EZ Dipe 2 – Premie (XXS) and Newborn (XS)

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern available in SIX sizes!  (Sizes XXS all the way through XL.)  This is a very unique pattern; the front and back are identical so it can’t be put on backwards.  I think that this design works especially well for newborns.  It snaps on the side, with only one snap on each side, so it is very easy to put on because you don’t have to worry about choosing which snap setting to use.  The reason this works is because the diaper is elasticized almost all the way around; and it needs to be made with stretchy fabrics to allow for this adjustable fit.  The pattern uses very little fabric because it doesn’t have long wings.

My test diapers:

I used this pattern to make an XS (newborn) diaper and a couple XXS (premie) diapers.  These diapers were very easy to cut out, but aren’t really easy to sew up because you have to apply a lot of elastic.  However, I guess that is offset by the ease of only having to apply one snap on each side! 

Here is a pic of the premie diapers, as well as a pic of one next to the iPhone for size comparison:

Here are some pics of the premie diaper on the left and the newborn diaper on the right:

The elastic runs almost the entire length of the front and back, and the legs, so that only leaves a tiny turning hole on the wing.  It is possible to turn through the wing, but I had difficulty getting it to close up neatly, so I actually came up with a different way that I like to sew in the elastic to allow me to leave a larger turning hole in the back.  Here are the sewing instructions for my technique:

1 – Place diaper layers right sides together and sew using ¼” seam allowance; leaving a 3-inch turning hole in the back.  (The large turning hole will allow you to apply hidden snaps and to add the back elastic later.)

2 – Sew leg and front elastic down with a 3-step zig-zag.

3 – Clip corners and turn right side out.

4 – Reach in through the turning hole and apply the hidden back snaps on each wing

5 – Reach in through the turning hole and place your back elastic ½” below the edge; pin in place or tack down the ends with a straight stitch through all layers of the diaper)

6 – With right side of diaper facing up, sew the back elastic in with a three step zig-zag through all layers of the diaper.  You will be sewing the elastic in blind; which can be tricky at first, but this is a good time to practice the technique because it is a straight section of elastic (as opposed to sewing it in blind through the leg curve, which is trickier).

7 – Topstitch the diaper; making sure to turn in the turning hole above your back elastic and sew it closed as you topstitch above the back elastic.  Here is an upclose pic of what the back elastic will look like if sewn in blind using this technique:  (Click on picture to view it larger...you can see the zig-zag stitch where the elastic is sewn down, and the straight stitch above it where I top-stitched to close the turning hole)

8 – Apply front snaps and you’re finished!

Overall opinion:

I think every newborn stash should have a few EZDipes in it J  They are so easy to put on and I really like that they don’t use a lot of fabric.  I have sewn this diaper in sizes S-L for my daughter, and in my experience, this pattern runs a little bit small.  So for an average size newborn, I think the XS size would be fine; but if you are expecting a larger baby, you might even want to sew up some smalls…and make sure to use stretchy fabrics!

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
I tried the XXS premie diaper on when my son was at his lowest weight (8lbs) and it did not fit; but was close, so I would guess the max weight for the XXS diaper is somewhere around 7 or 7.5 lbs.  The XS diaper fit really nicely and with only one snap on each side, it is really easy to put on.  There is no umbilical cord scoop/snap, so I just folded the front of the diaper down.  This diaper has a really long stretch of front elastic, so it seemed kind of awkward to fold the front down; but it stayed in place and did not irritate the cord.

Action shots:

 

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
This diaper fits nicely still, although I have to stretch the front elastic more in order to get the snaps to reach; so I don't expect it to fit a whole lot longer, maybe to 12 pounds.  This diaper is very easy to put on since there is only one snap.  Sometimes it seems to slide down a little bit in the front and bunch up, but it hasn't caused any problems with leaks in my experience.

 

5 weeks old, 12 pounds:
This diaper is now outgrown.

Get the pattern:

The pattern piece is here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_9g1nyIxc8hZTBjZTAxZjQtZGRiYS00NDU1LTgzM2YtZWVlYzlmMzE3YmI0/edit

And the instructions as well as some pictures are here:   http://makelaughlove.com/forum/showthread.php?483-Free-Pattern-EZdipe    (You have to be a member of the MakeLaughLove forum to access the instructions; but it is an excellent online community for diaper sewing, and is free to join!)

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

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

Je M'appelle Bébé Premie

About the pattern:

This is a free premie size pattern; it is quite small, and the pattern maker describes how to modify the way the elastic is done if you need to make it even smaller.  So, this pattern would be an excellent choice for a very small premie.  There are no instructions included with the pattern; but she does also offer a pattern for sale that has complete instructions.  The pattern can be made with front hook & loop closure, front snapping, or side snapping.  You also have the option of doing a single row of snaps or a double row.

My test diaper:

I used this pattern to make a fitted diaper with hook & loop closure.  The diaper is quite small, so it uses very little fabric.  I made the diaper out of stretchy materials so that the baby could get a little bit longer wear out of it, but I can’t imagine it would fit past 6-7 pounds.  The front of the diaper scoops down slightly, so this could be worn without irritating the umbilical cord.  Here are some pictures of the diaper, as well as a comparison picture next to the iPhone for size reference.

Overall opinion:

If you are looking for a premie pattern, this is an excellent choice.  The pattern offers a lot of variety, so you can easily tailor this diaper to your preferences.  It is kind of hard to cut out because it is so small and some of the corners are tight, but it was still easy to sew up.

Fit update:
At my son's lowest weight (8lbs), this diaper did not fit him.  So, the max weight for this diaper is somewhere under 8lbs.

Get the pattern:

http://www.jmpartistry.com/jmp-patterns.html  Scroll down to the “free patterns” section

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

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

Little Comet Tails - Little Starter XXS

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern that is good for premies or smaller newborns (the pattern maker noted that she developed this pattern to make diapers for her friend’s 6lb baby.)  This is a front closing pattern that can be made with either hook & loop or snap closure.  There is no need for an umbilical cord snap-down snap because the diaper scoops down in the front to go below the cord.  The pattern includes front elastic for the snapping version.  There are no instructions included with this pattern.

My test diaper:

I used this pattern to make two fitted diapers; one with hook & loop closure and the other with snap closure.  The pattern has markings for front elastic, but I can only assume that it is only intended to be used on the snapping version, because I don’t think the loop tape would lay flat with front elastic and I don’t think it would be necessary since you can get such a precise fit with hook & loop.  Therefore, I only included the front elastic on the snapping version.  I used crossover closure on the snapping version, but I did not use it on the hook & loop version; although you certainly could!

So, onto the pics (and yes, that is a CUTE PRINT that you see on one of my test diapers!  That one is a gift for a premie, so I wanted it to be cute.  My next two posts will also feature premie diapers to gift to this little baby.)  Pics:

Here is the snapping diaper set to a larger setting so that you can see the front elastic:

Overall opinion:

This is a great pattern for a smaller newborn.  With crossover closure, I think it will work really well for premies.  As always, I used stretchy materials for a more forgiving fit and longer wear.  I really like the snapping version – it is harder to sew up because the only place to leave the turning hole is on the wing, which is kind of small, but it works.  Also, I intended to sew the front elastic in a casing; but after I turned the diaper right side out, I realized that wouldn’t work because the snaps are in the way!  But, no problem...when I was topstitching, I switched to a three-step zig-zag when I got to the front elastic and then I just sewed the elastic down that way.  I hope you can see that in the picture; it worked really well and looks so cute!  I would definitely recommend this pattern; in either closure style, to someone expecting a small baby.  The shape of it is really nice and it is so tiny and cute.

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
At 8lbs, this diaper fits just right.  The rise was low enough that it hit just under the cord, however, it was very close.  My son does not have a lot of growing room in this diaper; so the max rate is probably around 8 or 9 lbs.

Action shot (it is on sloppy, but you get the idea!):

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
At this size, the diaper just barely fit on the largest setting, but is getting too narrow (and too small overall) for a baby this size.  I would say the maximum weight is probably around 10 pounds or so.

 


Get the pattern:

http://makingitlittlebylittle.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/xxs-little-starter-free-download/

Little Comet Tails also offers many other patterns for purchase, including diapers, EC pants, training pants, soakers and clothing!  These patterns are available here: http://littlecomettails.kingstondesign.com/ss0540.html

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

Please feel free to comment about your experience with the Little Comet Tails XXS pattern or with any questions about my review!

Hippy Hippy Snap - Newborn

About the pattern:

This is a paid hip-snapping pattern available in sizes NB, S, M and L.  The design of this pattern uses very little fabric.  I laid out the newborn pattern on a yard of PUL and figure you can get at least 15 newborn diaper cuts out of one yard!  (You would get fewer cuts if you were using a natural fiber material though; due to shrinkage).  This pattern comes with very brief instructions, so if you have sewn a few diapers already then the instructions will be adequate; otherwise you might want to review more detailed instructions (like Cloth Revolution or Darling Diapers Unlimited) before attempting to follow these ones.

My test diaper:

I used this pattern to make a fitted diaper out of cotton velour – so soft & squishy!  I am familiar with this pattern already because I have used it to make size Medium diapers for my daughter – and I love the pattern because it is very trim fitting and fits her really well.  The newborn diaper is very cute.  The crotch is pretty narrow, but I like that because I feel like a lot of diapers are too wide for newborns. 

There is an umbilical cord snap-down snap; so this diaper could be used right away before the cord falls off.  Here is a picture of the diaper on the smallest setting, with the front snapped down: 

Overall opinion:

This diaper is so cute and I love that it uses very little fabric.  The two rows of snaps on the wings allow you to adjust the waist and hip separately so that you can get a precise fit.  I find that hip snapping diapers work really well for chubby thighs, so I think this diaper would fit great once the baby starts plumping up; yet it also snaps down tiny enough to fit during the first few weeks.

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
I really like this diaper, it is a great fit, and at 8.5 lbs, my son still has plenty of growing room.  The legs were a touch loose, but not enough to cause leaks...it may be a problem for a baby much smaller than 8lbs though.  This has a high rise, but with the umbilical snap, it didn't irritate the cord at all; and that high rise will be great once the cord falls off.

Action shots:

 

4 weeks old - 11 pounds:
This diaper is a nice fit at this size (on almost the largest leg setting, and medium waist setting).  It is a nice trim fit.  It is narrow through the crotch; but not too narrow that it results in leaks.

 

2 months old, 14lbs10oz:
This diaper is a nice, trim fit.  He currently is wearing it on the medium waist setting and the largest thigh setting.  He'll outgrow this soon though due to his chubby thighs.

 


Get the pattern:

http://www.doddlebee.com/patterns.htm

Thank you to the mama who created this pattern! 

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

Baa Baa Baby Fleece - Newborn

About the pattern:

This is a free pattern available in sizes NB, S, M and L.  It is intended to be used to make a single layer fleece cover; but the pattern designer notes that it can also be used for fitteds or pockets.  It is a side snapping pattern with both front and back elastic.  This pattern has a photo tutorial that shows you how to make a fleece cover with it; however it does not come with any instructions for making a fitted diaper or any other type of diaper.

My test diapers:

I used this pattern to make a fitted diaper.  I think that the front elastic will allow for a more tailored fit and the double wing snaps allow you to adjust the waist and thigh separately.  This diaper has a lot of bum coverage, so I think that would be a great feature if you used this pattern to make a cover (as it is intended to be used); but I also like having a lot of bum coverage in the fitteds since I use them under wool or fleece longies/soakers.  If you plan to use this under a wrap-style cover, I am sure that would be fine as long as your cover pattern also had good bum coverage.  (Or just use this same pattern as a cover – since you turn & topstitch the fitted diaper, that will make it slightly smaller than a FOE-bound single layer cover...so it would be the perfect pairing!)

Here is a picture of the diaper snapped on the smallest setting – you can see that it is SO cute J

Here is the diaper laid out flat, as well as an up-close picture of the wings.  I left the wing ends open so that I could reach in and apply hidden snaps (I couldn’t apply them ahead of time because the wings appeared to be too small to allow me to stitch around the snaps).  However, I also had trouble trying to turn in the edges of the wings since they were close to the snaps, so I just used my machine’s overlock stitch to close up the wing ends.  It may not be pretty, but it works for me!

Here is the diaper on the largest setting.  There is not a big difference between this setting and the smallest setting, because the wing snaps are set pretty close together.

Fleece cover:

This pattern is intended to be used to make single layer fleece covers, so I made a cover the way the pattern intends.  I love this cover and will certainly make more of them (in all sizes!)  Here are some pictures:

Overall opinion:

I really like this pattern; I think it would be great to use for single layer covers, but it also works well for fitted diapers.  With all of the elastic in this diaper, combined with the use of stretchy materials,  I think this diaper would last for a couple of months rather than just a couple of weeks.  I think that this pattern would also work well for a pocket diaper.  Most newborn diapers seem like they would be too difficult to stuff, but this one seems like it is roomy enough to work as a pocket diaper.

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off: 
At around 8.5 lbs, this diaper was a great fit on my son.  There was still plenty of growing room in it, but the double row of snaps allowed me to snug up the legs enough to get a great fit on the skinny newborn legs.  This diaper doesn't have an umbilical snap/scoop, so I folded down the front and that worked great with the side snap design, and the front stretch of elastic helped hold it in place so it didn't wiggle up and irritate the cord stump.

Update at 4 weeks - 11 pounds:
I love this diaper. it is a great fit on a medium setting.  Action shots:

 

Update at 2 months old - 14lbs,10oz:
This diaper fits nicely on the loosest leg setting and medium waist setting.  This is one of my favorites; it has good coverage without being bulky.  This will not fit too much longer because the lights will be outgrown soon.

 

Get the pattern:

The pattern can be found here:  http://ebgirl.fobby.net/bbb/pattern/

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

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

Shar's Newborn Fitted Nappy

About the pattern:
This is a free pattern that is only available in the newborn size.  It has two closure options (hook & loop or front snapping); both closure options are designed to allow cross-over closure to fit smaller babies.  There are a few pictures and brief instructions included with this pattern.  If you have sewn a few diapers before, then these instructions should be adequate.

My test diapers:
I decided to make a diaper with each of the closure options.  I made both of the fitted diapers out of stretchy materials.  My pictures don't do these diapers justice - they are very cute!

The hook & loop version has the hook tape sewn entirely on the wing.  I am not used to doing it this way, and although I feel like it isn't as secure, it does look nice and I think it should hold just fine.  If you would prefer to overhang the hook tape, that would work with this pattern.

The snap diaper has 5 hidden snaps on the front panel and 2 snaps on each wing (plus an additional optional crossover snap).  The odd number of snaps on the front panel does create a problem when the diaper is on a medium setting - it works, but looks sloppy:

Overall opinion:
I love this diaper!  I really like that the front panel is narrow.  Although it means the diaper won't fit for as long, I like that there isn't a lot of bulk on the tiny newborn tummy.  I feel like this diaper is perfectly sized and proportioned.  For someone trying to decide between the two closure styles, I would go with the hook & loop version because I feel like a snapping diaper without front elastic does not offer enough adjustibility for a newborn.

Fit update:
Before umbilical cord falls off:
I could only try out the snapping version of this diaper because the rise was too high to try the hook & loop version because I'm unable to tuck down the front of the hook & loop one without irritating the cord stump.  At 8lbs10oz, this diaper was a nice fit.  Due to the double wing snaps though, it doesn't have much growing room; unless I made a snap cover to cover the second snap if it wasn't in use.  For a smaller baby, this diaper has crossover closure; however, then you wouldn't be able to tuck down the front to keep it away from the cord stump, so it probably wouldn't work for a smaller baby until the cord falls off.

 

4 weeks old, 11 pounds:
This diaper fits nice and snug, and is trim.  The aplix version is fastened on a medium setting, but the snap version is already on the largest setting due to the double wing snap.  If only one wing snap had been used, then it would still have more growing room.  With such a narrow front panel, I see no reason that it would be necessary to have double wing snaps.

 

 


2 months old, 14lbs10oz:
This diaper is now fitting on the largest settings; I would consider this to be the max weight.

 


Get the pattern:
http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/images/shars_newborn_fitted.pdf
Thank you very much to the mama who provided this free pattern!

Please feel free to comment about your experience with Shar's Newborn Fitted Nappy or with any questions about my review!