Best Fabrics for Sewing Your Own Cloth Diapers

I have been sewing cloth diapers for my daughter for about 8 months now. Some of the fabrics that I've used didn't work so well, but I have found a variety of fabrics that work wonderfully for sewing cloth diapers. Many of the more popular cloth diaper brands can be rather expensive, which is why I turned to sewing my own. With minimal sewing skills, a good pattern, and the right fabrics, you too can sew your own cloth diapers at home, for much less than you'd pay for brand-name cloth diapers.

Cotton flannel

I have quite a few flannel diapers, and I love them. Cotton flannel is absorbent, soft, sturdy, and inexpensive, making it one of the best choices for cloth diapers. It is also readily available at any fabric store, which is a plus for busy parents. Cute prints and colors add a special flair to flannel diapers. Flannel will need to be layered in order to absorb more wetness, so it can become bulky, especially for use in overnight cloth diapers. For daytime, a few layers is sufficient, and will generally not be too bulky. Diapers made of flannel will require a waterproof cover.

Birdseye cotton

I personally don't like to work with birdseye fabric, but it does work well for diapers. You may have seen the "burp cloths" in stores made of birdseye cotton. These burp cloths are actually prefold diapers. The open weave makes birdseye breathable and absorbent, although it will need to be layered for better absorbency, and can become bulky. Birdseye cotton is not a good choice for overnight diapers, but will work wonderfully for daytime. Birdseye will wick moisture to the outside of a diaper, and therefore will require a cover.

Hemp