Sunday, August 31, 2008

Serger Fun

I got a new serger (where's the happy dance smilie?) any day I can play with a new toy...err I mean tool is a good one! I have been sewing (or is it serging?) away and after figuring out the tension and looper stuff, I've managed a fair number of projects!



Preflat diapers. Like prefolds but the absorbant layer isn't just in the middle, it's the entire width and length of the diaper and much easier to sew. Also, easier (for me at least) to use because the materials I use are knit and are stay snug even when I do a terrible job snappi-ing.

ETA: 17 Nov
The preflats were fairly easy to make. I used my existing prefolds as a template for size. The most important part is the rise, my little guy has a rise of about 17 inches so I decided 14 x 17 would be an ideal finished size. I cut 3 layers of fabric 18 x 15 along the selvage (so the stretchy part is side to side when worn, like a t shirt). The next to skin fabric is either cotton velour or bamboo velour, the absorbent middle was hemp fleece, hemp jersey (did two layers of jersey as it's a bit thinner) and i think one was bamboo fleece. I surged the side seams inside out making sure to catch the inner layer so it wouldn't bunch, then turned and surged to top and bottom. I have found that knit fabrics snappi really well but the bamboo velour is a bit more difficult to snappi but works with pins. I got the idea from PB & E on hyena cart. The doublers on the top part of the stack in the picture where just made from left over material and are about 17" long by 4-5" wide. :)


My attempts at low immersion dyeing on bamboo velour. (Also preflats).


Ten minute Petchy pajama pants. I used a pair of beat up no elastic left pj pants as my pattern. Really only about 10 minutes of cutting and sewing with inturuptions much longer of course!


A two seam shirt, I got the idea from a one skein yarn book the shirt is cut with the center front and back as the seams.



More 10 minute pants for myself and little i :) That's all I have pictures of for now!
Love Annmarie

2 comments:

Julie said...

Annmarie
I was wondering if you would be wiling to tell me how you make your preflats? I too am a cloth diapering mom. I am finding that my little 4 month old boy is growing out of the prefolds faster than his sister did and I have an extensive amount of knits and fabrics. I would appreciate any help with this matter
thanks julie

Annmarie said...

Hi Julie! Don't know why I decided to check comments today but I am just now seeing this. The preflats were fairly easy to make. I used my existing prefolds as a template for size. The most important part is the rise, my little guy has a rise of about 17 inches so I decided 14 x 17 would be an ideal finished size. I cut 3 layers of fabric 18 x 15 along the selvage (so the stretchy part is side to side when worn, like a t shirt). The next to skin fabric is either cotton velour or bamboo velour, the absorbent middle was hemp fleece, hemp jersey (did two layers of jersey as it's a bit thinner) and i think one was bamboo fleece. I surged the side seams inside out then turned and surged to top and bottom. I have found that knit fabrics snappi really well but the bamboo velour is a bit more difficult to snappi but works with pins.

I think I will add this to the original post as well, sorry it took me so long to answer.
Annmarie