The Nitty Gritty on Cloth Diapering Materials and Notions from Kayla's cloth Kits

 

This page compiles much of the "Nitty Gritty" knowledge about cloth diapering materials and notions that I have accumulated. It represents answers to many frequently asked questions that have been asked of me and on cloth diapering forums.  All of these products are available through www.kaylasclothkits.com and the KCK Order Fulfillment Department. 

 

Here is a summary of what you will find here:

• The Nitty Gritty on Polybraid Elastic
• The Nitty Gritty on Clear Elastic
• The Nitty Gritty on Fold Over Elastic
• The Nitty Gritty on Thread
• The Nitty Gritty on Hook and Loop
• The Nitty Gritty on Microfiber

The Nitty Gritty on Polybraid Elastic

from Kayla's Cloth Kits 

 

Polybraid elastic has no cotton content, so it will not cause wicking (leaking through the leg area) when used in cloth diapers.  It is strong and can gather multiple layers of fabric (like used in cloth diapers) easily. 

You can either sew polybraid  elastic directly to your application or tack it at one end of your project and thread it through a casing.  When sewing polybraid elastic directly to your application, it is preferable to use a wide zigzag stitch or a three step (broken) zigzag stitch.  Polybraid elastic will not tear as you sew with it; however it can, wear down over time and lose its elasticity.  It you are concerned about your elastic giving out after storing your cloth diapers, try using the clear elastic, sold by Kayla's Cloth Kits instead.

 

The Nitty Gritty on Clear Elastic

from Kayla's Cloth Kits

 

Clear elastic is long strips of polyurethane that has been cut to a specific width.  There are different thicknesses available as well.  The major brand name for clear elastic is Lastin.  Other brands of clear elastic work well for sewing cloth diapers as well.

 

Clear elastic should NOT be used in a casing.  It should not be just tacked to your application at both ends and be expected to hold up.  You need to sew clear elastic directly to your application, preferably with a wide zigzag stitch or a three step (broken) zigzag stitch.

 

Clear elastic may not gather projects composed of many (4+) layers very well.  When using multiple layers in your cloth diaper or other projects, polybraid elastic is preferable.

 

You should always pre-stretch clear elastic before using it.  Do not pull clear elastic too tightly when sewing it to your application as it can tear.  Most people either love clear elastic or hate clear elastic.  You won't know for yourself unless you try it! 

 

If you are interested in testing a small amount, try a yard of clear elastic when you purchase the KCK elastic sampler .

 

The Nitty Gritty on Fold Over Elastic (FOE)

from Kayla's Cloth Kits

 

Fold over elastic is used as a binding and elastic all in one.  It has a natural middle point for "folding over" your application.  Stretch the fold over elastic by pulling it taut while sewing in the areas of your application that need to be gathered.  In areas of your application that do not require gathering just sew the FOE on as a binding.

 

You should always pre-wash your fold over elastic (FOE) in hot water before adding it to your project since it will shrink slightly after the first wash.

The fold over elastic (FOE) offered by Kayla's Cloth Kits is dyeable.  RIT dye (available in most grocery and retail stores) dyes this FOE very well (see the instructions for dyeing below).

 

Instructions for dyeing:  Rinse the amount of fold over elastic that you would like to dye in some warm water.  Dissolve Rit dye into the recommended amount of water and immerse your FOE in the dye solution until the desired color is achieved.  Let the fold over elastic air dry.  Test your fold over elastic for color fastness before using it on your cloth diaper or cloth diaper cover.  You may want to wait to pre-wash your FOE until after it is dyed.  If you are planning to dye alot of FOE, I highly recommend purchasing the liquid form of RIT dye to reduce waste.  This method of dyeing works well for all the hook and loop sold by Kayla's Cloth Kits as well.

Some people use 5/8 inch wide fold over elastic on cloth diapers, but we find that 1 inch FOE binds the multiple layers in cloth diapers much more easily than 5/8 inch fold over elastic does.  Some fold over elastic has a shiny finish to it.  If you purchase this kind of FOE, it will work well for binding cloth diapers, but it will not be dyeable.

 

To prevent snags in your fold over elastic when the FOE interacts with the hook tape closures on your cloth diapers, always secure any hook tape against loop tape (usually laundry tabs) during laundering.  Some people even put their diapers that have FOE in a lingerie bag to prevent the FOE from getting snagged.  Alternatively, you may want to sew the fold over elastic so that the lined side faces outward to reduce snagging of the matte surface.

 

The Nitty Gritty on Thread

from Kayla's Cloth Kits

 

The Nitty Gritty on Hook and Loop

from Kayla's Cloth Kits

 

Kayla's Cloth Kits has personally tested Aplix brand, Touchtape brand, and Generic Aplix.  They all work well on cloth diapers and mama pads and they hold up much better to the rigorous washing of cloth diapers than the Velcro brand hook and loop that you buy in brick and mortar stores like JoAnn fabrics, Hancock fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and others.

 

All of the brands of hook and loop offered by Kayla's Cloth Kits can be dyed using RIT dye (available in grocery and other stores).    The only color that doesn't work well with this method is black-it always comes out gray.  See the instructions for dyeing below.

 

Instructions for dyeing:  Rinse the amount of hook and loop that you would like to dye in some warm water.  Dissolve Rit dye into the recommended amount of water and immerse your hook and loop (separately!) in the dye solution until the desired color is achieved.  Let the hook and loop air dry.  Test your hook and loop for color fastness before using it on your cloth diaper or cloth diaper cover.  If you are planning to dye a lot of hook and loop, I highly recommend purchasing the liquid form of RIT dye to reduce waste.  This method of dyeing works well for all the hook and loop sold by Kayla's Cloth Kits as well. The fold over elastic (FOE) sold by Kayla's Cloth Kits can also be dyed using this method.

 The Nitty Gritty on Microfiber

from Kayla's Cloth Kits:

 

Microfiber terry is a highly absorbent man-made fiber.  It should be used in between the outer layer and inner layers of your project (cloth diaper or other re-usable cloth product) because it is ultra absorbent and will dry the skin out very quickly if it is in direct contact with skin.