rating: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
about a year ago, i got a cute pocket diaper in a swap with my friend catharine. i had seen her diapers in pictures but this was the first time i had seen one in person and i fell in love with it. i liked the way it fit, i liked the materials, and i liked the construction which was unique to anything i had seen before. catharine has now published her chloe toes diaper pattern, and i couldn't wait to come here and tell you all about it.
the pattern package includes the pattern page itself, with patterns for preemies thru XXL (under 7lbs thru 35 pounds and up), and a 14 page instruction booklet. there are directions for fitted diapers, AIO's, pocket diapers, and swim diapers, plus lots of information on materials, waterproofing methods, and care instructions.
i chose to make the pocket diaper, and i love it! i used PUL outer that i bought from sherrie at the sewingsupplycoop at yahoo, powedry inner that i bought from wazoodle, diaper FOE that i also bought from sewingsupplycoop, and size 20 poly resin snaps that i bought from wendy at the snap store. (for soakers i use microfiber shop towels that i get in packages from the local sam's club, but you have to read the package carefully--you want the kind that say they absorb LIQUID, not the kind that say they grab dust.)
now that i have tested the pattern and i know the size i chose is right, i will cut it out of tag board so all i have to do is trace around it directly on the fabric--that way i don't have to worry about accidentally shaving the edge of the pattern with my rotary cutter and i think i will be able to fit many diapers on a yard by puzzling them tightly together. but i won't get to complete any more diapers until my refill of snaps comes in. (in this photo you can barely see the two marks at the center front of the diaper, where i ran out of sockets.)
what i liked about this pattern:
- sewing instructions are thorough. she explains each step in detail, in simple language that even a beginning seamstress can understand.
- photos accompany almost every step, they are clear and show exactly what you are to do.
- the size i made was spot on, and the other sizes seem comparable to the sizes ella wore at those weight ranges.
- the list of materials needed was realistic and complete, including information on how to make up for the stud-to-socket imbalance.
- the pocket diaper is listed as a 30 minute project and this was accurate for me, including setting the snaps.
what i had trouble with:
- the lines for each size on the pattern are very similar, so it was a little confusing in some places. i ended up drawing over the size i needed with a colored pencil so i could see it more clearly.
- the instructions for the pocket diaper referred to dot markings on edges, but the pattern has notches on the edges. possibly the assumption is that the seamstress will use dots to mark the notch placement?
- the marks at the back of the diaper are unclear--there are two sets: one is notches, the other is hashes. the sets are side by side, less than 1/4" apart so neither seemed more critical. i couldn't find reference to either specifically so i just chose the notches for consistency.
- sewing the FOE is simple, but the markings for the stretch areas got lost under the FOE as i approached them, so i ended up marking further away from the edge using chalk.
i made two variations on this diaper, one with the snaps covered on the inside (so they don't touch the baby's skin), and one with velcro. these are also very satisfactory but my favorite is still the first one. the snap placement means that the soaker can't go all the way to the front edge of the diaper but realistically, i change my child often enough that the front of the soaker never gets wet anyway. if your child is a heavy wetter, you might want a longer soaker area, in which case you would benefit from the hidden snap variation.
i highly recommend this pattern. if you don't have the time or inclination to make them for yourself, catharine also have some fitteds, AIO's, and pocket diapers for sale at chloe toes boutique. and she makes hers in cute fabrics, unlike the boring but useful white that i always use. :)
