Cloth Diapering Fabric Choices defined

There are so many different choice out there which ones are best for you?  This fabric glossary may help you with these choices.

Bamboo French Terry - this is a knit fabric with a slightly looped face.  The loops on this are smaller than the French terrys.  This is a good material for use with the Snappi . This material is more absorbant than cotton but not as absorbant as hemp.  This is great for uses in prefolds , diapers AIO. 

Bamboo Velour - This is a knit fabric with a soft velour finish. This also aborbs better than cotton but not like hemp.  Its softness makes it a great choice for the layer next to babies skin.  This makes nice clothing, bedding and even a diaper.

Hemp Fleece - This is kinda like a sweatshirt material. It is a flat knit on one sied and has a brushed surface on the ohter.  It is used as an absorbant layer with the brushed side toward the skin for it's softness. Hemp is naturally antimicrobial, and absorbs much more than cotton.

Hemp Jersey - This is another knit fabric, is kinda like tee shirt material.  This makes for good inserts and absorbant layers.  ( the suggested use is 4-6 layers depending on how heavy a wetter you have)

Organic Cotton Fleece- This is also like sweatshirt material. It is thick and soft. This is good for any layer on a diaper ( using either side toward the skin) 

Organic Cotton French Terry - This is the same as fleece but the loops are not brushed. One side of the fabric is like a towel the other is smooth. ( suggested to ued smooth side toward skin).  This is thinner than fleece.

Polyester Fleece- There are many of these types of material out there. I would suggest for use with diapering , Malden Mills, or the brand Wazoodles carries. (www.wazoodles.com) they have a nice thicker brand , at a little cheaper price than malden mills, but you will not find this in regular stores. You basicly have to order this on line at a diaper cloth store. I will list many at the end of this.

There are 2 types of fleece available , 200 weight wihich is a lighter weight , used to keep baby dry as it is water resistant. It is suitable for light wetters to moderate wetters. makes a good inner for diapers)

The other is a 300 weight - this is used for the outer cover of a diaper, This is more water proof and is suitable for heavier wetters.

Wind pro - This comes in 3 weights, light , med. and heavy. These offer a water proof barrier as well.  It makes a wonderful outer layer and in layer of diaper (not soaker ) .

Polyurethane Laminated Polyester - PUL  this makes a highly water proof outter layer . It is strechy and can withstand high heat (dryers) . This is used for wetbags, cloth menstrual pads , outer layer of dipaers , bibs.

Pro care - this is a water proof type of material that is used to water proof medical pads and can be used with diapering too. You would pick your own outer layer and this would sandwich in front of it as the waterproof layer. cottons can be used as an outer color with this making color choice fun. It is quite affordable too.

Wool -This is a wonderful material for diaper covers. It is naturally water proof, and makes for a great natural breathable cover.

Flannel - the all time diapering fabric. This is used as an inner layer on diapers such as flats, AIO, also makes good wipes. It is absorbant and soft but not reccomended as a soaker layer. It is cheap and yo can get it almost any where.

Cotton terry toweling - this makes for an inexpensive inner layer also. Can be purchased anywhere and of course use even a towel and cut it up. Make sure it is cotton though.

DiaperMaker Zorb™ is a specialty textile designed to reduce cost and improve performance of reusable cloth diapers and accessory products.  ZORB absorbs 10x it's weight in less than half a second -- that's 20x faster than cotton, bamboo or hemp.  Zorb has incredible holding power too, a single layer holds up to 3 times the moisture of the best absorbing knits so leaking and exterior wicking can be reduced or eliminated.

Sherpa is a soft comfortable knit fabric made by shearing and napping knit terry.  It's commonly used in baby blankets, children's wear, and for fashionable sweatshirts, yoga pants, and jackets. It's in the same family as knit terry and velour and can be used interchangeably with these fabrics. 

Sherpa is usually sewn with the napped face outward. 


    Places to get dipaering material

www.wazoodles.com

www.verybaby.com

www.sewshoppe.com

www.celticclothswholesale.com
www.sewzannie.com
www.acutabovefabrics.com
www.candleonthehill.com
www.thesnapstore.com