Friday, October 28, 2011

Making My Own Diapers !!! ... with a little help from Babyville Boutique

Before I got pregnant earlier this year my sewing machine just sat in the closet and collected dust.  I used it for a project or two, but nothing extravagant or anything.  I think I lined some curtains I had and then re-vamped a bedding set my friend had.  That's about it.  Then I got pregnant and I realized that I didn't like a fabric on the bedding set I wanted so I sewed over that, then I needed curtains so I sewed those, and then I got into cloth diapering so I started sewing some prefolds, and it all snowballed from there.  I was addicted to my sewing machine.  Sewing my own cloth diapers had been on my list from the beginning, but I really had no idea where to start and nobody around me to show me how to get started.

Enter Babyville Boutique ...

It was like Christmas in August the day I heard that Babyville Boutique was coming out with a line that would have all the cloth diaper making supplies that I needed and the books to help guide me to make them.  They have cute PUL fabrics, snap pliers, snaps, fold over elastic, hook and loop rolls, decorative appliques & labels, super cute buttons, and books with all the directions you need to get started on making your own cloth diapers and accessories.  This is exactly what I needed to get started ! ! !  Now all I had to do was wait till September.  Arh!  I'm not good at waiting.  Finally in September our local Joann's store got the Babyville Boutique products in.  I'll admit, it took me awhile to get in there since Joann's is clear across town but I finally got in there and was so excited to see the display.  I bought one of their three packs of PUL coordinates, the snap pliers, one package of snaps, and a package of their EZ Adjust Tape.  I was totally bummed that they didn't have the books in but I went back a week later and was able to get the "Cloth Diapers Made Easy" book, as well as some Fold Over Elastic.  I was ready to roll!!!!

I'm sure you can guess what I was doing later that night.  Oh yes, I was reading my "Cloth Diapers Made Easy" book.  Just looking at all the pictures got me excited enough, but I loved how in detail the book was written and all the helpful photos that showed how to make each diaper step by step.  I could totally do this!!!  The next day I attempted my first diaper.  I started out with the "Diaper Cover with Fold Over Elastic (FOE)".  I wanted to make newborn diapers though and I don't really like the idea of using a cover that doesn't have interior gussets so I added in the advanced technique of adding gussets to my cover on the first try.  My first gusset was a failure.  I didn't pull the FOE correctly and it wasn't stretchy like it should be.  I chucked the first one and started over.  My next try was a success as well as the entire diaper!  I still can't believe how great  my first diaper came out.  It totally looks like something I would buy!


I was so excited at how great my first diaper looked that I instantly started working on my second diaper the same day.  This time I attempted the "Pocket Diaper with FOE" using a butter suede cloth for the interior lining and adding gussets like the first diaper.  This was a little trickier, but a total success!!!!  Another awesomely cute diaper to add to my stash.  Ok, I did make one mistake and added one of my EZ Adjust Tape laundry tabs to the wrong location, but it didn't affect the use of the diaper.  I just sewed over it instead of removing it since I didn't want to add more holes to my PUL fabric.


The next day I was at it again.  This time I was going to attempt the "Hidden PUL Turned and Topstitched Pocket Diaper".  I'll admit.  I bombed this one totally.  I didn't get the pocket opening correct and the elastic in the legs was not tight enough.  I think this was part my fault and part the book's fault.  I didn't follow the directions to the T, but then again I still think I would have made a mistake even if I did.  The directions on this particular  diaper were not quite as clear, but I'm sure if I read them all the way through before I started then the pocket opening would have turned out better.  I'm not sure about the elastic though.  I think the designated quantity is just too much.  Overall this diaper is still really cute ... just not sure if it will be usable.  I'll give this one a try again later.


The next day I attempted my fourth diaper from the book.  This time I attempted the "Fitted Prefold Diaper".  This diaper was also a turned and topstitched diaper like my last one and utilized the braided elastic in the legs and back instead of the FOE.  I read the directions carefully this time and decreased the length on the braided elastic from 5" to 4" in the legs.  I also decreased the length on the back elastic, but didn't measure it.  It was a success!!!  This was also my first diaper with snaps too.  I wish the snap pliers would open a bit further, but then again I've never used snap pliers before.  The little rubber thing fell off a couple times too, but it wasn't a big deal and was easy to stick back on.  I was surprised at how easy it was to put the snaps on.  It didn't hurt my hands at all and I only messed up one snap that I had to pry off (totally my fault).  I LOVE my cute little prefold fitted diaper!!!  I also altered this diaper to have a pocket so that it would clean easier and dry faster. If I would have thought about it before hand I would have put on the snaps differently so that I could have used a full insert inside of it.  I'll do that next time.


My last project was an insert.  I just did a standard insert using three layers of microfiber with a layer of suede on top.  I figure I can use it as an insert with the microfiber up, or a doubler with the suede side up depending on the diaper I'm using it in.  I turned and top stitched the insert since I don't have a serger and it was very easy.


So that's as far as I've gotten on my diaper making quest.  I plan on trying all the designs in the book and making lots of cute little diapers for my little guy.  I really want to try an AIO, AI2, and a OS diaper.  I also want to try out some of those cute applique's and labels.  I'll pick them up the next time I'm at Joann's as well as some more PUL.  I do have some leftover PUL from my other projects, but not enough for a diaper.  I think I'll get the other book "Baby Essentials Made Easy", and try a wet bag.  You can bet I'll be sewing up a storm of new diapers and accessories, and when I do you will all be the first to know how they came out.

All I can say is I LOVE the Babyville Boutique line and how much it's helped me to create my own diaper creations.  I don't know that I ever would have attempted such a big project without their easy to use guide and conveniently available products.  I also can't wait for their website to be fully functional.  They're going to have tutorials on how to make other diapers on there as well as a whole community of other diaper crafters that you can talk to.  For now I like to check in on the Babyville Boutique Facebook page where a lot of information is passed around.  For those of you that have or will be trying the Babyville Boutique products, please let me know what you think and any tips you've gained along the way.  Feel free to post pics on my Facebook page too.  I'd love to see them.  Till then keep tuning in for more great products, information, tutorials, reviews, and giveaways.  I've got lots planned as I continue on with my Adventures In Fluff... and other mommy stuff.


If you want to purchase items from the Babyville Boutique line you can check out your local Joann's, Hancock Fabrics, or Hobby Lobby.  For ease of shopping you can also purchase items online at several online retailers such as Amazon or Fabric.com.


**This review is comprised of my own opinions and was not influenced by any outside source.  The products were purchased by myself and were not given to me or asked to be reviewed by any outside source.  No advertising was purchased in order to feature this product. **

41 comments:

  1. Wow! Great job Chana! Those turned out soooo cute! Too bad the adorable camo one might not work for you... hopefully you've got more of that fabric to give it another shot! :D

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  2. Thanks Selina! I do have a little bit of the camo print left over so I'm totally going to give it a go again making a few minor tweaks.

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  3. Babyville makes it look so easy to make cloth diapers, I wish it had been around when I got pregnant with my first. I love their fabrics, such cute patterns.

    Where did you get that camo skull fabric? It's so adorable!

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  4. I got the camo print from Hancock Fabrics. It's a flannel fabric. Love it!

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  5. I have been wanting to try out Babyville Boutique's line so that I can make my daughter some more cloth diapers. Have you ever tried the Ottobre pattern? If so, what do you think of it? I've used it but have tweeked it to what I want.

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  6. I have not tried any other diaper making patterns before this. These were my first attempt at cloth diapers ... besides the couple of tutorials I did for extended tabs on prefolds and easy winged prefolds. I was pretty impressed at how great these came out for my first go at it.

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  7. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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  8. I've been making cloth diaper for almost 4 years now, and my first ones looked nothing like yours! You did a wonderful job!

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  9. Thanks Alleusion! I was totally surprised at how great the first ones came out too. I'm still trying to tweak them little by little to get them better. Sewed three more fitted diapers today. Each one gets a little better. I need my little guy to get here to test them out on though.

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  10. Your diapers turned awesome! I've been searching like mad to find a way to get these products shipped to Canada so I can try making some too.

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  11. Cec, the Babyville company knows there is a great interest from Canada and that's why they opened this giveaway to Canadians. I'm guessing you'll see it in Canada soon. Good luck on the giveaway though. You might be able to try it out sooner than you think. : )

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  12. Thanks! I hope so =) I'm glad they are aware of the interest. Amazon.ca and fabric.com seem to have some of the products, but not the most important ones ... the 3 pack fabric. Perhaps I am just too anxious and they will get them in time.

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  13. You're so crafty! I've always wished I could sew my own - you may have inspired me!

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  14. You should totally try them Olivia! Just start out with a soaker, move on to a basic cover, and then move on from there. I was REALLY surprised at how easy it turned out to be. Good Luck!

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  15. You have made me think I may could do this too! I will probably make mistakes for sure and so I feel grateful for the tips and sharing. :)

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  16. You make it look so easy! I just got a sewing machine from my Aunt so I'm excited to jump into it -- you may have just inspired me ;)

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  17. My mom found this at Joanne's and was asking be about them so I am super excited to get some of the stuff and try them out for myself! :)

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  18. Great job. I just got some BVB products and can't wait to get started!

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  19. I love Babyville. I used cloth diapers with my second child off and on, but I felt they were too expensieve. With my third child I decided I was going to make them and only use cloth diapers. I had found some patterns but they were a little difficult and time consuming. One day in Joanns I cam across the Babyville line and got a handful of stuff. I have not done one of their patterns yet, but I used their product to finish some diapers I was working on.

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  20. I am Loving the babyville line and cant wait to see all of this amazing fluff you made on your little man!

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  21. i'm so excited about this line...i can't wait to try it out myself!

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  22. Thanks for sharing your experience, photos, and the tip about using shorter elastic in the legs. I bought some PUL awhile ago, but need to go back and get the diaper book. They were out when I went last.

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  23. I first saw the Babyville Boutique at my JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago and I was so excited to see cute diaper making supplies all in one place! Your diapers are awesome; they came out great!! I love all the different fabrics.

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  24. those turned out awesome! i am SO excited to try out the babyville products! i saw them in my local joann's last time i was there and i'm (hopefully) going there again tomorrow to actually get the supplies to get started!

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  25. wow those turned out great and now I cant wait to get to Joannes lol hmm I wonder what Ill have to tell hubby to be able to sneak off. Thanks for a great idea for those of us who always wanted to try sewing our own diapers but were just too intimidated (so thanks for making it look so easy too)
    ticklemetiffy at gmail dot com

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  26. Wow! Those are SO cute! I'm so glad Joann's has got on board and made the handmade cloth diapering experience easier to accomplish! Can't wait to try it out for myself!

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  27. These are so stinking cute! I just bought some babyville pul to make trainers. I hope they turn out as cute as your diapers!

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  28. Your work is inspiring! I love this line. How can anyone resist not breaking out the sewing machine and making these adorable CDs. My challenge is time...I need more hours in the day to accomplish all I want. thecreativecupcake at yahoo dot com

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  29. Nice work on the diapers! I just finished making a few flannel fitted pockets using the Babyville snaps (and converted a few I had made a while back from velcro to snaps). So much fun to be able to customize your diapers however you want!

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  30. never tried to make my own diapers, but this doesn't look too bad
    taraz9 at excite dot com

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  31. Ooh, I haven't tried any with gussets, but maybe I will now!

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  32. I'm a novice sewer but these don't look too hard. I might try the simple PUL diaper cover first, without the extra gussets.

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  33. I love all the cute prints and how now when you ask for pul they don't look at you with eyes crossed they direct you to babyville section I love all the items and that's great you decided to sew your own cloth I'm sewing cloth diapers to use from birth to potty training and I have been sewing diapers pre ttc

    Shell1985at hotmail dot com

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  34. I am so exited to make my little man diapers. I just picked up the book and some stuff to make the diapers.

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  35. Wow, I'm amazed!!! Those diapers look wonderful! I'm very impressed that you tried gussets, they look hard, but you've inspired me to try, too.

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  36. It is interesting that eeryone goes for the three packs with BVB instead of buying a yard of fabric. I bought a yard for medium sized diapers and found that I got seven diapers and a small diaper bag sized wet bag out of that. Seems to me that it is more of a bargain than getting the three pack but I like the fabrics in those too. They seem more expensive to me and I like to save money so much so I try and find the best way to save even with cloth diapers. I really like buying by the yard though since I have a 12 month old, a potty trainer, and baby number 4 on the way in two months. I also enjoy the book from BVB and my favorites are the cute buttons with the designs on them!! but seriously look into buying by the yard so you can fold them just right for that etra bit of diapers. Also, I loe to wait for coupons and sales at joann's so I can get the PUL for half price and stuff.

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    1. I always say I'm going to buy by the yard when I go, but then I get sucked into the cute little 3 packs. Plus, I'm always in a hurry and I don't know about your store, but our cutting line is always a mile long. LOL! Guess I live in a town of sewers. I'm all over those coupons though! That being said, I wish I had time to sew. I should break out my sewing machine again. : )

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  37. how did you make the inserts? Did you turn the fabric inside out like a pocket? Thanks

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    1. I think I just zig zagged the edges, but if I had a serger I'd use that.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to show your support with a comment! I LOVE reading all of them and will try and answer any questions that you might have. :)