Wonderous Wool Covers

I've been sewing woolies and really enjoying it (I'll get to all I made in a min).  If you've read some of my other posts you will know I love wool, never been able to financialy afford wool and was a little nervous about it.

But life insisted I not give up on wooly diireams.  So then I had a chance for my products to go into a local baby market.  I jumped at the chance and got some wool for wool diaper covers.   I also made a tutorial on wool care.  Best thing about sewing wool for others though is the left overs are for me to srw for my own baby and see what I like best first lol. 

I Made Longies: And are they not so cute? Be making some for ourselves (I mean our baby lol). I finished the cuff so it can be turned up or down to adjust leg size. And I put button hole elastic in the back of the waist. I think Id like to get some snaps and make the sides open up. I'll work on that soon. I used the Katrina's pattern of the internet for free.

Skirties: So adorable right? But I'm having a boy so these are just for sale. they have a button hole waist and Id like to try the side snaps on these also. the soaker pattern for the soaker (that the skirt is attached to), is also Katrina's pattern. (I will make these links when I can).

And of course I made wool wraps. And they have a double gusset leg, cuz double gusset legs just rock at leak protection. Why I like a wrap over a soaker is if there is a poopy diaper I prefer to open rather then pull. (its why I want to create some longies ad skirties with side snaps.

DOUBLE GUSSET DIAPER WRAP TUTORIAL - in wool

So I finally got the wool for mye diaper wraps (yay). And made my first wrap and cut the others. However I couldn't find a pattern or instructions for a double gusset (just singles). So I figured it out myself and am sharing for others.  The wool I got is 100% wool, 10% of which is cashmere (Oh so so soft).   The wrap is one layer plus a second in the wet zone. I used braided elastic in the back, and the gussests.?  I used Velcro to fasten (you can change to snaps if you like).  I edged some in bias and some in grograin ribbon. 

Here is a pic of the first one (the tutorial is me making #2)

Here is a diagram of the pattern (so you can clearly see measurements (the main piece is half a diaper and needs to be cut on the fold )

The pattern will fit on a piece of fabric that is 19 5/8 inch by 17 4/8 inch. fold over part way so main piece fits on folded over material along with the gusset. place pieces as shown.

The dots on the pattern show where the points where elastic is sewn too. using these dots, mark your fabric. You will need to cut the following pieces of elastic: • 1 back waist 7 3/8 inch • 2 gusset A 5 2/8 inch • 2 gusset B 5 inch. place core in wet zone and sew near edge. Set your sewing machine for longest stitch and sew on elastic to back waist and gusset A (each leg). Stretch elastic out evenly as you sew. Sew right near edge.

With right sides together zigzag stitch curved edge of gusset B to gusset A (stretching gusset A to fit). Gusset B will extend about 1/2 inch beyond gusset A. Turn over and run straight stitch along outside of elastic. repeat on other side.

Zigzag stitch elastic to straight edge of gusset B, stretching evenly.

Add the trim such as Bias tape (beginning seamstresses should use this) all around the outside edge.
Cut an 11cm and a 4cm piece of Velcro. Attach (straight stitch) the 11cm piece if loop to the outside front center. Then attach the 4cm piece of loop to the outside back corner.

Cut the 11cm piece of hook in half and sew to both inside back corners. Discard the 4cm piece if hook.

And your done :)

WOOL WOES - edit at bottom

So after much internal back and forth I decided I want wool covers so wool diaper covers I will make. 

That was supposed to be then ends of decision making and just getting down to work. 

But life didn't work that way....*sigh*

Fabricland barely got any wool this year and didn't have what I need.  Other local fabric stores also dont have any wool.  Found a store online that is in a nearby town where my parents occasionally work and they carry wool interlock.   I can't get a hold of them to make an appointment to visit their actual store.   I thought that better and faster then shipping.  However no response makes me nervous.  Do I order online anyway even though I'm in a time crunch and would need to know it was being shipped out quickly? (Mail from there to here should only take days).  My fear is that the store may no longer be in business and then I have a problem.   I can upcycle wool.  I like the idea a lot.  However it has draw backs too.  Can I get a reliable supply?, A cost efficient supply? I will need to travel to multiple stores, I dont drive so this isn't easy.  Could be a long shopping day with my dad (the king of thrift). 

So tonight I am sleepless as I contemplate my options.  When my head is full its hard to sleep.  Hopefully the answer comes soon. 

An Answer
so my dad and I went to get my 6 yr old a kite.  We poured over tonnes until we found a beautiful dragon (we really felt it should look like a kite and not Batman).  In the process there was time for much chatting....and my dad tellss me what my mom and I never knew: Nearby Perth, ON has a fabric store that carries thousands of fabric, quilt and craft supplies at great prices.   Why has he never told us before?  Cuz we never asked him.  So we will take a family trip up to Perth for the day with my parents soon.  Daddy Moss (my partner)  has never been and in my dad's world view all small towns are treasures that you must see.  

100% NATURAL PLUNGE - A Change In Direction As My Journey Continues

I have finished the diapers for my  baby #6, finishing the liners is next.  I have also been finializing details for making diapers,  liners and covers to sell.  And in doing so I've once again contemplated wool covers.  This will require a slight change in direction, so my cloth journey continues. 

I've been struggling to decide on PUL or taffeta covers.  They work, dont get me wrong, I've used them all this time.  However they aren't natural.   And this weighs on me (thanks mom lol).  My biggest issue against using wool is cost.  Not just for my personal use but selling also.  Selling a product that would be to expensive for most people to purchase is not an acceptable option for me on a socially conscious level.  Being poor helps to make one (me) feel this way too.

So I have been researching and thinking and writing out my thoughts (little bit of talking to myself also lol).  And I think I can do this at a reasonable price.  I can't be 100% in that till my mom and I go to fabricland and see what our local cost would be, but based on prices on the internet, it should be possible.  

I want to be able to buy fabric at a local retailer because it means less transportation of the fabric (environment), and it comes home right away which gets me sewing faster so products for people are ready sooner.  And with the Great Baby Market being my big retail debut, well time is of the essence.  

Here is some of my thought process too.   The average price of a diaper cover is $10 (give or take).  I would like to be able to make a wool cover I can sell for about  $15, and still make a small profit.  I think that's a reasonable goal.  Yes a bit more then a PUL cover, but not outrageously so. 

So how does this equate to a change in direction when I haven't event started making covers due to my internal conflict? 

Well fleece night wraps would be redundant and bulky under a wool cover.  And if I'm going to go 100% natural I must give up the fleece night wraps.  Dont get me wrong, I still like my idea of how to use fleece in a way that works with my cloth diapering sensibilities.  But it is what it is.  And hey; if moms at home want to whip up some for their  babies, well that's awesome!  In some ways its sad to say goodbye to an idea I am fond of.  But I will if needed. 

Will I replace my night wrap with a different night time option?  Yes of course.  If this is the root I go, I will for sure.  What I will do is make a night time doubler (thicker liner) using the batting as a core between flannel.  Made one today to test it out.   Next will be deciding how to make it easily  identifiable from the regular liners. 

This is also going to require some updates to current blog posts.  But that's ok. 

One huge benefit is marketability.   100% natural diapering.   Yes cloth diapering is environmental but it's not always 100% natural when cloth moms (like myself) are commonly using one or several non natural fabrics. 

Now it's time for the journey to continue and discover where it takes me.