To each his own

Late Tuesday morning a big box from Wazoodle Fabrics arrived at our doorstep with my name on it.  And since then I've been in a diaper making frenzy.  After the big disappointment of the diapers I ordered (remember?) falling through (the company I ordered from was closed); after much debate, deliberation, and research; after weeks of waiting for my supplies to arrive... I've embarked on the adventure of sewing with elastic. (Which is, by the way, the worst part of the process in my opinion).

As as side note, I would just like to say that I do not have a convert-the-whole-world-to-cloth-diapers agenda. I just don't. I use them and am pretty happy with them. But if you don't, hey, don't feel too guilty. There are plenty of things in life to feel guilty about (aka sin). If this isn't a battle you've deemed worthy of fighting, you have my blessing.

And to second that, I definitely don't have an agenda to convince you to make your cloth diapers (should you choose to use them). In fact, if I could justify buying what I want (about 18 (swaddlebees) diapers in four or five different sizes), I just might have done it. But our savings accounts just couldn't take the beating. You've got to choose your battles. I knew I didn't want to be using big bulky one-size diapers for the next fifteen years (even when I could get them really cheap off ebay... check these out... wow) or I might just give up on the whole thing as soon as I could afford out.

So, I went with something I was pretty sure I would be happy with in ten years. Making my own.

The truth is, it's been sort of a fun little project for me. Since my fabrics showed up on Tuesday I've made eight diapers and fifteen inserts, with more in the making.  I seriously am cranking them out as fast as I possibly can (while still trying to make adjustments to get them just right).  So far that's enough to get us through one day (roughly)... but I hope to have a full set done by the end of next week at the latest.  All poor Jeremy hears about these days is diapers, diapers, diapers (seriously for weeks). Anyhow, as life-consuming as it's been, I'm pretty sure I'm made the right choice to make my own. They look pretty good, huh?

Here's a side-by-side comparison for you. On the left is a small fuzzibunz diaper. I can no longer do up the hip snaps on Raymond without the leg holes making little red rings around his legs.He started wearing this diaper (doesn't it look huge?!) at 2 months.    

On the right is a medium homemade diaper (with a whole inch added into the width of the pattern, I kid you not). It should theoretically fit him for the next 8-12 months (although some claim their children have worn mediums of this pattern well into their second year. Wow.). Neither diaper pictured has an insert in it. Do you see what I mean about unnecessary bulk?

And in case anyone else is as crazy as I am:

• I bought my fabric from here (although next time I think I'll go here even if it is a bit more expensive... customer service is sometimes worth more). PUL as my outer fabric, microfleece as my inner fabric, and inserts made of bamboo fleece and zorb.  We'll have to see if I'm happy with the absorbency in a few weeks, I guess.
• I bought snaps pliers rather than a press (considerably cheaper route) from this company
• I'm using this pattern (with some adjustments... it was just a little too trim (believe it or not), and I didn't think it would perform its function). The creator has been very helpful as she has been willing to email back and forth with me. I'm all about good customer service.

If you have more questions... feel free to email me (carlyjane35@gmail.com)

(Outtakes of trying to get a picture of one on Raymond... not working so much)

(I've since made smaller inserts, so they aren't as bulky as shown here. Notice he's headed straight toward that big overflowing box of diaper-making fabric. Ah microfleece.)

(this is the latest "crying" face he makes, producing a sort of nasal-y cry... He really wants that camera I'm holding. You can't see them, but the boy officially has four more teeth this week. Good times.)