Small, Medium, Large, XL Sized Diaper Pattern
December 7, 2006 by nutmeg
UPDATED JULY 7 2008
You can use this pattern to make your own Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large diapers. I made them for a few years under the CookiePants label and they sold great! I have the PDF patterns linked at the bottom. At this time I have the soaker, small and medium. Tape together, add a seam allowance and you’re good to go.
SIZING
Newborn: Weight+6-12 lbs.
Small: Weight=8-16 lbs.
Medium: Weight=14-25 lbs.
Large: Weight=20-35+ lbs.
X-Large: Weight=30+ lbs.
These are approximates, fit varies by baby. Fiddle around with what you like, make it your own!
Enjoy!
~Nutmeg cookiepants advocacy
This is a turn and topstitch pattern. You can of course do a serged option as well. You can use TouchTape (similar to velcro but way better in the wash), or metal or polyresin snaps.
I attached the soaker to the front of the diaper, because I hated looking around for soakers, and it was faster drying.
The front is the smaller part of the hour glass shape you will cut out
Click here for pattern pieces :: Cookiepants Cloth Diaper Pattern for soaker, small, medium diaper
XL, Large, Medium, Small
.
Materials
Fabric
If you’d like your diaper to be an AIO (all in one, not needing a outer cover)100 % wool (be sure to felt first—wash in hot water and dry on hottest setting three times), PUL or Polartec (Malden Mills) 200, or Wind Pro (WP) fleece. You may want to treat the fabric with Nik-Wax or lanolin. See appendix for more information.
Lining: This is what will rest against your baby’s skin. I recommend a very soft knit with at least 70% cotton content. You can also use hemp fleece or knit burley with nice results. For easy clean-ability, use microfleece.
Thread: If you are using a regular sewing machine, we recommend using polyester Gutermann® thread. If you are serging, use Maxilock. I still use Gutermann in the needle.
Needles: We recommend always using ball point stretch needles, Stretch 14/90 Schmetz are a good choice. Hint: if your machine is skipping stitches, your needle is dull. Change out your needle after 7 hours of sewing for best results.
Elastic: it is cheapest to purchase by the yard. I usually buy 5 yards at a time. You can use ¼ inch, Lastin®, Stretchrite cotton or poly blends, or 5/8 inch fold over elastic (FOE).
Absorbent fabric: I recommend knit burley or hemp fleece. The toweling knits you find at local fabric stores wash up stiff and uncomfortable for baby.
Instructions for sewing your diaper
It is recommended you first try this with a piece of muslin or other ‘extra’ fabric you have, so you ensure proper fit for your baby before cutting into the more expensive fleece or wool.
Line the long side up with the grain of your fabric. Cut one on the fold.
Adding elastic around the leg openings:
Regular method:
Fold your fabric to the inside 1/2 inch along the leg opening edges. Sew with a straight stitch along this fold. Using a small safety pin, insert the elastic through the hem casing. Zig-zag titch the ends of the elastic together.
Fold over method:
Using FOE (fold over elastic) Fold the elastic around the edge of the fabric. Sew around. Hint: Colored or variegated thread makes this a fun touch!
With right sides together, sew the side seams together with a ¼ inch seam. You will be sewing over the elastic.
Preparing the fabrics:
Lay the lining fabric and the outer fabric on top of each other on your cutting mat.
Cut your absorbent layers. I recommend that you use three layers of hemp fleece, cut 10 x 3 inches. If you have a serger machine, serge around all layers. If you have a regular sewing machine or are doing this by hand, sew a straight stitch around the edges so the layers won’t pull apart in the wash. (hint: sometimes, I just glue stick them together, as I will be sewing them all together in the next step, and the glue washes out)
Lay absorbent layers on the wrong side of the lining. Sew a straight stitch around the layers. Wanna be fancy? Use the zigzag stitch!
Contributed by Megan from CookiePants Advocacy
Diaper Sewing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0
A diaper pattern in the Creative Commons!? Wonderful!
What weight ranges do these diapers fit?
Should the small fit a newborn?
Hi there, just wondering if attaching the soaker to the front is any better than to the back? Or just personal preference?? I’ve only attached to the back so far…
Thanks
I’m still curious about what weight ranges these diapers are supposed to fit.
Has anyone tried them?
how do i get those patterns?
I was wondering where i could get those pattterns and if you have and extra small thanks
I have a question. I counted the inches on the “sized diaper pattern” and the small is larger than the medium.
Naomi
Laura, the description says “You can use this pattern to make your own Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large diapers. “
Can I make diaper with insert using the draft fitted diaper pattern. Have no knowledge on sewing but your step by step instruction on drafting is pretty clear.
Will have to try the way to sew. Any tips to recommend for easier reference?
I agree w/ Amy. Also, isn’t there a way these can be downloaded and printed, instead of having to draft out ourself?
Thanks Amy. I see they are called small, medium, and so forth, but usually a pattern comes with a size name (like small) but also a weight/measurement fit guesstimate. That’s what I was referring to.
Hi there,
I just want to make sure that I understand the way the Creative commons copyright works for this pattern (and others on the site).
Is it ok to make and then sell small amounbts of diapers from this pattern?? Or is it just for home use?
If it is ok to sell diapers made from this pattern, do I need to include a tag that says who designed the diaper etc to give credit where credit is due??
I am sorry is this is a stupid question or is already answered here! I have pregnancy brain!!
Thanks!
Ginny
SIZING
Newborn: Weight+6-12 lbs.
Small: Weight=8-16 lbs.
Medium: Weight=14-25 lbs.
Large: Weight=20-35+ lbs.
X-Large: Weight=30+ lbs.
These are approximates, fit varies by baby.