How many soakers can I make?

Here are a few sample layouts to give you an idea of the number of soakers you can get from different amounts of fleece. 3 XL on 2/3 yd of 58" wide fleece. 5 larges and a small on a yard of 58" wide fleece. 2 larges and a small on 1/2 yd of 58" wide fleece. 7 mediums on a yard of 58" wide fleece. 4 mediums on 2/3 yd of 58" wide fleece. 3 mediums on 1/2 yd of 58" wide fleece.

New baby!

I'm slow with replying to comments these days. I had a baby boy on Mother's Day! He was nearly a month early (not due until June 3rd) and had to spend a couple of weeks in the NICU. He and his big sister (23 months old now) keep me pretty busy.

There is a huge thread at Diaper Swappers that has lots of information in it. http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227301&highlight=yard

Also, you can find tons of wonderful diaper making information at Diaper Sewing Divas.
http://diaperdivas.proboards57.com/index.cgi

Altering the pattern for a longer rise

I make medium long soakers for my daughter. She doesn't need a large, but the medium wasn't quite high enough in the back. Here's how to alter the pattern to get a higher rise. Cut the patter in the size you like except don't stop at the waist that comes with that size. Instead, keep cutting upward along the side seam until you get to the line that goes with the next size up. Here are some pics for making a medium long.

Newborn wool soaker

Here is my latest wool soaker. I made it with 97/3 wool/lycra interlock. I dip dyed the soaker body before I sewed it together. I made it for my baby boy who will be here around the end of May, but my husband thinks the colors are too girly. I'll try again. The purplish pink part was supposed to be blue.

Alternate method of applying the waistband and leg cuffs

Here are some pictures of another method for sewing on the waistband and leg cuffs. This method requires less stretching of the materials.


Leaving the soaker inside out, put the leg cuffs inside the soaker matching up the raw edges.


Here's the leg cuff completely sewn in.


Do the same with the waistband.


Here's the finished soaker.

Extra layer for the wetzone

Here's my first attempt at an extra layer you can sew into the wetzone. I tried to make sure you would have enough room to sew it into the body layer before sewing the rest of the soaker together and still not catch it in the seams.

Extra layer for the wetzone Pattern
Extra layer for the wetzone XXL and XXXL Pattern

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Instructions for sewing the soaker.

Place all of the soaker pieces on the fold of the fabric, making sure the stretch of the fabric is going from left to right (hip to hip). You also want the leg cuffs and waistband to have the stretch going from left to right (along the longest side). For fleece, the stretch should go in the opposite direction of the bold lines on the pattern. If you are using knit wool, the knit (Vs in the knit) should go in the direction of the bold lines.

On the new pattern for fleece soakers, the arrowed lines should go in the direction of the stretch of the fleece.

Here's a good video tutorial by Sew Cheeky that also includes adding the skirtie.

Cut out all four soaker pieces. If you desire a slimmer/wider waistband or leg cuffs, make the necessary adjustments to the rectangles you cut for those pieces.

Putting right sides together (when there is a right side to the fabric), sew the sides of the soaker body together. Putting right sides together, sew short ends of the waistband and the leg cuffs to form bands. If the material you are using has a tendency to unravel, use a zig zag stitch on the raw edges.

Fold down the waistband and leg cuffs with wrong sides together so that the raw edges of the seam are hidden. Turn the soaker body right side out.

Put the soaker body inside the waistband with all raw edges together. Sew the waistband to the soaker body. I try to center the seam in the waistband in the back of the soaker. Use a zig zag stitch on the raw edges as needed. If you don't like to stretch your waistband so much, you can also turn your soaker inside out and put the waistband on the inside with raw edges together to sew it. I will be adding pictures of this procedure.

Place the leg cuffs on the soaker body in the same manner as the waistband with raw edges together. Sew the leg cuffs to the soaker body. Use a zig zag stitch on the raw edges as needed.

Admire your handywork!

Inside of the soaker