I wrote up a little post last week about the cloth diapers that I have been making for the new Baby coming along. But I didn’t really share how to make them yet. I have made so many variations on the cloth diaper, having been through this with two kids already, and this pattern incorporates all of the things I love about cloth diapers while remaining simple to sew up without a high up front cost.

These diapers were made with 100% cotton thermal fabric for absorbency without bulk, and for the ability to grip to a Snappi fastener easily. They also have a stay-dry fleece lining so that Baby feels less uncomfortable after soiling a diaper, and can wear a diaper over night without developing a rash. One thing this diaper tutorial does not give is directions on how to add fasteners, such as velcro or snaps. It also doesn’t give an exact template for the diaper pattern as I just made a quick outline of a size small diaper that I had around. If you are looking for something more specific I’d recommend purchasing a pattern as it will offer you a more fool-proof pattern. This is just a tutorial for those of us Sewers who like to whip stuff up by the seat of our (or our baby’s) pants!

This pattern calls for a 100% cotton thermal knit fabric diaper cutout. (I got most of my fabric from receiving blankets and long johns from the thrift store. The template dimensions are about 14 inches in the rise, and about 13 inches in the waist.) An internal soaker pad made from the same thermal fabric, 4 to 6 layers thick. Another diaper cutout of the same dimensions cut from fleece (not shown) and about a yard of 1/4 inch elastic. The diaper closes with a Snappi.

Begin by laying your internal soaker pad on the wrong side of the diaper cutout, in the center.

Using a zigzag stitch sew all the layers of the soaker pad into the diaper cutout. Do your best not to stretch the fabric as you sew to avoid a wavy diaper.

You now have your absorbant layer of the diaper constructed, which will look like this.

Using a 3 step zigzag, or a wide zigzag, sew your elastic into the the wrong side of the absorbent layer of the diaper about 1/2 inch in from the fabric edge. Stretch the elastic as you go so that it is nice and gathered. When you come to a curved end, as seen above, reduce the amount you stretch the elastic as you sew. The most important place to have a tight gather is in the leg casings so that you don’t get any yucky leaks.

Once you’ve gone all the way around the diaper, trim off  any excess elastic and lay the absorbent layer of the diaper wrong side together with the fleece layer of the diaper.

It’s kind of hard to tell in the photo above that the fleece layer is under the absorbent layer, but that’s because you line up the edges with the elastic stretched so that the layers match up just right. Then with a wide zigzag (or serger if you’re yucky) sew the edges together.

Here are the finished diapers. The inside view is on the left, outside view on the right.

Snappi your diaper onto your Baby with fleece against the skin. These diapers will require a cover if you don’t want them to leak through to Baby’s clothes. They also might need a doubler inside if you want them to be absorbent enough for all night. But they are trim, and quick to sew up. And if I do say so myself, they are also quite adorable!