Shar's Newborn Umbilical Scoop Pocket Nappy

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern that only comes in the newborn size.  It can be done with either hook & loop or front snap closure.  This pattern is for a pocket diaper and has an umbilical scoop cut out of the front panel.  The pattern states that it fits up to 10 pounds, but that you can extend the wings to make it fit longer.

My test diaper:

I used this pattern to make a fitted diaper.  Although the pattern is meant to be a pocket diaper, I prefer snap-in inserts, so I just sewed the pocket opening closed.  Rather than extending the wings of the diaper, I used tabs that extend beyond the wings (using the technique from the Cloth Revolution pattern) in order to extend the fit-range of the diaper.  If you extend the wings of the diaper, I would definitely recommend using cross-over tabs because it seems like the waist of the diaper would be too large if you didn’t.

Although I typically find newborn pocket diapers too difficult to stuff, this one is actually nice and wide, so it probably would be fairly easy to stuff.  It looks like it is the perfect size for stuffing with a tri-folded premie prefold!  A little too small for the BumGenius newborn insert though.  (When my daughter was a newborn, a tri-folded premie prefold was the perfect size insert for her...she was born at 8lbs3oz.)

"Stuffed" with premie prefold (perfect fit when elastic is stretched):

"Stuffed" with BumGenius newborn insert (too big):

Overall opinion:

If you want to make pocket diapers for your newborn, I think this is a good pattern to use because it seems like it would be easy to stuff.  I prefer a narrower front panel (like that on Shar’s newborn fitted nappy), but I do still like the look of this diaper.  It seems as though the fit of the diaper is generous width-wise, but with the permanent umbilical scoop, baby will likely outgrow the rise of the diaper before outgrowing the waist/thighs.  For that reason, I think the diaper would have been fine without the extended tabs (I actually think the extended tabs might make the waist too big).

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
At a little over 8.5 lbs, this diaper fit ok; however, the legs were loose.  The scoop was nice because it scooped under the cord without rubbing it.

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
This diaper fits now on a medium waist setting (due to the extended tabs that I used), however, it is very close to being outgrown in the rise.  I made sure to fully stretch the leg elastic and the front panel just barely came up over the thighs.  I would consider the max weight to be around 11 or 12 pounds.

Action shots;

 

6 weeks old, ~12.5 pounds:
This diaper is now outgrown.  There was still room in the waist, but the rise was outgrown.

Get the pattern:

http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/images/shars_newborn_umbilical.pdf

Thank you very much to the mama who provided this free pattern!

Please feel free to comment about your experience with the Shar’s pocket nappy pattern or with any questions about my review!

Goodness Gracious - Newborn & Small

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern that comes in 5 sizes, has instructions that are detailed enough even for someone new to sewing diapers, and has a lot of variations.  The instructions tell you how to make a fitted diaper, swim diaper, diaper cover, pocket diaper or diaper cover + mini diaper that snaps into it!  I love the mini diaper idea and will definitely be trying that in the future!  I almost gave up on this pattern because it prints on legal paper and I didn’t have any, I’m glad I fussed with it and figured out how to print it though!  The pattern does not include the seam allowance, so make sure to add on your seam allowance.

My test diapers:

I made two fitted diapers from this pattern; one in size newborn and the other in size small.  I decided to make both sizes because the size range for the small is 9-14 lbs; so I figured some larger newborns are within that range.  Also, there was a lot of variation between the two sizes...the small was not just an enlarged version of the newborn diaper.  The newborn size has a wider front panel with an umbilical scoop.  The newborn size also has a longer stretch of elastic in the back.  Both diapers are made with stretchy material and hook & loop closure.

This pattern uses a unique elastic technique that I had never tried before; it creates ruffled elastic without having to sew it in blind.  To do this, she has you sew the elastic to the inner layer farther in than your seam allowance (I sewed it a little more than half an inch in from the edge); then you stitch the layers together, and then turn & topstitch.  The first time I tried it, it took me awhile, but then once I got the hang of it, it moved much quicker...so don’t give up if it takes you a long time the first time you try it!  (I suppose that can be said about any new elastic method!)

Both diapers really needed cross-over closure because the wings are too long without it...especially the small size.  Here is what the smallest setting would look like without cross-over closure, you can really see a big difference in the small diaper:

Both diapers seem to be a little wide through the crotch.  I double-checked that the instructions DO say to add seam allowance, and they do.  The small seems like it will fit for MUCH longer than 14 lbs when made with stretchy materials.  In fact, I have proof of that...here is the size small diaper on my 25 lb 16 month old!

Despite the small diaper fitting my 16 month old, I do think that it would also fit a much much smaller baby as long as you put a wide strip of loop tape on the front wing for cross-over closure.  Or, you could really stand to shorten the wings on the small, in my opinion.

I really like the newborn size for a newborn, and when made with stretchy materials, I think this diaper should easily fit for a few months, rather than just a few weeks!  However, I didn’t care for the wide front panel, and I felt that the crotch was a touch too wide.  So, I modified my pattern by taking the front end of the size small diaper and taping that to the newborn pattern.  Then I trimmed the seam allowance away just through the crotch area.  This is the diaper from my modified pattern (which I really like!):

Overall opinion:

With cross-over closure, I think that these diapers will have a really wide fit range, and I think that they are really cute (I love the ruffled elastic!)  The pattern has excellent instructions and a lot of options to suit anyone’s needs.  I definitely think it was worth the effort of figuring out how to get it printed, and I will be re-visiting this pattern to try the mini-diaper idea!

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
This diaper surprised me...as I sewed up the various newborn diapers, I kind of knew which ones I liked the best, and this one wasn't one of them because I thought the shape of the newborn one seemed odd.  Well, I tried it on my guy at 8lbs10oz, and I love it!  The scoop in the front is nice so that it didn't bother his cord stump.  The diaper is a nice width through the crotch and looks very cute.  I couldn't get an action shot of this one since it was a middle-of-the-night change; but next time I use this diaper I will try to grab a picture - I think it looks nicer on than it does on the sewing table.  As far as fit, it has a lot of growing room.  I think it would fit a smaller baby well, especially if you use cross-over closure; however, it might rub against the cord stump of a smaller baby.

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
This diaper is an awesome fit; I am still surprised by how much I like this diaper.  It is one of the first ones I reach for out of the wash.  I like the version that I modified as well; but the original is great as it is.  The diaper is currently fitting my son on almost the snuggest setting, and has good coverage and nice snug fit on the legs.  It seems to have a good amount of growing room; however, he may outgrow the rise before he outgrows the rest of the diaper.

Action shots:

 

2 months old, 14lbs10oz:
This diaper still has room in the waist, but I can just barely get the front panel over the thighs because he has just about outgrown the rise; so, this diaper will be retired now.

 


Get the pattern:

http://goodnessgraciousdiaper.wordpress.com/category/free-pattern/

Thank you very much to the mama who provided this free pattern!

Please feel free to comment about your experience with the Goodness Gracious pattern or with any questions about my review!

Cloth Revolution - Newborn

The first pattern I chose to test is the Cloth Revolution pattern, in size newborn.  The pattern states that the estimated weight range is 5-14 lbs.

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern that has very detailed instructions.  If you've never sewn a diaper before, this would be a great pattern to start with.  The pattern comes in 3 sizes (newborn, small and medium), has 2 closure options (front hook & loop or side snapping), and has several insert options available.

My test diapers:

I made two fitted diapers from this pattern; one with hook & loop closure and the other with snap closure.  Both diapers are made with stretchy materials (stretch terry outer, hidden layer of knit, cotton velour inner).

I really like the way the hook & loop is done because it allows the tabs to cross-over and I think it looks nice.  The pattern did not say to put laundry tabs on the diaper, but I would definitely recommend doing so.  The pattern also says to sew the front loop tape on before diaper assembly; which resulted in some slightly wonky loop tape on my diaper.  Also, I didn't like that there was no reinforcement for the loop tape, so I would recommend putting an extra layer of fabric behind it for reinforcement; or just sewing it on after the diaper is completed (if you are making a fitted diaper).  I like that the hook & loop version offers a lot of adjustibility.

The side snapping diaper only uses a single row of snaps, which should make for quick diaper changes; however it also means a less secure and adjustable fit when compared to diapers with 2 rows of snaps.  The side snapping version does include front elastic to provide more adjustibility.  I made my diaper with hidden snaps; but the pattern directions state you can leave them exposed if you prefer.

Overall opinion:

This is a very cute diaper with great instructions, but I feel that the leg openings are probably too large for most newborns.  I would expect that this diaper would start fitting once the baby plumps up a little bit.  For someone trying to decide between the two closure styles, I prefer the hook & loop version of this diaper because I really like the way the tabs are constructed and I think it would provide a more precise fit for a newborn.

Fit update:

Before umbilical cord falls off:

At 8lbs,10oz the snapping version of the diaper fit nicely, except that the legs were just a little bit loose.  I was able to tuck down the front of the diaper so that it didn't irritate the cord stump.  I couldn't try the hook & loop version yet because that one rubs against the cord.  I think this diaper will fit nicely once his legs chub up.  I would be concerned that it wouldn't fit well on a baby much smaller than my guy due to the large leg openings.

Action shots:

 

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:

This diaper now fits on the snuggest settings.  The aplix version had a small gap at the legs; but not bad enough to cause leaks, and the snapping version fit snugly on the legs.  Now that my son is bigger, I like this diaper.

Action shots:

 

 

2 months old, 14lbs,10oz:

This diaper is a nice trim fit on the medium setting.

 

Get the pattern:

http://themafiatutu.blogspot.com/2010/04/free-cloth-diaper-pattern.html  

Thank you very much to the mama who provided this free pattern!

Please feel free to comment about your experience with the Cloth Revolution pattern or with any questions about my review!

Wow! I have a lot of work ahead of me!

I have all of my patterns printed up and ready to go!  Now I just have to decide which pattern to test first.  Before I get started I want to say thank you to all of the mamas who made these patterns available...many of them are free!  I am also surprised at how different all of the patterns look.  I thought that they would all look pretty similar, but there really is a lot of variety in these patterns.  I can't wait to see what these cute itty bitty diapers look like when sewn up :)

Newborn Diaper Pattern Testing Project!

I have big plans for testing as many newborn diaper patterns as I can get my hands on!  I will write reviews for each of the patterns, and at the end I will compare the patterns and pick some favorites.  I am excited about this project because I think it will be fun for me to test the patterns, it will allow me to create a varied stash for my next baby, and it will hopefully help other mamas to decide which newborn pattern suits their needs!