Nappy Tutorial
I’ve been asked a few times now for a nappy tutorial – here it is!!! This is intended for people wishing to make nappies for their own use – not for sale. Please let me know how you go if you try it!
I know there are prolly way too many photos – but thought it better to have too many than too few! It will probably take longer to read the tutorial than it did for me to make the nappy.
The explanation for each photo comes before the photo itself
You’ll need:
25x40cm PUL
45x40cm Fleece or Suedecloth
24cm loop side of velcro/aplix
6cm hoop side of velcro/aplix
approx 50cm of 6mm elastic
Cut out the pattern as indicated on the pdf. (1x fleece of each part, 1xPUL of body piece). Cut the hook side of your velcro in half, and 2 x 3cm portions off the end of the loop side so you have 1x 18cm and 2x 3cm.
Pin the right side of the front waistband to the right side of the front of the PUL nappy body – making sure the centres are aligned.
Straight stitch 4mm from edge (this is just to keep it in place for the next step)
There are two ways to do the next step, I’ve included on here and will do another post later for the other way.
With the fleece on the bottom and right side of the PUL facing down, fold the PUL in half and half again, then one more time making sure you keep the excess PUL at least 1cm from the stitching.
Roll the PUL over one more time until it is small enough for the two edges of the fleece to be brought together again. Still making sure you will be able to stitch approx .5cm from the top edge without catching any of the excess PUL.
Pin the two edges of the fleece together (right sides should be facing IN)
Straight stitch one of the short sides and the long side, stopping before turning the corner for the remaining short side.
Pull the PUL body piece back through the open hole, push the remaining tail thru once PUL is out.
Fold the PUL in half to check if there is too much fleece on one side (don’t want it being lop-sided!!) – you need the unsewn edge to be 1cm longer than the sewn one, but not more than that.
Fold the edges of the open end into the tube 1cm and pin.
Now pin the right side of the back waistband to the right side of the back of the nappy body.
Pin the other edge of the waistband to the back of the fleece body piece. Right sides together.
Straight stitch along both seams. Laid out flat it should look something like this:
You may need to trim some excess if the fleece has stretched (or if you realise that you cut it wrong to start with – oops!!)
Sew a 1cm hem on the front edge of the inner body piece – I usually use a zigzag but you can do whatever suits.
You should now have one long piece with all parts sewn together. Fold in half, right sides together, ligning up the back waistband edges with each other.
Straight stitch down each side, making sure the fleece doesn’t stretch.
Trim each of the back corners slightly so that they’re not too bulky when you turn it in the right way.
Attach the elastic. Starting at the back, at the edge of the body piece (not on the waistband), sew the elastic into the seam allowance. Once it is attached by a few stitches, stretch as much as you can as you sew.
Stop once you get to the front waistband and cut the elastic.
Do the same on the other side.
Turn the nappy in the right way – nearly done!!
Attach the big piece of loop to the back waistband – again making sure the centres match.
Attach the small pieces of velcro/aplix to the flaps on either side of the front waistband – hook on the outside, loop on the inside.
Model it on an extremely cute baby!!!!
Let me know if something’s not clear… otherwise – have fun!! I love making these nappies, they fit so well, aren’t super bulky and last so long – We use the one size here from early infancy thru to the end of their “nappy days”.
| Print article | This entry was posted by melissa on January 29, 2007 at 8:12 pm, and is filed under Malachi, Sewing. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 3 years ago
That is one cute kiddo! I’m going to try your tutorial as soon as I get my hands on some PUL.
about 3 years ago
Thanks for this Mel! What a great tutorial. I have some PUL here I’m too scared to use. Once I get my nerve up, I’m going to try your pattern. I love how it does up at the back!
about 3 years ago
Does the back opening fasten well while standing?
What sort of weight range do you think it would be in?
Ooh to have a baby still in nappies LOL!
about 3 years ago
I lurve your nappies
I was had the privilege of being shown how to make these nappies almost two years ago and haven’t looked back. Thanks to Missa for generously sharing with me and everyone else….
about 3 years ago
just finished it, but haven’t tried it on DS as he is asleep. So easy and quick that i managed to do it during DS’s naps, and still had time for lunch! if it wears well I will certainly make it again because it’s very economical of fabric. patterns that have the “wings”–in your case the fleece waistband–cut all one piece with the body leave me with odd-shaped bits of PUL I hate throwing away but can never use.
one thing i might change–when I sew the front panel to the fleece front, i might fold over the seam allowance edges of the PUL where it will later attach to the inner layer. does that make any sense?
about 3 years ago
WOW! that is such a cute nappy (and baby). Definately going to give it a whirl!
Thanks for sharing!
about 3 years ago
I tried your nappy method a few times now. It’s fantastic!
I’d like to have your authorization to put a link from my blog to your site and – if you agree – make a translation in French of your tutorial, so that other mothers in France could try your nappy. Can you let me know if you’re ok?
Thanks a lot for sharing your nappy method and pattern!
about 1 year ago
Hi there,
I would LOVE to have this pattern, but when I try to download it, it’s asking for a login and password. Is the pattern still available?
Thank you so much,
Alissa
about 1 year ago
Hi there, I am really interested in trying your nappy pattern, I have been there done that with the folding of terry towelling nappies and want something easier than the previous and more economical and enviro than disposables.
What do you find is the best to use, fleece or suedecloth and which one do you find is the most absorbent?
Just curious also, as I noticed you don’t use a booster or inner fabric at all for your pattern, how often do you find that you have to do nappy changes?
Is it possible that I could use flanelette on the inner, terry towelling in the middle for more absorbency and PUL on outside?
about 1 year ago
Hi there,
I used eenies with a folded nappy inside as a liner for my first 3, these are very similar and was wondering if you used them as they are or if you used a folded nappy as a liner?
Thanks
about 10 months ago
This comment may seem random since it was WAY long ago since you published this post, BUT I’m so happy I found your blog. I’ve been using cloth dipes for several months and wanted to make my own, so I searched the net for an easy way to do it and this was one place I found thru all my searching. It seemed simple to understand for someone like me who doesn’t sew all that often and who’s NEVER made anything other than pillows and simple curtains. And I was super happy about all the photos (I’m a visual learner). I definitely made errors, but I’m so gonna make more
SO glad I found this! Thanks for sharing it!
about 4 months ago
How would you make this waterproof. Like an all in one?
about 2 months ago
Hopefully the pattern link is working again now. There are a few questions about inners/absorbent stuff. It’s a pocket nappy, so generally I make an insert out of hemp/bamboo that’s pre-fold size, or approx 30cm square depending on what I’m cutting it from. You can also use washers or microfibre cleaning cloths, terry flats folded up, whatever is easy and is absorbent enough
about 2 months ago
The link and pattern worked great for me! My first diaper and I’m so excited about how it turned out!
I’ve been putting this off for so long because I knew it was going to be super complicated and your tutorial with a million pics was so easy to follow! I really appreciate you taking the time to do this!
Bree