Okay, one last cloth diaper related post. This is the tutorial on making your own cloth diaper insert "sock" that I promised I would post. Above is a photo of the one I made for $0.47, next to the one I bought from Cottonbabies for $2.99. Can't tell the difference? That's the idea. I'm sure Cottonbabies won't be thrilled about me posting this, but I think I've given them enough free advertising in my 4-part cloth diapering adventures postings, plus have spent hundreds with them already, so that's how I'm justifying it! ;-) This is at least one way you can save some money...
Click on this image above to see the instructions larger. It's really very simple! These are worth making (or buying from Cottonbabies). Slip an ordinary cloth diaper in them and they act like the fancier BumGenius diapers: soft & fuzzy and keeping the moisture off of baby's skin.
1) Cut a piece of 6.5" x 34" microfiber. I couldn't find anything called specifically "microfiber" at my fabric store but found something called "buttersuede," which felt the same, was made with the same material, and worked just as well in the end. It cost me $4.19 for a yard (30% off on sale), which made 9 socks. Here's a close-up below...you want it to be slick on one side and fuzzy on the other:
2) Fold about 1/4" over on each end (slick sides together) and iron. Sew these seams.
3) Flip the whole thing over so it's fuzzy size up. Now fold 2" over on one end. This will be the overlapping flap that covers the pocket opening. Iron.
4) Fold the other end over to lie flush with the fold you just ironed.
5) Sew down each of the two long edges.
6) Turn it inside out and you're done!
11 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this!!! I don't think many people are familiar with insert socks and how economical they can be. I've tried the CB brand and they didn't work for me. I just sewed 9 in a super lush velour, and they are perfect. Thank you!!!!
Awesome, I'm so glad to hear you found my post useful! Yeah, the insert socks are such a great way to give the standard cloth diapers some of the great benefits of the really expensive all-in-one's at a fraction of the price!
I bought the CB insert socks and I love your post on how to make these but my question is how do u use these? I was just looking for an insert but think I bought the wrong thing. these look like u stuff them with some and prefolds are bulky enough as it is. do I have to put something in there?
You are correct that you have to stuff them. These are insert SOCKS, so you put the inserts (the absorbant part) inside them. These just help keep the moisture away from baby's skin. I also like them because I can stuff them with a folded cloth diaper, and they will stay neatly folded inside...even when my toddler decides to clear his shelf and toss them all over the room! ;-)
Hi, there! Thanks so much for these instructions! One quick thing - I think your instructions should say "microfleece" not "microfiber". Microfiber should not be placed directly next to a baby's skin as it is not healthy for their wee bums (too absorbent). Microfleece, on the other hand, is great next to a bum as it wicks the moisture AWAY from baby and into the diaper inside the sock.
Microfiber is the stuff cleaning cloths are often made of - kind of like a terry cloth but softer. Microfleece is like a very fine, smooth polar fleece.
Thanks again for a great tutorial!
Local fabric stores (like JoAnn's) also sell Alova Suedecloth, which is the exact material used in the Bum Genius 3.0 pockets, and as the "stay dry" layer on the Flip diaper inserts. It comes in several colors, even zebra print :-)
Ditto on the microfleece comment and suedecloth. The latter is more expensive, but far more effective from what I've found. QUESTION: Did you wash the fabric first? I'm trying to calculate how many yards to get. Not sure if shrinking would be an issue.
I don't believe I washed it first...but it's been so long now I can't remember! Sorry! I don't think I did, and don't recall having any shrinking issues after using them. But, you're probably safer washing it first so you don't have to worry about it.
just found your post and love it. i orderd some suedecloth should get here today :). Will be putting padfolded flats in mine and using in my flip cover
Thanks for posting
michelle
I love this idea! I am using Gdiapers and these would be perfect to stuff with microfiber cloths at night! Much better than using sposies on my twins who sleep 12-13 hours at night!
Thank you so much for this! I just made my first insert sock last night out of athletic wicking jersey. It is so soft and smooth and cool to the touch. I'm stuffing mine with padfolded flats and laying them in flip covers. It's a perfect utilitarian, easy clean diapering system for under $150.
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