When I feel the need to create!

Since Jaxon was born and we converted to modern cloth nappies, I have discovered a new found passion with sewing! Sewing you say (for those of you that know me) are you feeling alright Mel?
Since having children, I've had the time (on most occasions) to explore my alter ego creative side, dabbling in scrap booking (both paper and digital), card making and photography! With much surprise (although I shouldn't be surprised) there is a flair there for things that run outside the square! I've always gone with the "can do" attitude and despite how challenging a task/project may be, I am one to persevere and conquer it with great joy!

Which leads me to the journey of fleece covers for Jaxon's fitted nappies, mainly the baby beehind bamboo OSFM fitted from Baby Beehinds

The BBB's are our workhouse nappy, the more they are used and washed, the more absorbent they become! We also have a few hemp fitteWe started our stash with the basic PUL cover system from BB, and then went for Wool (great for night) in the form of cover of longies (great for winter). Having had a fleece cover too from the EB Trading area, I decided that I'd love to give making my own covers a go!

With my faithful companion by my side, Mr Google, I discovered the Chloe Toes side-snapping diaper cover pattern (free to download) and thought, well I could adapt that with aplix and use it over our fitteds! Armed with that knowledge, the pattern printed, taped together and a cardboard template also made, I headed to spotlight first for some low pill fleece (bear in mind, I started small, thinking if it works well, we can go a bit fancier in time (malden mills 2mil fleece, minky fabrics and likewise!) ...

So the project began ... Our first cover result was very pleasing (and worked well), but with anything, there is always room for improvement. A few modifications to how the aplix worked, saw my friends' little boy donning a great nappy cover for his BBB's! (yes I've lured a few friends into the alternative modern cloth lifestyle, why not? its' great for the environment and in today's financial tight world, a great savings too.)

Boys grow, so it was time to up size! The next pattern template looked so huge, but we persisted and created another workable cover system. However I found that around the front of Jaxon's belly seemed quite loose and would benefit from either some front elastic (could be tricky as that is the last part you sew when you turn the cover right side out) or once again a better aplix system (where you could adjust from a tight fit and loosen it out as they grow.)



With this in mind, and my friend ready for another cover too, Saturday AFL grandfinal day (with Daddy B absent) seemed like the perfect day to sew in peace and quiet. (yes the kids were present but I did it during their sleep and rest times.)

Nanna's trusty Janome (a fantastic and simple machine to use) hope Santa gets my christmas wish list!



1. The Chloe Toes Pattern (from newborn upwards) very easy to use.



2. The covers (2 layers think, good sides facing inwards) sewed and marked ready for elastic



3. Sewing elastic in (I watched a great demo on UTube on how to sew elastic in MCN's (lo) This is before I started sewing, because you do have to pull it tight as you sew *hehe*



4. Turn right side in again and sew edges together at front.



5. Cut, pin and sew aplix (velcro). In these covers, I also rounded the velcro on the tabs too. The longer strip this time, allows for the cover to be pulled in tight and then adjust outwards as they grow (as the large cover sizing is quite generous.)



6. Finished Product. I'm really pleased with how they ended up, I am going to add some little iron on motiff's to each front tab piece too.



Now I just need a photo of Jax and his little friend in their cute little covers. I've also finished my material, I made 5 covers up, and used the scrap pieces to create little outfit's for Jaida's cabbage patch doll :)

The next project I'm "thinking" about is attempting an AIO (all in one) cloth nappy for Jaxon, in which I could use the same kind of pattern, but it would need some water proofing and booster type system in there too! My thinking hat is on!

Mel xox