Frugal Diapering: Sewing Flat Diapers

1937 photo Folding diapers

My grandfather took my grandmother up into the wilderness of northern B.C. - panning for gold - in the early thirties.

My father was just an infant and his older brother only 2-3 years old. They lived in a one-room log cabin.

My grandmother washed her home-made diapers in the huge pot over an outdoor fire, hauling water from the same stream as my grandfather was panning for gold.

My grandmother came from a very well-to-do British family - servants and all - I can't imagine how she coped...

I never did hear if my grandfather ever found any gold...

If you are sewing your own diapers, you only need to get some fabric and hem up or serge the sides to make some flat squares - 27"x27" - you'll need 9 yards of 36" wide fabric to make 12 diapers.

Or you can make rectangles, measuring 20"x40".

You can use cotton gauze, cotton terrycloth, flannelette or birdseye twill (which is what your mom probably used for her diapers). The gauze will dry the quickest, the terrycloth will take the longest.

Then you can go here for suggestions on how to fold them: The Ancient Art of Diaper Folding

There are also several patterns to make woolen soakers at: Down Under Diaper Cover Pattern and Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters Pattern

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

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