How to add gussets to a cloth diaper

Gussets have always seemed complicated and confusing to me...that is until I decided to jump in and try to do it.  I spent too much time looking at pictures and video tutorials only to come up with my own way of adding them that works for me.  So, for all those interested in yet another way to add gussets to your homemade cloth diapers, this is for you!  Hopefully this will give you the confidence to go try it yourself!

This tutorial will describe adding gussets to a diaper cover.

Materials needed:

1. Fabric
2. Diaper pattern
3. Fold over elastic

Step 1:  I used two fabrics: PUL and a decorative outer fabric. If you use two fabrics, begin by basting them together.  Mark your elastic tacking points and the midway point between them.

The small black dots are the points to mark :)

Step 2:  Take a scrap piece of fabric (PUL for waterproof) and place it as seen in the picture.  Take a ruler and line up the two elastic marks.  Use a pencil or marking tool to trace the shape: down the ruler and around the crescent of the diaper.

Here is what it looks like when you remove the material:

Step 3:  Use the ruler to mark out 1/2" around the shape.  You want to give yourself 1/2" allowance. Then cut it out.  it should look like this.  Make sure to fold it in half and mark the halfway point for matching up when sewing:

Step 4:  Begin sewing the gusset to the diaper.  Line up the elastic mark with the outlined shape.  Sew the gusset curve edge to the edge of the diaper:

Step 5:  Attach both gussets.  It should look like this:

Notice how the center dots match up :) and the gusset is sewn close to the diaper edge. I used my basted stitch as a guide here.

Step 6:  Sew the FOE (fold over elastic) to the top of the gusset leaving about 1/4" extra room.  Make sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end, and pull as tight as you can to create a nice elastic binding:

It should look like this when you get to the other side:

Now take a minute to admire your work!  You made a gusset!!!

Step 7: Finish it off with FOE around the rest of the diaper.  Make sure to tuck in the gusset FOE into the binding when you go around.  Stretch the FOE at the leg elastic points and anywhere else the pattern requires.  Here are the final pictures:

Inside!

Outside

 

Complete diaper!

And that's it! I hope this was helpful.  Now go try making gussets! It is really much simpler than it seems and doesn't take that much extra time.

~Briana

Alec's 5th Birthday Party!

I feel like an official parent now!  We threw our first birthday party to celebrate Alec's 5th birthday and had so much fun doing it...even through all the complications :).  Thank you to my parents for letting us use their amazing backyard to host all the kiddos!  We had fun appetizers, Cars themed activities, Pizza, and cake!  The kids went home with pinata candy, and goodie bags...and parents went home with homemade cake pops!  Take a look at the pictures!

The Cake!

Homemade race track races!

Make your own license plate craft table!

Pin the tale on the Donkey!

Yummy food!

Cake!

Cale Pops!

Hitting the Pinata! Love her face in this picture :)

Back to the blog!

Summer is coming to an end, and what a wonderful summer it has been!  I've been catching up on my craft project to-do list and other adventures.  My first summer projects were upcycles!

 

I took an old mirror frame  ( I broke the mirror a while back and saved the frame) and attached a poster print behind a spray painted finish.  The project was super quick and simple and I love the way it looks in my bedroom!

Before

After!

I then found this free rocker on craigslist and reupholstered it!  I was a bit intimidated at first, but satisfied with the new piece in our living room! And all for less than $20!

I'll be sharing more of my summer conquests as the week goes on, but I can't sign off without saying that the my dear friends I was crafting for have reached their adoption goal!  I am now prayerfully searching for a new cause to craft for!  In the mean time, I'll be working on more posts and maybe a few tutorials sharing what I've been doing this summer!

~Bri

Cake pops for Mother's day!

We made cake pops in our cooking class!  So simple, delicious, and so much fun!  Give it a try!

(Preview of end product)

1. Cut the block in half and wrap in plastic wrap.

2. Decorate the block.

Alec loved them :)

Bake a cake, let it cool completely, crumble with cream cheese.

keep mixing until it is uniform.

Melt chocolate covering.

roll 1" balls

dip sticks in chocolate, into the ball, then place in freezer.

make a Mother's Day card while waiting (10 minutes)

Dip them in the chocolate to cover.  Add sprinkles for fun.

Handmade Aprons

The Apron! 

Order the handmade apron.  Beautiful sewing details, one or two pocket option, flouncing, neck and back ties.  Price ranges from $20-$30 depending on the cost of material.  Place your order now, request your colors and style!

Packaged and ready to go!

J. Crewesque? $8-help support the adoption!

I've been dying to try this bracelet tutorial forever and finally got the chance over the break.  What do you think??? Add this to the adoption fundraiser! $8 and the color selections are flexible.  Let me know what you want.

~Briana
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

5 minute patch job!

I don't have a little girl, but my beautiful friend has three!  I can't wait for summer when I have more time to craft some amazing little girl stuff for them!  Anyway...she brought over a pair of leggings for me to patch up and I was super excited to put my new webbing to use!  It took about five minutes from start to finish to put these cute little patches on the leggings!  The zigzag stitching is pure decoration.  I am in love with how simple and quick this project was:
1. trace pattern.
2. cut webbing.
3. place webbing on fabric and cut to shape.
4. iron on pants (You can stop at this point)
5. Zigzag stitch for extra cuteness :)

Give it a try!
~Briana