My Frugal Baby Tips: Diaper Sewing

Do you want to make wool soakers or diaper covers for a baby, but you are a crocheter, not a great knitter?

I found a few patterns, and I am sharing them with you!

An excellent place to go is Ravelry.com - a free site for knitters and crocheters.

Here are a few others I found...

Image: Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

-- Once you make your first couple of crocheted diaper covers, you'll be hooked, and so will your little one!

Click for pattern: Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

Curling Baby Set

-- Julia says, I wanted something absorbent, so I chose the front and back post stitches to give it extra padding. The moms who have tried them have been excited about how well the diaper covers work.

Click for the pattern: Curling Baby Set

Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

-- The first one is super easy!
This pattern is written in four sizes

Click for the pattern: Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

Tickle Turdle Wool Wraps

- Allows you to select the closure method you prefer. A Snappi works excellently, and so do diaper pins!

Click for the pattern: Tickle Turdle Wool Wrap

Rolled Edge Wool Soakers

-- Crochet it, put it on your baby, and adore how cute it looks!

Click for the pattern: Rolled Edge Wool Soakers Pattern
(archived on the Wayback Machine)

Image: Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

-- This soaker pattern is the simplest of the simple to crochet. It is very economical and will fit most babies from start to finish because it is so S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y. Even the most novice of crocheters can work it up in no time.

Click for the pattern: Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

Image: Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

-- Although these pants can be knitted, Stephanie found it faster to crochet them. All I need to make a pair is a size J crochet hook and four ounces of wool.

Click for the pattern: Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

More Free Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns:

🚼 13 Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns

🚼 Princess Diaper Cover

🚼 Mickey and Minnie Inspired Crochet Diaper Covers

🚼 Bubbly Diaper Cover

🚼 Adirondack Babie Crocheted Soaker

Image: zefen Reusable Baby Diaper Cover/Knit Co | Natural, so soft, breathable, waterproof. Perfect with prefolds for hot climate

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-on

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2-layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

100% Merino Wool Diaper Cover

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Ready-Made Baby Wool Diaper Covers

🚼 Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns

🚼 100% Merino Wool Yarn | super-fine and soft

🚼 Fishermen's Wool Yarn | 100-Percent Pure Virgin Wool

🚼 100% Wool Yarn

🚼 Bamboo Handle Crochet Hooks

🚼 Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set

Image: Reading in Bed, by Squiggle, on Flickr

Image: Birdseye Flat Cloth Diapers 27x27 100% Cotton High Absorbency Birdseye Burp Cloth (6)

Birdseye Flatfold Diapers

Have you got a bedwetter, but not enough money to afford those expensive cloth Bedwetter Pants, or the on-going expense of the disposable ones?

You can make your own - NO sewing required!

You will need: Two padded training pants (you can also use underpants, but padded training pants will be more absorbent), one or two flat or prefolded diapers, four diaper pins and a waterproof outer cover.

Or use a waterproof covered training pant for your outside layer - for a two-in-one combo!

Using the cloth diaper, fold it into a long thick rectangular pad. Lay this inside one of the training pants, so the folded diaper pad lays down the center of the training pant.

Image: Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist

Credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist.

Place another pin through the opposite short end of the diaper pad and back waist. Pin from the outside of the training pant, so as not to cause discomfort to your child.

Next, add the second training pant on the inside of the first, so you now have a training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant sandwich.

Add nylon, vinyl or other waterproof pull-on pants over top of everything. Or check into some of the newer fleece pull-on pants!

Image: Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, White, Medium (2 Count)

Dappi Nylon Diaper Pants

These work great for kids embarrassed by the baby-like nylon or vinyl pants. Your bedwetter sandwich now has four layers - training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant | waterproof cover.

Use the two remaining diaper pins to pin through the three layers - two training pants and one waterproof outer cover - this time placing one diaper pin at each side waist.

Push the pins through the same area as the stitching on the waterproof cover to prevent damage.

These pins help to hold everything all together, and will allow your child the independence to quickly pull up and down their Bedwetter Pants when they need to go to the toilet.

If your child needs even more absorbency, you can add another layer of folded diaper, but this could be very bulky.

These Bedwetter Pants can also be used during the day, for older children not quite ready, or not completely potty-trained.

Image: MooMoo Baby 6 Packs Potty Training Underwear Absorbent Vehicle Training Pants for Toddler Boys Pee Pants 2T-9T

Potty Training Pants

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Prefold Diapers

🚼 Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers

🚼 Dappi Waterproof Diaper Cover

🚼 Toddler Training Pants

🚼 OsoCozy Diaper Pins

Image: Gustav in gDiaper, by Majorbonnet on Flickr

Here's a fast and simple way to make all your flat, prefold and shaped diapers into easy Velcro®-closing diapers!

Just cut one piece each of both hook and loop Velcro®.

Sizing: Small - cut 12" (31cm) long; Medium - cut 18" (46cm) long; Large - cut 24" (61cm) long; XLarge - cut 30" (76cm) long.

Trim off all the corners, into curves.

Place the Velcro® pieces back to back (with the hook and loop sides facing out, away from each other.)

Image: DIY Velcro(r) Diaper Fastener, by Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Sew together, around all four edges.

That's it! One fastener is all you need! If you wish, you could make one or two more, in case one gets soiled or lost.

Is that too much work??

Then you could just buy the One Wrap Velcro straps - no sewing involved!

Care: Wash by hand in the sink and hang to dry for longer wear.

To Use: Simply place the diaper on your baby as you normally would.

But, instead of using pins or clips, simply wrap this Velcro® diaper fastener around the diaper at your baby's waist, with the hook side facing the diaper, overlapping the Velcro® at baby's front (or back, if your baby can undo the strap!) to fasten.

The Velcro® hook part helps to hold the diaper in place.

Make sure the hooks are completely covered by the diaper, or they may irritate your baby's skin.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

One Wrap Velcro®

Shopping Suggestions:

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - White

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Red

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Green

Image: Christmasy Fleece Diaper Covers, by Ashley Barrett on Flickr

EcoPosh Wool Diaper Cover

I make fleece pull-ons for my little ones and love these covers for both day and night.

If you use Polartec or another outdoor-gear level fleece, you will need only one layer.

If you use thin fleece, you will need at least two layers.

List of free online patterns:
🚼 DIY Soaker Instructions

🚼 Rita's Rump Cover | Free Pattern

🚼 Katrina's Sew Quick Soaker Pattern

🚼 Diaper Cover with Gussets Tutorial

🚼 Free Cloth Diaper Patterns - Over 60 designs!

Image: 100% merino wool baby knitted soaker diaper cover

100% merino wool soaker

Or, cut into triangles and make similar to the wool version below.

You can add elastic at the waist and legs, or cut the rib knit off the bottom and cuffs of an old sweater to sew on.

For wool pull-ons, recycle old sweaters - if you don't have any to use, check out the second-hand shops!

You could also buy/find cheap pull-ons, cut them apart and use them as a pattern. Good luck!

Thanks to Lauren for this Frugal Baby Tip!

You'll need the following to make a baby butt sweater:

• Old wool sweater. One with no holes will make two covers.
• Elastic (1/4 inch wide)
• the obvious sewing machine, thread, scissors, etc.
• Ten minutes

Wash (on hot) and dry (on hot) the sweater at least 2 or 3 times, until it is pretty well shrunk.

Image: Cut off the sleeve cuffs and neckline. If the sleeve cuffs are very long, only cut off a few inches of them

This step not only felts the wool, making it quite waterproof but also allows the butt sweaters to be machine washed and dried without shrinking.

Lay the sweater out on the floor. Cut off the sleeve cuffs and neckline.
If the sleeve cuffs are very long, only cut off a few inches of them.
You're not making pants!
Cut the neckline piece in half.
Set aside.

Image: From the front of the sweater, cut out a large triangle, with the bottom being the hem of the sweater, and the top point being up at the neckline

From the front of the sweater, cut out a large triangle, with the bottom being the hem of the sweater, and the top point being up at the neckline.
Do the same from the back.
Discard sleeves, or save for another project.

Lay the sweater-triangle down so the waistband is on top, and the triangle points down.

Image: Fold in the two top corners to meet each other. Fold the third corner (the bottom one) up to almost meet the other two

Fold in the two top corners to meet each other.
Fold the third corner (the bottom one) up to almost meet the other two.
Pin.

This will create two seams, each starting at the top center, and extending downward at a diagonal.

Image: Sew each of these seams, from the top, stopping about 4 inches from the bottom

Sew each of these seams, from the top, stopping about 4" from the bottom (less for skinny-legged babies).
The open spaces are the leg holes.

Trim the leg holes as necessary.
Sew in the sleeve cuffs to finish the leg openings.

If the waist is not snug enough, sew the ends of a piece of elastic (long enough to fit snugly around child's waist) together, and slip over sweater like a belt.
Fold the top edge over to encase elastic and sew down.
Voila!

Image: Trim the leg holes as necessary. Sew in the sleeve cuffs to finish the leg openings

Finish the second one the same way, except first sew the ends of the neck-piece together to make two small circles.
Use those to finish the leg holes.

Drawings by Angela from BorntoLove.com - All rights reserved

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

Image: Diaper Change on the Fountain Bench, by Sean Dreilinger on Flickr

Need a diaper cover in a hurry, and they're all in the wash!?

I used to keep nylon pull-on pants around for just such an emergency!

They are all in the wash too?? Use a plastic bag!

Cut a T-shape out of a grocery bag for a baby under about 16 lbs., or a kitchen garbage bag for a bigger baby.

Cut the bottom part of your T about 10" (25cm) wide on the bottom fold of the plastic bag.

This is the crotch part of your emergency diaper cover.

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Cut the top part of your T across the width of the plastic bag. This will be the waist ties.

Make your T about 8" (20cm) high for small, 10" (23cm) high for medium or 13" (33cm) for large.

Cut the sides of your T curved, for better coverage. Cut open the waist ties, so you can tie it on over baby's diaper.

Ties can be about 20" (51cm) long for small, 23" (58cm) for medium or 27" (69cm) for large.

Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is . . .

When you open up the cover, you should have a giant H shape.

Place a folded prefold diaper inside, place baby on top, and tie at each side of baby's waist.

If you really like this style of diaper cover, you can cut some more out of waterproof, rip-stop nylon for no-sew, indestructible, washable tie-on diaper covers.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Diaper How-To Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Disposable Changing Pad

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Diaper Quick Change Emergency Kit

👶 Safety 1st Oh Sh*t Kit

👶 Johnson's Tiny Traveler Baby Gift Set

👶 Daddy's Diaper Duty Apron

👶 Boudreaux's Complete Rash Kicking Kit, Diaper Rash Ointment and Applicator

👶 Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

👶 Maki's Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

Image: A Cool Dry Place, by Mark Gooding on Flickr

We love the fleece on Fuzzi Bunz (keeps the baby dry plus easy poop disposal).

Image: American Baby Company Fleece Blanket | Can be used in a baby carrier, stroller or as a traveling blanket | Ideal shower gift

American Baby Fleece Blanket

However we have a heavy wetter and can't stuff them enough with the Fuzzi Bunz diaper liners to prevent leaks, plus they are expensive.

So we cut up a $3.00 fleece baby blanket from the dollar store, to make fleece diaper liners.

Image: TotsBots Fleece Reusable Washable Nappy Liners (10 Pack) for use with TotsBots Reusable Washable Nappies

Reusable Nappy Liners

We used a flannel diaper liner as a pattern.

We add these to our regular prefold diapers and to our Kushies -- giving our regular diapers all the advantages of the pocket-style -- at a fraction of the cost.

Thanks to Kristin Verrill for this Frugal Baby Tips!

How To Make Cheap Re-usable Fleece Cloth Diaper Liners: How to make re-usable diaper liners out of Walmart fleece blankets. These are the $2.50 blankets that are stored in huge bins near the home area of the store. They have a ton of cute prints and make the PERFECT diaper liner.

Polar Fleece Fabric

More Do-It-Yourself Fleece Diaper Liners

✂️ How to Make DIY Cloth Diaper Liners – Cloth Diapers for Beginners

✂️ How to make your own Fleece Liners from a Walmart Blanket

✂️ Making your own fleece diaper liners - One Crunchy Square

✂️ The BEST Cloth Diaper Hack EVER: How to Make Fleece Liners for Cloth Diapers

✂️ DIY Cloth Diaper Inserts - Farmhouse on Boone

✂️ Making Cloth Diaper Inserts - Thinking About Cloth Diapers

✂️ How to Make Your Own Fleece Liners For Cloth Diapers

Do you have any old, shrunk and matted wool sweaters?

Then you can make two excellent diaper covers per sweater. The more matted the sweater - the more waterproof the covers!

To Make: Cut equal-sided triangles from old, shrunk and matted 100% wool sweaters, and zigzag-stitch edges to prevent unraveling (optional).

You can usually get two small "baby bum sweaters" from one adult sweater, or one large baby bum sweater.

Sizing as follows:
Premie.....cut three sides of triangle by 10 inches (26cm)
Newborn....cut three sides of triangle by 12 inches (31cm)
Medium.....cut three sides of triangle by 16 inches (41cm)
Toddler....cut three sides of triangle by 20 inches (51cm)
Super......cut three sides of triangle by 24 inches (61cm)

Image: Cut along cutting lines for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater

Picture one

Picture one: Cut along cutting lines (red dashes in picture) for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater.

Image: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waistband as the baby bum sweater waistband

Picture two

Picture two: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waistband as the baby bum sweater waistband.

Image: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front

Picture three

Picture three: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front.

Image: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs

Picture four

Picture four: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs.

Image: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings

Picture five

Picture five: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings.You can thread a crochet tie through the waistband.

To use: Multi-layered or double diapers work best with these covers. Pull-on over diaper and tie in front.

TIP: Check out your local Goodwill, second-hand stores or other thrift stores for second-hand wool sweaters to use - very cheap!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip and instructional pics!

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

Knitting Baby Soakers

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Knitting Baby Soakers - features 13 vintage soakers, 2 shirts, and a bib.

🚼 Pea Patch Diaper Soaker Knitting Pattern - This pattern is for a knitted wool cloth diaper cover much like your grandma or great-grandma may have used!

🚼 Unisex Diaper Cover Pattern - This adorable knit diaper cover is perfect for baby to wear anytime, or for pictures.

🚼 PATTERN PDF - Little man diaper cover and bow tie set -- 2 sizes From CrochetMyLove

Image: Sam's big girl bed at my mom's house has Elmo bedding!, by Abigail Batchelder (abbybatchelde) on Flickr

Well, after Sarah leaked out of a disposable diaper Friday night, I knew I could no longer put off making her a pull-on fleece diaper cover (I was going to wait till my mom arrives Tuesday).

So I bought some sewing elastic and snap tape (metal snaps), and yesterday afternoon started sewing.

It went quickly, and last night Sarah wore it.

I did make it a bit large and had to pin it closed, as it was too loose with just the snaps, but it still worked!

Yes, she had a HUGE diaper bum, but this morning, despite a thoroughly sopping diaper, the cover was DRY!! Which means so were our sheets!

Image: MINI PANDA Potty Training Underwear Boys Reusable Potty Training Pants Nighttime Underwear for Toddlers Cotton 4 Pack

Panda Nighttime Underwear

I made the cover out of a single layer of 300wt polartec fleece. I just traced around one of her old covers and enlarged it accordingly.

Then I put elastic at the waist and legs, snap tape at the sides, and that was it.

The cover will likely fit her till she is at least 70 lbs, and hopefully, by then she will be dry at night anyway.

For a diaper, I used a flannel receiving blanket (or use flannelette fabric), folded in half, with two terrycloth hand towels folded in fourths inside it. Pinned it on.

Poor kid slept with SIX diaper pins last night! But the whole thing worked!

We've had to wash our sheets four times in the past week, and we were really getting tired of that.

Thanks to Amy for this Frugal Baby Tip!