The ever evolving cloth diaper stash

Two things excite me these days: freebies and finding unique ways to use fewer resources. (Okay, a third thing also excites me: sleep, but that doesn't count because, let's face it, that's not something I can expect much of anytime soon with a toddler and a 5 month old.)

As you know, we do cloth diapers with Girlface. So far, my stash includes prefolds and covers, a handful of fitted diapers that I've made from old t-shirts and some all-in-ones that I also sewed from a kit that comes with precut diaper pieces (best idea EVER for the slim demographic of sleep-deprived mommas who like to sew and save money on diapers). It's a system that works for us so far. But as she grows, the stash must evolve to accommodate her changing, ahem, elimination needs.

Since I sew, I'm always interested in diapers that are constructed to solve some of the issues that come up with cloth diapering. Many all-in-one or fitted diapers take a long time to dry. Others don't have good leg gathers. Getting good absorbency without the bulk is a challenge, especially at night. As she gets more mobile, I want her to have a trimmer diaper so she can move around easily, too. And inserts for pocket diapers? What a pain to have to buy several different sized inserts as your baby grows - even if you have a one size fits all diaper.

That said, I just love when a company comes up with a fresh take on good ol' fashioned cloth diapers or even those new fashioned diapers. I found a company that's rolling out a new diaper called Gro Baby. This diaper is an all-in-one diaper with a snap-in soaker that is elasticized to grow with your baby. It also has a mesh lining for a much quicker drying time. What I like about this diaper is that you don't have to keep buying new sizes - covers or inserts - as the baby grows. It also appears to be very trim since the inserts are made from six layers of absorbent organic cotton.

I'd love to give these a try. And wouldn't you know, they're giving away a free sample to bloggin' mommas (that would be me). Check them out here.

Holy antenna, Batman!

For months, Jim and I have been talking about ditching the cable and rigging the TVs to pick up the digital signal over the air. It only took me losing my job to actually do it. We broke up with Time Warner Cable last week and hooked up a $10 Big Lots antenna to the digital converter box and, voila, free television over the air in the family room. So, today, we picked up another box with our government coupon, but lacked an antenna for the TV in the living room.

No problem. Apparently, you can make one with materials you may have around the house. Jim made an antenna from an old wok and coaxial cable. He found the instructions online once, got the basic idea and put one together in less than an hour. Click here for a closeup.

It actually works. The picture isn't great, but it works and it's free.

Rainy day projects

It's been raining cats and dogs here for two days and we have two more days to go. Being cooped up these past two days hasn't been too bad. Friday we spent the morning at church playgroup. It was my week to volunteer. We then came home (with a McDonald's Happy Meal and a Big Mac value meal ... yippee!) and we all took naps after lunch (a big YIPPEE!). Today Jim and I both managed to do a project. Jim got another section of kitchen cabinet painted and I sewed a pocket diaper from a newly discovered pattern. (see photos at the end of the post) As for Big Brother's project today, he pooped in the potty. There are photos of the poopy and the pooper with his poopy ... but we won't post those; we'll keep those to show his wife.

A week or so ago Jim converted the linen closet in our master suite into my sewing space. It's the perfect spot, a triangular space with shelves to the ceiling. An old desk that I refinished a few years ago holds my sewing machine. A desk chair fits perfectly inside the closet. I'm close to the ironing board and a drafting table that is now used as both a cutting and laundry table.

Today's project was the first sewing that I've done in six weeks. You may wonder how I could do this with two small children while my husband worked downstairs on his own project. Big Brother is a master of self-entertainment these days. He disappeared shortly after his nap and Jim found him in his bedroom playing on the floor with the door partially shut. Girlface actually just sat in her chair and stared and talked to me while I sewed.

As for the pocket diaper, I made it from some flannel fabric. The diaper is basically a fitted cloth diaper with an opening to stuff with a prefold diaper or a soaker. A waterproof cover then goes over the diaper. This arrangement is a three-step process. Right now, we use a two-step process - a prefold diaper laid inside a diaper cover. Seems to me that if you're going to use pocket diapers, it's best to make it an all-in-one diaper with a waterproof fabric for the outer layer. I tried the diaper on my little test baby and it fit okay, not great. Of course, as I discovered, stuffing these pocket diapers is time consuming. And one thing I don't have is the time to wrestle a prefold diaper or soaker into the opening with a squirming infant on the table who could spray pee or poop at any moment. Another drawback is that when this diaper is soiled, there are two items to wash instead of just one. Right now, I can reuse the diaper cover several times. The appeal of these pocket diapers eludes me right now. The next pattern I will try is an all-in-one diaper that will require a mail-order purchase of pricier fabric and a little more time and brain power.

Here are some photos:

From Sew Baby!