pocket nappy tutorial

http://diynappies.info – For all your cloth nappy making needs

Copyright © 2009 by Kira Jessup (DIYNappies.info)

The photographs used in this document are copyrighted and may not be used without

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TUTORIAL

Making a Pocket Nappy BEFORE YOU BEGIN

You will need your own pattern to make this nappy. If you haven’t already got a pattern you wish to use, have a look

through the list on the website. I also suggest you pick a time when there will be no interruptions by little people (or

even big people for that matter) as it really does require some concentration the first, second and third times you make

them.

IF YOU ARE USING YOUR OWN PATTERN (i.e. one you have developed yourself and not copied from another pattern),

you may use the information in this tutorial to sew nappies for personal use and/or sale. I like to share the love.

Please be aware that if you are not from Australia that there may be patent issues surrounding the “pocket” so please

check before attempting to sell anything (not an issue, as far as I am aware, in Australia).

OK, LET’S GET STARTED

To make a pocket nappy you will need the following items:

• Sewing Machine

• Scissors

• Pins

• Fabric marker

• Thread in colours to match both the inner

and outer of the nappy

• Polyurethane laminate (PUL) or other

waterproof material for the outer*

• Microfleece, suedecloth or another fabric for

the inner of the nappy

• Fasteners: Hook and Loop

(Velcro/applix/touch tape) or snaps. I find

nappies with snaps are less fiddly to make.

* Whilst cotton outer prints look nice/pretty, be aware that they do tend to wick around the legs and back of the nappy.

MAKING YOUR POCKET NAPPY

1. Following your pattern, cut out

a. Your PUL

b. the inner liner of the fabric

(which may be a layer of

absorbent fabric if you would

rather have more natural

fibres against baby’s bum) as

follows

Remember to add a seam

allowance if the pattern

doesn’t include one.

NOTE: If you aren’t using a

pattern specifically for a

pocket nappy, you can adjust

the pattern you are using by adding a ½-¾ inch rectangle on top of where the back elastic will

be attached (see Photo 1).

PHOTO 1: inner and outer cut out (note flap at top)




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2. Attach either:

a. Loop; or

b. Snaps

To the front of the nappy on the outer. Remember to reinforce the back of the snaps if using them.

See Photos 2 & 3.

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

3. PHOTO 4: Mark the start and end points for the leg and back elastic on the wrong side of the inner

fabric.

4. PHOTO 4: Pin the outer and the inner together around the edges, outer right side up and inner right

side down so that the right sides are touching.

PHOTO 4

5. Starting at the end point of the back elastic with a few backstitches, sew around the edge of the

nappy until you reach the first leg elastic mark and stop.

6. With the needle down, raise the presser foot.




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7. Insert your leg elastic under the presser foot and lower it to hold it in position. Raise the needle and

adjust the stitch type to zig zag (or 3-step zig zag if your machine has it). Tack down the end of the

elastic by sewing forward and backward over the end a few times.

8. Continue sewing the elastic down , pulling the elastic tight (but not too tight) as you go. When you

reach the end mark, sew backwards and forwards a few times and stop.

9. Raise the presser foot with the needle down and snip the elastic.

10. Lower the presser foot and raise the needle to switch back to straight stitch.

11. Continue to sew around the front of the nappy until you reach the start mark for the next leg elastic.

12. Repeat steps 6-10.

a. Continue sewing to the first mark for the back elastic. Don’t sew all the way to where you

started sewing, there should be an opening (Photo 5). Backstitch before raising the presser

foot to remove the nappy.

PHOTO 5

13. Starting with the inner liner, tack down the end of the back elastic by lining the end up with the edge

of the extra flap and folding the flap over. Place the nappy in the sewing machine and backstitch over

the end to secure it closed (see photos).

14. With the needle lowered, turn the nappy 90 degrees and sew down the casing with the elastic inside

it, being careful not to catch the elastic. When you get to the end stop.




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15. Again with the needle lowered, turn the nappy 90 degrees and pull the elastic tight through the

casing. Backstitch the final end closed.

16. Repeat steps 14 – 16 for the outer back elastic. By elasticizing both the inner and outer, it helps

ensure that the absorbent inner doesn’t escape the pocket and the back remains snug against the

baby preventing leaks. See photo 6

PHOTO 6

17. Topstich around the front and wings of the nappy (optional but it does help it sit flatter).

18. Add fasteners to the wings (hook or snaps).

19. If using hook and loop fasteners, you can add fold-back laundry tabs by sewing some loop next to the

hook.

Your pocket shell is finished. You can stuff the shell with anything absorbent, a flat nappy, prefold, bamboo,

hemp or microbfibre boosters, whatever you prefer.

FINISHED NAPPIES:

Pink Snap Pocket stuffed with an infant prefold:

Formatted: Font: Calibri, 10 pt

Formatted: Font: Calibri, 10 pt

pocket nappy tutorial

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