How to Make Your Own Prefold Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapering is rapidly making a comeback, and prefold diapers are one of the more economical cloth diapering options. Parents can save even more money if they make their own prefold diapers, especially if they are going to make a large quantity. If they only plan to make one or two, then they may lose money on the cost of materials and should consider purchasing already-made prefolds.
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Instructions
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How to Make a 4x8x4 Prefold
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1
Cut two pieces of your chosen material into 18 by 40 inch pieces, and lay them lengthwise on top of each other so that all four sides are even with each other.
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2
Grab both layers of fabric on the left side and fold it in about 5 inches toward the center.
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3
Grab the edge you just folded over and bring it about 9 to 9.5 inches toward the center so that at this point there are more layers in the center of the diaper. This counts the first folded edge and that edge being folded over one more time.
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4
Take the raw edge of the right side of the diaper and fold it in about 9 to 9.5 inches toward the center. It should line up with the farthest left edge of the heaviest layered center part. At this point, if you count both layers that you started with, you should have a rectangular prefold with four layers on both the left and right sides and eight layers in the center section. All three sections should be about the same length.
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5
Put sewing pins on the edges of the center section so the layers do not shift while sewing.
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6
Use a straight or zigzag stitch to sew down the edges of the center section to hold the layers in place.
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7
Serge or overlock the ends of the diaper to prevent future fraying.
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8
Wash the prefold a few times before using to remove any oils naturally found on the fabric to increase absorbency.
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Tips & Warnings
If using a different type of material, check beforehand that it is easy to grip with a Snappi if that is what you typically use to fasten diapers. Snappis will not grip all material.
References
- Photo Credit sewing image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
