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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Handmade Soakers for Baby's Bottom - do they work?  |
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cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 30 2005 : 3:25:17 PM
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Hello Farmgirls!
I was so pleased to find MaryJane's book under my Christmas tree this year! I was even more pleased to find a knitting pattern for knit diaper covers, as our first baby is due in 2.5 weeks and we're going "cloth." However, I'm a skeptic. How can a knit diaper cover actually work? Does anyone have experience with these? We purchased a few different covers from earthbaby.com to try them out, but I would love to be able to knit my own.
Appreciate the advice!
Catherine in (snowy) Minnesota
* knitter * gardener * proud wife of dan * owned by lucy the cat * |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2005 : 5:31:48 PM
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Yes- Knit woolies work wonderfully (having said that I do use seventh generation disposables at night so my girl doesn't wake for pee). I have knit two and they keep her dry, they are also so cozy. I am making pants so she can just wear those during the winter months. I have not made the ones in MJ's book but I plan too- let me know how they come out.
Good Luck! Rebekka |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2005 : 5:35:10 PM
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By the way- you should email megan@maryjanesfarm about cloth diapers- she and Mary Jane know a woman who makes the best contoured diapers out of recycled flannel sheets and towels and they are the yummiest I have seen- I have tried so many! Anyway- Megan could tell you where to find these and they are wonderful plus you would be helping out a farmgirl!
Good Luck with the knitting and of course - the birth!
XOXO Rebekka |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2005 : 5:59:11 PM
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I was given a pair when my first was born,23yrs ago, and I don't know if the soakers weren't 100% wool or what but they didn't work at all! The afore mentioned daughter is now trying to be come a mommy and I have thought about the soakers. Is there a certain wool that works better? Julia V.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2005 : 6:12:38 PM
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| I like cascade 220 or lambs pride worsted 100% wool, Noro kureyon would sure be fun, I wash in the sink or on gentle in the machine with a wool wash (these have lanolin in them to keep the wool antibacterial and soft) then I hang them to dry. They do not need to be washed after every pee, just hung up and aired out, wash at the end of the day. Rebekka |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Dec 31 2005 : 4:33:50 PM
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Catherine, congratulations on your first baby! I'm due with our second wee one in 10 days. :)
Yes, knit soakers are great! My little Miss O is nearly two, and we've cloth diapered her since the day she was born, and used woolies with great success. I just made her a new pair recently out of Lamb's Pride worsted, as a matter of fact. Leftover yarn from a vest I made DH last Christmas. The soaker felted up wonderfully after two trips thru the washer, and she has yet to soak thru it, even though she's a heavy wetter.
Visit the Bramblestitches store: www.bramblestitches.etsy.com
Visit me at my blog: http://bramblestitches.blogspot.com/ |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Jan 01 2006 : 5:45:45 PM
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Thanks Rebekka, I will have to check into getting some for future grandbabies. Julia V.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Snowden Cottage
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Mumsie
Valley
WA
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2006 : 11:15:10 AM
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Just a gentle reminder to you gals who use the Lamb's pride..(Brown Sheep brand)..that they permanently "mothproof" their yarn..(as noted in MJF)..which means that toxic chemicals are imbedded in the fiber..and bad for us and those wee baby bottoms. The Cascade 220 has not been treated and felts beautifully. Gently, Mumsie 
P.S. Blessings Catherine and Annie for those soon expected precious new wee ones!
Live simply... Love deeply...Hope forever! |
Edited by - Snowden Cottage on Jan 02 2006 11:22:21 AM |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2006 : 8:29:37 PM
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Ooo! Thanks Mumsie for the info. Julia
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2006 : 10:13:50 PM
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I did not know that Cascade 220 was not mothproofed- Thanks for the tip- I will stick to it! So they always have to put that on the label because I find that I can rarely tell. What other yarns are safe?
Thanks, Rebekka |
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cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2006 : 1:15:55 PM
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Thanks for all of the great responses to my question about the soakers. I have to admit though, that now I'm a little more confused. I'm a visual learner and would love to see a photo or drawing of the dimensions of the pattern in MJ's book... If it's supposed to felt up, shouldn't it be knit much larger than the desired finished size? And is just a ribbon enough to hold it on the baby? (Can you tell this is my first baby?)
Does anyone have more information on the dimensions or a photo to share?
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful wishes for our little one too! At two weeks to go, I am READY - feeling large and slow lately!!
Catherine :) |
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cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2006 : 1:18:14 PM
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Annie - I hope your last few days of your pregnancy are going well! Do you have a pattern for your woolies that you knit for your first baby? I'm "soaking" up patterns these days! Thanks much! And good luck for the second one!
Catherine |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2006 : 8:58:57 PM
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Ok- You do need to knit them bigger to felt them (I just accidentally felted a pair and they went from 12-18 month size to 3-6 month size- oops, I guess I need a new baby to put them on!). If anyone comes across patterns for felting let me know because I think I like he felted version better (though it is bulkier) for winter.
Blessings, Rebekka |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
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cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2006 : 10:08:33 AM
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Thanks Annie! I will look at all of these patterns now - that's awesome, just what I was looking for.
Are you overdue on your little one or just an amazing mom who's already back online after giving birth? Hope all is well! My official maternity leave started today, though our little one isn't due until Wednesday - and it doesn't look like there's much movement now anyway. I'm "planning" to be late, but "hoping" to go soon!
Catherine |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2006 : 10:58:54 AM
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I'm pastdue, but not too worried about it. He'll get here. Things are starting to pick up a bit, but I think it will still be a couple more days (judging from last time, anyway).
Best of luck to you, and hope you get some soaker knitting done while you're waiting.
Annie
Visit the Bramblestitches store: www.bramblestitches.etsy.com
Visit me at my blog: http://bramblestitches.blogspot.com/ |
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katiedid
True Blue Farmgirl
601 Posts
Kate
West Jordan
Utah
USA
601 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 3:15:29 PM
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Ok Ladies, just wondering who has used soakers...or actually, who has knit them?
I saw on knittymama's blog, that her knittybabe was wearing some super cute soakers...
Let me know which pattern to try first, and how to care for them...
I am thinking I will whip some up for Emme to wear this summer!
OH, Soaker Mamas! Will they work well with my Kissaluvs as well as the DSQ Prefolds??
Kate
my new blog http/www.theknifemakerswife.wordpress.com |
Edited by - katiedid on Feb 11 2007 3:29:21 PM |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 5:35:37 PM
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Hi Kate,
I have a friend who knits soakers for her babe from recycled thrift store sweaters (she literally unravels the yarn from the sweaters and re-knits it) and they're super cute. Her daughter is always sporting a cute thrifted top and this adorable little knit bum. She typed out the pattern for me so I'll copy it and drop it in the mail for you tomorrow. I've not made them, since the ProWraps have been stellar for Jack, but I've seen the soakers work and like I said...they are Cute with a capital C!
--C :)
http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
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tziporra
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Robin
Seattle
WA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2007 : 7:40:22 PM
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Hi,
I've knitted soakers with great success. They work super with my prefolds. I make the kind that snap or button, rather than the pull-up soakers, because I couldn't figure out how to get those to work! After I tried a couple of free patterns with limited success I splurged on this one:
http://www.littleturtleknits.com/pages/diaperingpatterns.php
(the ribby wrap is second from the bottom). I've made it up in multiple sizes with great success. And it goes lightning fast.
My first baby was a heavy wetter, and the soakers saved us -- we used them every night! My little guy right now isn't such a soaker himself, so I haven't made him a thing (except regular old PUL/cotton wraps). But I have some felted wool I keep meaning to cut up for him. One of these days I might even get the knitting needles out again!
Best,
Robin |
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katiedid
True Blue Farmgirl
601 Posts
Kate
West Jordan
Utah
USA
601 Posts |
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 7:57:51 PM
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| I have a great pattern for knitted soakers as well, they are fabulous. I have also made them from felted sweaters, both longies and shorties, not very hard to do at all and they totally work. For the shorties, I just cut out a cloth diaper pattern that I found for free online out of a felted old wool sweater. I did it twice, put 1/4" elastic inside at the inner thigh to hold in any leaks and some 1/4" elastic at the back, just for extra protection. I put velcro on the front and on the tabs, then with wrong sides together,sew the two pieces on the leg sides. Flip it right side out and zig zag the short ends which end up being the waist. It is really easy. Email me if you really want step by steps that make more sense. |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Handmade Soakers for Baby's Bottom - do they work? |
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Handmade Soakers for Baby's Bottom - do they work?
