How to Make Cloth Diaper Covers

Having a baby can be exciting and a little overwhelming. There's much to consider: cloth or disposable diapers, breastfeeding or bottle feeding and cribs or co-sleeping. One simple decision, should you decide to opt for cloth diapers, is making cloth diaper covers yourself rather than buying them from the store. Not only do you save money, but these cloth diaper covers can be washed as easily as the diapers themselves, as well as add another layer of protection between the baby and any surface the baby might be on, while holding the cloth diaper in place. The good news is that diaper covers are easy to make.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use your cloth diaper to create a pattern for your diaper cover. Place brown paper (a paper bag works well) underneath your diaper and trace around it with a pencil. Mark the crotch line. Make two pattern pieces from brown paper so you have it available should you need to make more diaper covers in the future.

2. Cut the pattern at the crotch line. Place both pattern pieces on more brown paper one inch apart. Trace the new pattern piece on the paper, and use the ruler to trace the new lines of the extended crotch.

3. Add 5/8 of an inch all around the outside of the diaper cover pattern. Use a ruler when completing this step.

4. Choose your fabric, fold the fabric in half right side in, and trace around the diaper cover pattern. After you finish tracing around the pattern, use a ruler to add a ½ inch seam allowance.

5. Trim along the outer line, pin two the pieces of the diaper cover together, and use a sewing machine to sew along the inner line, leaving one end of the diaper cover open. Turn the cover right side out, and finish closing the diaper cover by hand sewing it.

6. Sew Velcro onto the diaper cover. To make the diaper cover adjustable, you can sew a long strip of the fuzzy side of the Velcro so that it extends from one side of the outside of the front of the diaper cover to the other, then sew prickly Velcro pieces to the inside of the back tabs. This allows you to use the diaper cover while the child grows before having to sew another. You can either sew on the Velcro by hand or with a sewing machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Choosing a fabric that wicks away moisture would be best. Fleece works well, as does wool.

Resources

• Green Mountain has diaper covers that can be used as models.
• Born To Love has an alternative diaper cover.