Mama Kat Diapers: Trimsies - Small & re-sized

About the pattern:

This is a paid pattern for a side-snapping diaper, available in three sizes (S, M and L). Although there is no Newborn size, I have found that this pattern runs slightly smaller than most, so I included the size Small in my newborn testing project. This pattern comes with excellent instructions that include a lot of photographs. This would be an excellent choice for someone who is new to sewing diapers.

My test diapers:

I made a size small diaper and I also took the pattern and shrunk it down 95% to make it closer to newborn size. Although the size small does look smaller than most other patterns, it still looks like it would be a little too big on a newborn. Shrinking it down 95% doesn’t sound like it would make a big difference, but it actually does. The 95% diaper looks like a better rise for a newborn, and the leg openings are slightly smaller.

There are 4 snap settings on this pattern, and I probably could have gotten away with only 3 snap settings on the 95% diaper, because the snap settings are pretty close together, and shrinking the pattern down pushed them even closer together (they are a little more than ½” apart). So, if I made more of the 95% diapers, I would only use 3 snap settings and just place them about 7/8” apart.

Here are the pics, the light grey diaper is size small and the dark grey diaper is the small shrunken down to 95%:

This pattern does not have the option to do front-closing hook & loop, however, it is easy to modify it. I would recommend tapering the wings slightly because they are kind of wide to accomodate the two rows of snaps, but they don’t need to be that wide for hook & loop. Here is a picture of a diaper that I modified to be front closing with aplix:

Overall opinion:

I really like the Trimsies pattern; I used it for my daughter in size Medium, and I liked that the crotch was narrow so it eliminated a lot of bulk. I would like to see a newborn size added, but shrinking the size small down 95% seems to work well.

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
My son wore the diaper that was sized down to 95% when he was about 8.5 lbs, and the fit was great on the tightest leg settings. This has plenty of growing room, but probably wouldn't work for a baby under 8lbs. The crotch is a little narrow, so that is my only concern that as he gets bigger, the crotch may become too narrow. There is no umbilical scoop/snap, but folding down the front of the side snapping diapers works great.

Action shots:

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
At this size, the diaper that was reduced to 95% fits great on a medium setting, and the full-size version fits well on the tightest waist setting and middle leg setting. The diaper is a nice trim fit; without being so narrow through the crotch that it results in blowouts.

Action shots of diaper reduced to 95%:

Action shots of full-size version:

2 months old, 14lbs10oz:
This doaper lives up t o it's name...it is a very trim fit. Both versions still fit him, although the 955 version is on the last thigh setting and won't fit much longer.

95% version: