Flower Sack Towels "Snake" Inserts for Cloth Diapers

 

Cloth diapering is a great way to save money and do your part to help the environment. While there is an initial up front cost, it quickly adds to savings, especially if having more than one child. The decision to cloth diaper comes with a lot of decisions, what type of diaper to purchase, what type of inserts, how to wash, etc, etc. . .

If a parent chooses to use pocket diapers, thinking about what inserts to use, especially for heavy wetter becomes a huge focus. After joining several cloth diaper buying and how to cloth diaper groups, I noticed that many mothers dislike microfiber inserts. Microfiber does the job, but cannot lay against baby's skin because it dries the skin out, but it is generally standard to be an included insert when purchasing pocket diapers. It must go into the pocket or have something wrapped around it, such as a towel or flats. While it absorbs quickly and absorbs a lot, it also squishes pee out much like a sponge when compressed (ex. baby sits for awhile in a car seat). It is also not a natural fiber, leaving some mothers looking for a more natural fiber alternative. 

Enter flower sack towels. . . 

Flower Sack Towels (FST) are commonly found by dish towels and are cheaply found at Wal Mart with a pack of 10 costing around $7. They are a natural fiber consisting of 100% cotton. Although very thin, when folded, they have become a favorite in many of the cloth diapering groups. While many fold the FST and leave as flats, I chose to sew up a batch of 20 to replace microfiber inserts. There are several ways to fold up FST, ranging in a fold with more padded protections up front for boys and a fold in the back for girls. I decided on a snake insert. This is a long FST that will be folded twice then inserted into the pocket diaper or it can be laid on top of the pocket diaper since it's a natural fabric. I wanted it long so that less layers were needed and could dry faster. Folding it adds more layers. It also gives the option of folding more at the front for boys or back for girls.

What you will need:

Flower Sack Towels 

Thread

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Iron

Begin by cutting of the two hemmed sides to prevent bulk when sewing. 

Iron, iron and more iron. This is the most tedious part and it will take awhile, but it is necessary. While it does not have to be perfect, try to iron as best you can. It will be hard to get out every wrinkle.