How many nappies?
Tools you need to sew
All in one fabric needs
All in two fabric needs
Pocket nappy fabric needs
Fitted nappy fabric needs
Cover fabric needs
Pre-fold fabric needs

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How many nappies?

This is a guide on the amounts of nappies required.  Each situation with each baby will be different.  Please only use this as a guide.

How many nappies depends on a few factors -

• How old your baby is.
• How often you wish to/want to wash.
• The climate in which you live.

A newborn baby can go through 12 nappies a day easily!  As your baby get older it will drop down to 6-8 nappies a day.

One thing that has to be figured into this required amount of nappies is the drying time of your nappies. 

If you want to wash every second day you will need -

• 24 nappies for a newborn
• 15-20 nappies for an older baby 

If you wish to wash every day you will need -

• 12-15 nappies for a newborn
• 10-12 nappies for an older baby.

Once again the type of nappy you decide to use can make a difference to how many nappies that you need.

All in ones are not a fast drying nappy so this could mean that even though you wash on the second day it takes a full day for your nappies to dry, compared to a pocket nappy or a prefold with a cover.  These nappy options can be taken apart (absorbent layer dried separate from waterproof covering) cutting down the drying time to half of that of an All in One.

Fitted nappies can also take a little longer to dry due to the layers but there are styles out there where you have a removable booster, not unlike that in an All in Two, once again cutting down on drying time.

If you prefer to wash your nappies every day you will of course need to have less nappies on hand (but remember to figure in drying time).  If you like the option of every third day your nappy stash needs to be larger.

Not all nappies can be dried in a tumble dryer.  Nappies containing PUL are not recommended to be dried in a dryer as it breaks down the laminate layer.  Other nappies can be affected by the fabric pilling due to the tumbling action within the dryer.  Wool is not recommended to be tumble dried.

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Tools you need to sew cloth nappies-

Required-

• Sewing machine.  One that does basic sewing stitches is fine.
• Thread - 100% polyester is the preferred choice as it does not wick.
• Scissors.
• Pins (only ever pin PUL fabric on the very outer edge outside of where you will be sewing as holes in your PUL fabric = leaky areas)
• Bull dog clips - an alternative to pins that hold fabric in place without making holes.
• Fabric (of course !) See what do I need for fabric requirements.
• Elastic (depending on what type of nappy you make)

Other items (but not necessities)

• Glue stick (kids craft type) - use to glue your edges of layers together instead of pinning - will wash out with first wash of nappy.
• Marking pen - for dressmaking, marks wash out with first wash of nappy.
• Thread - woolly nylon, swirls thread (fancy stuff!) for finishing off boosters/fitted nappies with a decorative edge via your overlocker.
• Overlocker - to finish off edges of fitted nappies and boosters.  An overlocker is not required to sew pocket nappies, all in ones, all in twos, covers or nappies that have an FOE (fold over elastic) finished edge.
• Rotary cutter - round cutter that makes cutting of fabric easier as you roll whilst cutting instead of a scissor action.
• Stitch unpicker - for unpicking those mistakes (not that you'll make mistakes!)
• Size labels.

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All in One and All in Two fabric needs-

All in One fabric needs-

Outer Layer - AIOs have waterproof outers so you will need a waterproof fabric for the outer layer such as -

•  PUL coated fabric -either cotton or polyester.
•  200 or 300 wt. polar fleece
•  Wool.  
• 2 layers of a polar/microfleece less than 200 wt.

You can use the PUL as a hidden layer in your AIO if you prefer not to have it as an outer layer.  This means that the PUL is hidden between the inner layer and an outer layer giving a three layered system.  This allows you to use a light weight polar fleece, microfleece, flannelette, cotton knits or any other suitable fabric you desire.  Please be aware that using a cotton fabric as the outside layer in a hidden system may have more wicking than any of the above dot pointed fabrics.

Inner layers - for AIOs are -

• suedecloth
• microfleece
• sherpa
• stretch knit terry,
• cotton knits
• velour, both cotton and bamboo
• flannelette

Hidden layer onto which to sew your absorbent materials.

• plain flannelette
• single layer of hemp (will take longer to dry than flannelette)

Absorbent layer - AIOs have a built in absorbent layer, hidden with the body of the diaper.  Fabrics suitable for this are -

• flannelette
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling
• sherpa

You will also need (depending on your pattern) -

• Hook and loop closures (velcro™, apilix™, touchtape™, hook and loop)
• Snaps - Plastic resin ones applied with a snap machine or hand applied metal snaps.
• Elastic - either swimwear or lastin.
• FOE - this depends on the type of pattern you are using.

All in Two's (AI2) fabric needs.

An AI2 nappy has the exact same requirements as an AIO nappy.   The only part that you don't require is the hidden layer of flannelette as  your absorbent part is separate to the nappy.

The  difference with these two nappy styles is that your absorbent layer is not sewn into the nappy.

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Pocket Nappy needs

Outer Layer-

• PUL coated fabric -either cotton or polyester.
• 200 or 300 wt. polar fleece
• 2 layers of a polar/microfleece less than 200 wt.

As with an All in One you can use the PUL as a hidden layer, using various fabrics for the outside layer.

Inner layer-

• suedecloth
• microfleece
• polar fleece
• sherpa (will not wick wetness away from baby's skin)

Absorbent stuffing/boosters - Pocket nappies have a removable absorbent layer. The following fabrics are suitable to use -

• flannelette - very trim but need quite a few layers for great absorbency.
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling - old terry square nappies can be cut up and re made into boosters.

You will also need (depending on your pattern) -

• Hook and loop closures (velcro™, apilix™, touchtape™, hook and loop)
• Snaps - Plastic resin ones applied with a snap machine or hand applied metal snaps.
• Elastic - either swimwear or lastin.
• FOE - this depends on the type of pattern you are using.

Fitted nappy and Covers needs -

Fitted nappies needs-

Outer layer -

• flannelette - plain or printed.
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling - once again you can cut and re model  your terry squares into fitted nappies.
• sherpa

Absorbent layer - This is sewn as a booster/pad to go in the middle of the nappy, therefore is usually in layers.  It can either be sewn in, laid in or snapped in.

• flannelette
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling
• sherpa

Inner layer -

• flannelette
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling
• sherpa

You will also need (depending on your pattern) -

• Hook and loop closures (velcro™, apilix™, touchtape™, hook and loop)
• Snaps - Plastic resin ones applied with a snap machine or hand applied metal snaps.
• Elastic - either swimwear or lastin.
• Pins or snappi's

Cover needs-

Outer layer-

• PUL coated fabric -either cotton or polyester.
• 200 or 300 wt. polar fleece
• Wool fabric
• Knitted or crocheted cover
• 2 layers of a polar/microfleece less than 200 wt.

Inner Layer -

Most covers consist of only the outer layer but you can put a layer of either of the following in to cover fabrics such as PUL so that the shiny side does not show.

• Suedecloth
• Polar/microfleece.

You will also need (depending on your pattern) -

• Hook and loop closures (velcro™, apilix™, touchtape™, hook and loop)
• Snaps - Plastic resin ones applied with a snap machine or hand applied metal snaps.
• Elastic - either swimwear or lastin.
• FOE (fold over elastic)
• Pins or snappi's

Pre-folds

Prefold needs-

• flannelette
• hemp, both fleece and terry
• bamboo, fleece, terry, velour
• terry towelling
• sherpa
• birdseye (100% cotton fabric)

I am looking at buying some fabric to make some prefolds with for my baby (due in about 3 weeks). I was going to get bamboo as that has been my preference after using cloth on my son. I remember reading somewhere (or at least think I remember, maybe it was a dream – who knows) that not all fabric can be used with snappies. Is this the case? And what fabric would you recommend for making prefolds with?

You are correct with the fact that snappi's can't be used on all fabric.

The snappi's need a loop, or rougher fabric for the hooks of the snappi to grab on to.  This means that it won't grab
onto bamboo fleece as it is too smooth.  You need to use either a velour or a terry finished product as these have fine loops that the teeth of the snappi can grab onto.

If you still wanted to use bamboo fleece, what you could do is use on the outside layer a velour so this then provides a place for the snappi to hold on to.
At this stage I only have velour in prints that is suitable and do not have any bamboo terry available at all.

You can view all the bamboo velours here- http://www.nappiescovered.com.au/categories/Absorbent-Nappy-Fabrics/Cotton-Velour/
and the bamboo fleece here - http://www.nappiescovered.com.au/products/-Bamboo-Fleece-Natural-%252dNow-pre%252dwashed!-.html