Understanding how diaper cover patterns are constructed will help you choose which pattern to use.
When shopping for a baby diaper cover pattern, whether free or paid for, you are going to want to consider how it is constructed before you do anything. This is about fancy diaper covers, not cloth diaper covers.
Below is the low-down on diaper cover patterns & tutorials to take the guess work out for you so that you don't waste time or money.
If you want to skip all the reading and check out my diaper cover pattern, go for it! You won't be disappointed!
Types of Diaper Covers and ways that they are constructed:
- Cloth diaper covers
- These are used to cover a cloth diaper to make it waterproof. This is not the type of diaper cover that I am discussing today.
- Single layer diaper covers
- Sewing in elastic
- Can be made with elastic touching and pinching the baby's skin
- Bias Tape Elastic Casing
- Diaper covers can be made by using biased tape as a casing for elastic around the legs and waist. This keeps the elastic off of the skin but can be a pain to work with so I would call it intermediate level sewing. By using bias tape, the leg of the diaper cover will come down a bit more then typically desired.
- Fold over elastic casing:
- Diaper cover patterns frequently are made this way, but it is a bit tricky. In a nutshell, you fold over the raw edge inward and sew a casing for elastic in the waist and legs. I personally don't prefer this way because I like things to match up when I sew them....and the leg holes DO NOT match up when folding over the casing.
- Using FOE elastic
- very few diaper covers use FOE (fold over elastic) as a binding. This is a neat idea, but there are limited colors of FOE that would match fabrics that you might be using.
- Lined diaper covers
- The diaper cover pattern that I have is made this way. I use a lining to create elastic casings. This way, most seams are completely hidden as well as the elastic. Everything matches up properly everytime so you don't have to worry about tearing out stitches.
But what about ruffled diaper cover patterns?
These are also constructed in a few ways.
- Ruffles
- Diaper cover patterns often will be for ruffle diaper covers. These are SO cute! But what happens if you need to make a diaper cover for a boy? Do you HAVE to add ruffles?
- Many instructions will have a multi-pieced tutorial for ruffled diaper covers that do not include instructions to make a regular, UN-ruffled diaper cover.
- My pattern and tutorial includes both! The Ruffle diaper cover & the regular diaper cover.
- Types of ruffles
- There are the type of ruffle that is ruffled on the top and frilly at the hem
- There are the type of ruffle that is ruffled in the center and frilly at two hems.
- My diaper cover pattern has a ruffle that is on the top
- Serger rolled hem or Sewing machine hems
- Before you purchase a pattern, you need to make sure there is directions for the machine that you have. For example, many people only have a sewing machine and not a serger - those people need a pattern that is geared toward sewing machines. Otherwise the directions for the ruffle will keep you guessing.
- My pattern has directions for both serger & sewing machine instructions so you can use either!
Elastic measurements - do they exist or do you have to guess?
- Measure it yourself or Guess
- It is VERY common in diaper cover patterns that are circulating around the internet for the author to say "measure the waist" and use that measurement. While that might be good, what about if you are making the diaper cover for a gift? Or what if you are making the diaper covers for your unborn baby...or even a few sizes up? This doesn't make any sense to me.
- Wrong elastic measurements
- It is also very common for elastic measurements to be COMPLETELY OFF! Whoever thought that a nb waist is 18-20" is out of their mind. Yet I frequently have customers who tell me of their previous experience with these HUGE elastic measurements.
- Real elastic measurements
- My pattern gives REAL elastic measurements. If your baby is a bit larger then most, then by all means measure and use that measurement. If you are like me, you are sewing at naptime though and require the measurements on hand.
Lastly, my take on the diaper cover pattern options
By now you have probably seen that I obviously have my own design. :) I hope you try it. I have 100% money back guaruntee with my patterns...because I know you'll love it if you use it.
Since you are searching for a diaper cover pattern, just use mine. You'll love it - and you'll especially love how it looks, fits and feels on your baby. The best Diaper Cover Pattern ever is just a click away.
Since you are searching for a diaper cover pattern, just use mine. You'll love it - and you'll especially love how it looks, fits and feels on your baby. The best Diaper Cover Pattern ever is just a click away.
