This post was born from a thread on our Fluff Love & CD Science Facebook page. The author’s simple tutorial takes an average FST and turns it into an awesome pseudo-fitted! We loved it, so we are reproducing it here for all to see and share!
By Nickole Teague
I used red thread for the tutorial so you can see what I’m doing. You obviously can use white. They don’t come out perfect because flour sack towels are wonky by nature. I stitch every step of the fold so that nothing can get bunched up when wearing or washing. Use a medium width zigzag.
Step 1: Fold the bottom and left (or right) into each other. The further in you fold each side, the smaller the final diaper will be. So for a newborn, double the width of the first folds below. Stitch the loose flap of the folded parts down. You’ll do that for each step of the fold.
Step 2: Fold two corners into the center – like a kite. I like to overlap just a little.
Step 3: Zigzag over both center edges at the same time. Stitch the top of the flaps down as well.
Step 4: Fold the top of the kite down. Now you have a large triangle. Stitch the edges of the top fold.
Step 5: Mark where you want the back waist and both leg elastics. Fold each edge over once to make a casing for the elastic. Make sure your fold is at least ¼ in wider than the elastic you plan to use. Sew the casing pockets. Leave openings on both ends of the casing.
Step 6: Measure the length of the casing. Use half that length for the length of the elastic. Secure a safety pin to one end of the elastic to help thread it through the casing. Thread the elastic through the casing making sure to hold the non-safety-pinned edge with your hand so you don’t lose it. Tack the elastic edge you are holding inside the casing. Then pull the safety pin and tack down the other elastic edge.
Step 7: Now go ahead and sew down the flap from the casing fold outward so there is no place for poo to hide! (It’s easier to understand from this picture.)
This is what your FST diaper will now look like once each casing is complete:
To use: Fold up the front triangle. Pin or snappi around baby.
