tips on using FOE

[momtoamiracle]

can use any tips you have!

[Joyful Baby]

Go slow and don't expect perfection the first time I think chloes toes has a tutorial??? April

[Joyful Baby]

Oh - Hi Sydney!!! I didn't realize that was you

[BabyCentric]

Don't cut your FOE before you finish the diaper, this way you won't have to try to premeasure and risk having too much or too little.

[Sarahsdawn]

go slow and make sure you are catching ALL edges.

[momtoamiracle]

HI April!

I did look at the Chloe toes tutorial and that is a help.

but this is my problem.

I washed the FOE first, like instructed.

I went slowly like instructed.

I didn't cut it like instructed.

But the parts that are supposed to be stretchy are not very stretchy! I stretched it while sewing the legs and back, just like I do any elastic. But it does not fit snugly at all. Is it because I washed the elastic first? I never wash my elastic first and then when the completed diaper is finished then it fits more snugly. I guess cause it has shrunk.

And the diaper is too big. I think because the seam allowance wasn't taken up so it ended up bigger.

Do I cut the diaper a little smaller?

I"ve done one and a half diapers (ran out of FOE on the first one). I enjoy the finished product tho I think for now it takes me the same amount of time as doing it the usual way.

how much FOE does it usually take to make a diaper? I got a yard of one kind and didn't have enough to finish the diaper. I guess it shrunk quite a bit after I washed and dried it.

do ya'll usually wash and dry yours first?


thanks for the input!

[GeneralJinjur]

I wash and dry mine because one of my rolls lost 15% to shrinkage. All those diapers came out too small after they were washed and dried. So now I put it in a pillowcase and wash it ahead of time.

I think you need to pull the FOE tighter when you're sewing. It really is a trial and error job. Eventually, you'll get the feel of it. Oh, and my larger diapers usually took around 1 3/4 yards of FOE. I don't remember measuring the smalls.

[Sarahsdawn]

Does anybody know if its possible to go around corners w/ foe? I'm thinking it might be a slow process, but I think it would work. Anybody know?

[GeneralJinjur]

Sure, you can go around corners. I used to miter mine until I realized I could round the corners and that's become my preferred method.

Miter technique: I'd stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot and fold the FOE around the new edge. Plop the presser foot down and begin sewing again. It's not quite as perfect as a quilt edge, but it does the job and stays put. I like to apply my FOE with a straight stitch, so that's why I could do it this way.

Quick option: Round the corner slightly and wrap the FOE as you turn the corner. Much quicker and looks fine.

Denise

[Sarahsdawn]

Cool, I'm going to try that on some double sided pul that I have with the verybaby aio pattern as a cover.