My first fleece soakers

I'm SO excited! Since I have been cloth diapering the boys (ya know, less than a week) I'm having to alternate between using covers, not using covers (which is dangerous using only prefolds!), and disposables. The only covers I currently have rub the boys legs and tummies. So, I hopped on the Internet, consulted with Jen who's having the same troubles, and finally decided to try to sew my own fleece soakers. Since I don't own one, have never seen one, don't have a pattern for one, I wasn't really sure where to start. I sat and brainstormed for a few minutes and decided I needed to start by measuring the boys' tummies and thighs. Now what? I sat again and brainstormed; finally deciding the best way to get a diaper that fit like a disposable was to 'trace' the shape of that diaper, but wing it a little and using my measurements. I've had this fabric for a few weeks, but I've been afraid to cut it, afraid of messing it up. Tonight I finally got up the courage and got out the scissors!

Please keep in mind, the only thing I've ever sewn is a pillowcase or the like. All straight edged, square pieces of fabric using a standard straight stitch, I've never even touched the dials on my machine! Until tonight that is. Tonight I ventured out and used a double zigzag.

The first cover I tried was a failure. When I tried to sew the first leg cuff I realized the raw, stitched side would be seen when flipped back right side in. I thought, oh well, I can live with that. Then I also realized I cut the fabric so that the stretch was top to bottom, not side to side. So, it wouldn't work. Lesson #1, got it!

I re-cut fabric, this time also remembering to add an additional 'soaker' in the wet zone.

Alright, enough gibber jabber. Here they are:

First Attempt

Inside out, showing stitches and double wet zone soaker

3 hours later = 3 covers

Carter modeling one for me