLEECE: There are a variety of fleeces and they do not all do the same thing.  Some wick, absorb and some are water resistant.  Fleece is polyester (chemically made). It can be made with  bamboo but it is not organic despite the title organic bamboo  fleece (OBF), this is because bamboo is creatrd through a cellulose process.  Cotton or hemp fleece that isn't poly blend is for absorbtion.  Polar fleece and Windpro (which is a  polar fleece) are water resistent.  They are used on the outside of diapers or as diaper covers.  They can suffer compression leaks.  They are soft and let air circulate.
Microfleece is a moisture wicking fleece. It is used on the inside of a diaper to create a soft feel dry layer. Fleece washes well enough.  They rank in the middle wash wise in that they won't wash as well as cotton but better then mocrofiber. I'll rate it 7/10 on washing clean.

VELOUR AND SUEDE CLOTH: Velour is uses on the inside of a diaper for a feel dry layer.  The kind used for diapers is polyester backed.  Without the poly backing it will wear out quickly.  Velour is cotton, organic cotton and bamboo cotton.  OBV stands for organic bamboo Velour but is not organic.  Suedecloth works and is used like the velour.  It resists staining.  But its not as soft. They  does not wash well and is prone to ammonia.   I'll rate it 3/10 for ability to wash clean.

MINKY: This is also polyester.  t is super soft and moderately absorbent.  It might be  used on the inside or outside of a cloth diaper.  It's popularity is based on its amazing feel and look. wash wise I rank it 5/10.

PUL: This is Polyurethane.  It is used as a diaper cover, outside of AIO's or inside as a hidden waterproof layer and same on pocket diapers. It is waterproof.  It needs a different wash routine as a cover then a regular diaper.  However since it might be sewn as part if the diaper the whole diaper then requires a different wash routine.  A cheap PUL will delaminate.  Over time PUL will wear out especially when not used as a seperate cover.  It can make the inside of a diaper humid against babies skin.  It does wash clean though.  Wash wise (clean speaking)  I give it a 9/10.

TAFFETA: I have never sewn a taffeta cover but I have used one by Kushies.  Its waterproof but unlike PUL it breathes.  It is also thinner then PUL and longer lasting.  It has no stretch to it though so it's not good as an os (one size fits all).  Im not sire why its not more popular and not available as a diaper fabric.  It is a synthetic fabric but also washes well and I give it a 9/10. 

WOOL:  This is the hero of the diaper cover world.  It is used as a seperate cover.  It sounds complicated to wash but it isn't (check out my posts on wool). It Breathes, its natural, its water repellent, it's natures raincoat.  I have no leaks with wool at all, not even overnight.  If your having leak issues this is my recommendation hands down. It is pricey but you can use upcycled wool which is cheap.  Wash wise I rank it 10/10. 

looking to make cute wool covers.

I like my wool wraps best cuz they are easy to use at diaper changes.  But they aren't as cute as my diapers.  I've been told I can't cover wool in flannel or applique in non wool due to compression leaks.  And I know this is true....or is it?  the other material will end up lanolized and I dont get compression leaks from his clothes (and onsies for pretty snug over the covers)....so I think I want to experiment and test out just one.  If I have success then I'm doing more.  So wish me luck cuz they would be all oh so cute.  

2 weeks in: diapering baby moss.

Like my oldest, baby moss is a heavy wetter.  And my mama moss diapers hold up.  Like his oldest sister though he needs a diaper cover full time.   That's a little sad cuz it covers the super cute cloth.  however I am very happy with the wool.  I made wool covers in a wrap style and for myself I made some pull on ones out of upcycled sweaters.   Cuteness-wise I like the sweater ones.  Function-wise the wrap ones are so much easier to change.  

So I am happy with using my own cloth diapers, what about washing? Well I was going to the laundry mat. Then daddy moss got a breach of probation (yeah we are not a middle class family, we are a low income Native family with matching problems) . So money us even tighter then usual so I'm hand washing and hanging to dry. My method? a good grape stomping in my bathtub. Works wonderful. Read about it online somewhere months ago. First time I used to much water and detergent which took forever rinsing but I got it down pat now. Also I rinse in cool water and vinegar. I hang to dry on the fire escape.

BABY MOSS HAS ARRIVED

Baby Moss arrived last night at 10:28pm est.  He is 8lbs 3oz and 20 inches. Heisman wearing his Mama Moss Diapers I designed for him.  Test 1 - they fit √  Test 2 - hold pee √ (of course its tiny newborn pee, but for now its what I got (other then my personal test lol.  

Baby Quilt & Moss Bag

I am finished! Well I'm waiting for daddy moss to put away the laundry I washed and folded :/ but otherwise I am finished chores and baby sewing.  I feel I can incorporate so much into making both a quilt and a moss bag.  Being 1/2 Lakota and 1/2 Cajun I can bring both sides together.   my Cajun ancestors would have been busy sewing quillts for their babies and quilting is a skill my Lakota ancestors became well known for after colonization with our star quilts.  And the moss bag (in various forms) was used throughout the America's by all our Indigenous Nations.   

The Quilt:
When I started contemplating the baby's quilt I didn't know if I was having a boy or a girl. But I designed two quilts, one a Cree floral design (my partner is Cree), and one a Lakota inspired thunder horse design (turns out I'm having a boy). I say inspired as it has a bit of a modern look. The night sky and clouds are more suggested in the geometric background. Where the horses are very organic, coloured and designed in a simplified version of your typical thunder yourself but the shape is more natural and less stylized then the traditional shapes. The quilt is larger then a typically baby quilt cuz I like then to be big enough to cuddle up in with baby. The colours are very "American", but lets remember lots of Nations like and use red, white and blue, and my people do also. Plus using those colours with shared cultural designs (stars, stripes, dots, horses), helped our people convince the Indian agents back in the day that we really were celebrating Independance day ... in our own way....it just resembled a powwow (wink, wink). The blanket binding I made out if a complementary quilting cotton. I prefer doing this so that it matches or accents my quilts (will do a short tutorial on how to make your own blanket binding / bias tape).

(thunder horses, similar to a Thunderbird and yet very different, like a lesser thunder being to make it simple)

A wooded Thunder Horse (marketed for eBay but I couldn't find a more traditional image to show yous)

The Moss Bag:
Traditionally our people used moss bags to diaper our babies. Some went inside the cradleboard, while others (like this one) have straps on the bag so no board is needed but it functions the same. These items diapered, swaddled and kept babies safe, with a clear view of the world and a warm snug place to sleep. There is much to the teachings of their use but that is not for the internet. The bags were decorated amf filled with absorbent moss, which was changed when used. I've made the moss bag with the same materials as the quilt. The design is also the same although the horses (like those on the blanket) are a little different.

Picture of Plains Cree Women with moss bags circa 1914.

In The Last Days Of Pregnancy

I will be 40 weeks on Sunday.  I have been focusing on being ready for baby.  My mama moss diapers are all sewn and ready for sale but my own baby's sewing was not done. 

I was getting anxious to have baby as im tired of pregnancy lol.   However like my diapering preferences my birthing preferences are also natural so im waiting for nature to decide It's time for labour.   And term is 37-42 weeks so really it could be tommorow or in two weeks, but any day. 

I rested a few days.  Spent a few days walking.  Then I decided I needed to finish all the last minute stuff that wasn't finished. It was quite the list:
• laundry
• household chores
•minor organizing
• few baby items to be purchased
•postpartum mom items
•labour and post birth food
•easter stuff for kids this weekend
•my baby's moss bag needed straps and trim

All of this is now complete. However my baby's quilt is not finished. I've done some in between all the chores etc. Now its just the quilt. I have this feeling labour won't happen till the quilt is done. No fear there, I'm a fast seamstress. Fabric is my canvas and it just comes out. I should be done Saturday at the latest. I have a pic of where I'm at. (got a bit more done since this pic, not much). I am almost done the applique on the horses and lighting. Next I will be highlighting the grey strips with silver. Then I need to pin the layers and quilt them. The final step will be the blanket binding which I will be making from a cotton I picked to complement the horse fabrics. I will post the quilt when done.

So if you dont see many posts I. the next few days; well im sewing and hopefully birthing and thhere will be the occasionally update. Soon we will be using these diapers I've designed for the little guy and it will all be shared here :)

Why Some Cloth Diaper Companies Recommend Bleach

Nope, I am not recommending bleach but I will explain why some companies do.  Some of these same companies say don't use vinegar or baking soda.  There is no good reason for this.  I will explain all three things in this post. 

Also this post isn't putting down these companies or their products. They provide a good CD option. but like all diapers they have their pros amf their cons. Understanding the cons allows you to better care for these diapers so you can enjoy all the pros they offer. Also I would say these are quality companies. The instructions they give are to simply make sure the products they make will work for you and they have conveyed that advice in as simple and basic a format as possible by creating their own basic care instructions.

Why some companies recommend bleach:  What is known as the modern cloth diaper are diapers with synthetic materials such as microfiber, suede cloth,  minky, binky (bamboo minky), fleece etc.  The construction and shape of the fiber is different then natural fibers.  In fact when microfiber was designed (by the cleaning industry)  it was designed this way on purpose to pick up and trap dirt, bacteria etc.  At the end of this post are some pics from a microfiber industry site - check it out. Since its designed to trap these things, they are harder to wash out.  The result is that these fabrics are more prone to ammonia (which some people refer to as stink), which makes your diapers smell bad and will cause a rash on babies bum, in bad cases it will cause ammonia burn.  If your using a "modern diaper" which also has thick layers then your increasing the difficulty in washing the diaper because there are more layers to wash through.   This is also why its important to remove inserts from pocket diapers.  Washing inserts that have been seperated from the diaper allows you to wash through less layers resulting in a cleaner diaper.  The solution is that some of these companies will suggest a monthly bleaching, to combat the problem.   Am I saying people shouldn't use thick "modern" diapers?  No.  These diapers have qualities Moms like.   And if for you their pros outweigh the cons then use them.  Just be mindful of the drawbacks.  Change the diaper even though the fabric leaves it feeling dry.  Remove all poop before placing in your diaper pail or wet bag (should be done with all diapers).  Rinse out overnight diapers (should be done with all overnight diapers). Wash often (again as with all diapers).  And make sure you have a very thorough wash and rinse routine.  It will need to be more intense then with flats, prefolds and basic fitted's made of natural materials.  Keep a sharp eye on the diaper for signs of ammonia or build up.  Extra detergent or water will not clean better. An extra washing, boosters (some if which are hard on fabrics), vinegar presoak or rinse should help.  In the end you might need to follow the company advice of monthly bleachings.  If this is the case absolutely do a vinegar rinse at the end of multiple post bleach rinses.  And do not expect all these diapers to last forever.   In the end the bleach and washings will cause wear, it just happens.  If the only way to keep ammonia at bay is a monthly bleaching then that's because they could not be completely rid of ammonia.  I would suggested not reselling or donating a diaper with this issue because it's just not right to be passing an ammonia problem on. In addition I recommend looking a cloth diaper blogs.  Find one by an experienced CD mom.  Experienced as in over a year, at least, multiple children is even better and doesn't have repeated ammonia or leak issues (which build up creates).  And lastly one that uses the same or a similar diaper.  A mom using the same or similar diaper and successfully keeps the diaper free of its potential issues will be a good resource.   I can only advise so far.  I understand fabric and sewing very well.  I've always been good at science and research.  And I've been cloth diapering longer then most but my hands on experience is keeping basic fitted's and prefolds made of cotton clean. 

* If you are using a diaper made of natural fabrics but 8+ layers thick, you also will need a more thorough wash and rinse routine in order to wash through all the layers.   This means you might need to follow much of the same advice. 

Why white vinegar is safe:
White vinegar is also called distilled.   Technically speaking,  its not.  What it is, is 5% to 8% acetic acid (that's vinegar) in water.  With a pH of 2.2-3.  This makes it too weak to breakdown fabric fibers.  It will however breakdown detergent and uric acid.  So what's their problem with it?  Well it is possible that striping with vinegar might not be strong enough on synthetic fabrics to strip them.  So what you could do instead is use white vinegar in a presoak before washing or add to the rinse cycle after washing.    Do that with each wash to help hard to clean synthetics. 

Why baking soda is safe: Baking soda (and washing soda) have been used in laundry and cleaning for over 100 years.  They are safe and they are gentle.  They do not have the ability to harm fabric (they are not strong enough to do so).   They also clean nicely.  Washing soda cleans better then baking soda however.  And if all you have is baking soda you can bake it and it will turn into washing soda.   So why do some companies say not to use them?  Same issue as vinegar, these are safe gentle cleaning products which may not be strong enough to clean synthetic materials in a diaper. 

The pics below come from a microfiber industry site. The top diagram shows why and how they do their job of picking up and trapping dirt and bacteria. The second picture is a photo of a cross section of the fiber under a microscope. It is also why they work as stay dry fabrics instead if absorbing fabrics. The fiber design does not allow the fiber to swell up with retained water.