Pocket Nappy with Hook and Loop Click on any image for larger version Requirements: 1 nappy cut of PUL 1 nappy cut of suedecloth or fleece Ballpoint sewing needle 100% polyester thread Elastic, 6mm wide (swimwear or lastin) Hook and loop Velcro, approx 27cm loop and 5cm hook
Step 1 Lay PUL material laminate side up, and position paper pattern.
Step 2 Trace exactly around the pattern with pen or texta, marking elastic lines and pocket opening. Cut out, keeping scrap pieces of PUL.
Step 3 Lay out the suede (or fleece) wrong side up, and position the paper pattern. If you can, have the greater stretch going side to side rather than lengthways, but it doesn’t really matter if you can’t (suedecloth doesn’t stretch much anyway).
Step 4 Trace the paper pattern with a pen or pencil (or non-bleeding texta) exactly, except for the crotch. Here, bring your cutting line out about 2cm. This will allow the suede to roll out in the finished nappy, protecting bub’s legs from the PUL and to help reduce wicking.	This photo shows the cutting line on the suede, adding the extra 2cm width around the crotch.	After cutting, the suede cloth should be flush with the PUL except around the crotch.
Step 5 Cut approximately 21-22cm of the soft loop velcro, and centre it on the waist section of the PUL piece, material side, about 3 cm down from the top edge. (If you sew it too close to the top, the edge of the Velcro might dig into bub’s tummy.) Sew around the edges with a straight stitch. Pull the threads through to the wrong side, tie off and trim.
Step 6 Now put PUL and suede pieces right sides together, and overlock edges, leaving the long back edge until last. (If you don’t have an overlocker, just straight stitch on the seam line, then reinforce with a zigzag stitch in the seam allowance. PUL, suedecloth and fleece do not fray.) It’s easier to start with the short side of 1 wing, then go down one crotch side, around and back up again, finishing with the other short wing side. It’s also a good idea to experiment with the scrap PUL and suede pieces together in your machine first, to test whether it’s better for the laminate to be touching the machine’s presser foot or the foot plate. If you are using fleece instead of suedecloth, it will probably stretch and ‘grow’ a bit, just do your best to keep it in place, and don’t worry too much if you have to cut some off in the overlocking to match the PUL shape.	Start with the short side of 1 wing	Continue all the way around, leaving the long edge
Step 7 The remaining long edge is what wraps around from bub’s back and meeting at the tummy in front. The pocket opening is in the middle, and should be big enough for you to put your hand through holding boosters. Start overlocking from one end, keeping an eye on the 1^st pocket opening mark. As you get close to it, fold the suede back at a 45° angle, so that you continue overlocking the PUL but not the suede layer. Keeping sewing until you get close to the 2^nd mark and again fold the suede at a 45° angle, so that you go back to overlocking the PUL and suede layers together. Continue to the end, tie off loose threads and trim.	Folding the suede back at a 45 degree angle at the first pocket opening mark. Continue overlocking the PUL as a single layer Folding the suede back at the second pocket opening mark to restart overlocking the two pieces together
Step 8 Fold the unedged suede down about 1cm along the length of the opening, and straight stitch it down. (As suedecloth and fleece don’t fray, it doesn’t matter that it’s not overlocked, and this step is really only for neatness. I usually skip this step with fleece.) Tie off and neaten loose threads.	Fold the raw edge of the suede down about 1cm	Straight stitch it down and tie off loose threads
Step 9 To add the leg elastic, anchor the elastic at one end with a few zigzag stitches back and forth, then moderately stretch the elastic as you sew. Sew on the suede/fleece side to encourage it to roll outwards, and use either plain or 3-step zigzag in the seam allowance. Anchor the other end, tie off and trim threads, and repeat on the other side.	After anchoring the elastic, stretch as you sew in the seam allowance	Leg elastic finished on both sides
Step 10 Turn nappy right side out. Measure the pocket opening length – it should be approx 21 cm long. Cut a piece of elastic 2/3 of this length, so approx 14 cm.
Step 11 Open up the pocket, and secure the elastic at one end, on the laminate side of the PUL layer, just underneath the overlock stitching. Pull the threads through to the laminate side, tie off and trim. Stitch the other elastic end to the other side of the pocket opening, taking care not to twist the elastic.	Secure the elastic end at one side of the pocket opening just underneath the overlocking stitching on the laminate side	Both ends secured, taking care not to twist the elastic
Step 12 To encase the elastic and add the size label, fold the PUL over the elastic so it is covered (one edge of the elastic will line up against the base of the overlock stitches. With a straight stitch, sew from the upper edge down to the middle of the overlock stitching (it doesn’t matter if you sew over the edge of the elastic here). With the needle down, turn the nappy 90° and stitch to the other end, taking care not to catch the elastic. At some point, insert the size label if you want to put one in. As you get close to the end you’ll have to pull the elastic to the front of the presser foot (the material will gather behind the foot), so that you can sew the material in front flat. At the other end, turn the material 90° again and sew to the upper edge. Tie off and neaten loose threads.	Sew from the upper edge down to the middle of the overlocked stitches. Turn the nappy 90 degrees clockwise and sew straight down the middle of the overlocking.	Pull the elastic to the front of the presser foot so the elastic in front lies slack
	At the other end, turn the nappy 90 degrees clockwise again and sew to the upper edge	Finished pocket opening
Step 13 Now you need to attach the Velcro hook and laundry tab loops. Cut 2 pieces of hook approx 2.5 cm long, and 2 pieces of loop to match. Position the hook on the outer edge of one wing on the suede side, and the loop next to it. With a straight stitch, sew 3 sides of the loop first (long, short, long sides), then across the closest short edge of the hook. Sew around the rest of the hook piece, then back across the loop to the starting point. The stitching will follow a kind of “squared” figure 8. Pull all threads through to the inside of the nappy, tie off and trim. Do the same on the other wing.	Sew 3 sides of the loop (left) first, Then all four sides of the hook (right) Then back across the final edge of the loop Finishing at the start point	The stitching from the outside of the nappy
Step 14 Stuff nappy with a booster(s), put on bub, and wait for the nappy’s christening! Well done!
Sasha at approx 7 kg
Sasha considerately showing how the suede rolls out at the leg