MAKE-YOUR-OWN WOOL SOAKERS
Now you can knit or crochet your own soakers "just like Grandma used to make!"
Practical, economical and a pleasant alternative to plastic covers.
Hand-made soakers draw moisture away . . . help prevent diaper rashes . . . remain dry outside.
Complete instructions to knit, crochet or stitch your own hand-made soakers!
Plus lots of options, ideas and easy diapering hints . . .
INDEX OF PATTERNS:
Down Under Diaper Cover Pattern
Crochet Soaker
Nise's Crocheted Soaker Pattern
Knicker Soakers
Woollen Nursing Pads
TO KNIT:
Tension: 6 stitches and 7 rows makes 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Works well with arcylic Sayelle, but any yarn may be used which produces the tension given.
Use 3.3/4 needles (or whichever needle you require to produce tension given.)
HIP MEASURE INCLUDING DIAPER
Premie.....10" (26cm)......cast on 50 stitches.
Newborn....12" (31cm)......cast on 70 stitches.
Medium.....16" (41cm)......cast on 90 stitches.
Toddler....20" (51cm)......cast on 110 stitches.
Super......24" (61cm)......cast on 130 stitches.
ROW 1 - *Knit one, purl one. Repeat from *. Turn.
ROW 2 - *Purl one, knit one. Repeat from *. Turn.
ROW 3 - Knit one, *wool forward, purl two together, knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one. Repeat from *. Turn.
ROW 4 - *Purl one, knit one. Repeat from *. Turn.
ROW 5 - *Knit one, purl one. Repeat from *. Turn.
ROW 6 - Knit two together. Knit rest of row. Turn.
ROW 7 - Purl two together. Purl rest of row. Turn.
Repeat rows 6 and 7, until triangle is completed. Fasten off.
Using any size crochet hook, crochet a chain - double the width of your
Down Under diaper cover. Thread through the holes in the waist band.
Fold triangle points to meet (diaper-style) and stitch half-way down sides,
to form leg holes.
For a medium-sized diaper cover, you'll need size J crochet hook and 4 oz. yarn.
Cast on 55 stitches, crochet for 6 1/2" (16.5cm). Attach a 2nd crochet piece 10
stitches wide, 2" 5cm) long. (This is the crotch area, which can be crocheted
with a smaller hook to make it "tighter".) Increase 5 stitches on both sides
of this attached strip and continue crocheting for another 6 1/2 inches 16.5cm).
Fold up and join together sides. Make a crochet drawstring, as above, and thread through waist.
These pants can grow too! As baby grows, simply open side seams and add an inch or two around each panel.
(Use size d and e hooks for small, f and g for med, h and i for large and j and k for xl)
Chain 60
Waist Ribbing
Use smaller hook.
(Row 1) 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each ch to end. Join with
s-st in top of 3 ch, making sure it's not twisted.
(Row 2) 3 ch, * 1 back post dc in first dc, 1 front post dc in next dc; rep
from * to end, join with s-st in top of 3 ch.
Repeat this row once more, or however long you want the ribbing to be.
Body
Use large hook
(Row 4-20) First row: 2 ch, 1 sc in each st to end, join with s-st in top of 2 ch.
repeat this row until there are 20 rows from beginning. (Length can be
adjusted here.)
Crotch
Use smaller hook
Row 1: 1 ch, 1 sc in first 20 sts, 1 ch, turn.
Row 2: 1 sc in each of these 20 sc, 1 ch, turn.
Repeat this row 4 times more.
Next row: 1 sc in 9 sc, miss 1 sc, 1 sc in 10 sc, 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in 8 sc, miss 1 sc, 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in 8 sc, miss 1 sc, 1 sc in each sc to end, 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 1 sc in 7 sc, miss 1 sc, 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Next row, 1 sc in each sc to end. 1 ch, turn.
Now connect the crotch to the main body making sure there are the same
amount of stitches left on each side for the legs.
Leg Cuffs
Size d hook
Row 1: 1 sc in each stitch all round leg. Join with ss to first sc.
Row 2: 3 ch, 1 dc in each sc to end. Join with s-st in top of 3 ch.
Row 3: 3 ch, 1 back post dc in next dc, * 1 front post dc in next dc;
Rep from * to end, join with s-st in top of 3 ch.
Row 4: 2 ch, 1 sc in each dc all round. Join with s-st in top of 2 ch.
Tie off and thread ends into garment.
Additional row of decorative crochet may be sewn at waist and legs for
looks and a draw string may be added (s=100, m=120, l=140 xl=160
chain and knotted at end)
Best made with 100% untreated wool although I believe a wool or wool blend treated with lanolin applied would work as well.
PATTERN DESIGNED BY NISE'
Two No. 10 (3 1/4mm), (US 3) and two No. 8 (4mm), (US 6) knitting
needles or whichever needles you require to produce tension given
use yarn to produce tension given.
One small crochet hook.
TENSION: 5 1/2 sts. and 7 1/2 rows - 1 inch (2.5cm) with No 8 (4mm) needles in stocking st.
MEASUREMENTS: Length at centre front 8 1/2 inches (22 cm). Width all around above gussets 21 inches (53cm).
BACK: 1st legband: With No. 10 needles cast on 29 sts.
1ST ROW: K2. *P1. K1. Repeat from * to last st. K1.
2ND ROW: K1. *P1. K1. Repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows until there are 8 rows in total.
Put stitches on a holder and break yarn.
Make 2nd leg band to correspond but do not break yarn.
Change to No. 8 needles and proceed.
1ST ROW: Knit the 29 sts. of 2nd legband. Cast on 14 sts. for gusset.
Knit the 29 sts. of 1st legband. (72 sts. on needle)
2ND AND ALTERNATE ROWS: Purl.
3RD ROW: K28. k 2 tog., K12. K2tog. K28.
5TH ROW: K28. k2tog, K10. K2tog. K28.
7TH ROW: K28. k2tog. K8. K2tog. K28.
Continue in Stocking st. decreasing for gusset in this manner by
having 2 sts. less between decreasings every knit row until there are 58 sts. on
needle, ending with knit row.
NEXT ROW: P28. P2tog. P28 (57 sts. on needle).
Continue even in Stocking st. until work measures 7 1/4 inches
measured up centre from the cast-on sts. of gusset, ending with purl row.
TO SHAPE BACK:
1ST ROW: Knit to last 7 sts. Turn.
2ND ROW: Slip 1st st. Purl to last 7 sts. Turn.
3RD ROW: Slip 1st st. Knit to last 14 sts. Turn.
4TH ROW: Slip 1st st. Purl to last 14 sts. Turn.
5TH ROW: Slip 1st st. Knit to last 21 sts. Turn.
6TH ROW: Slip 1st st. Purl to last 21 sts. Turn.
7TH ROW: Slip 1st st. Knit to end of row.
8TH ROW: Purl.
**Change to No. 10 needles and work 6 rows (K1. P1) ribbing as given
for 1st legband.
NEXT ROW: (eyelets) K2. *Wl.fwd. K2tog.
Repeat from * to last st. K1.
Rib 3 rows. Cast off loosely in ribbing. **
FRONT:
Work exactly as given for back until work measures 7 1/4 inches from
the cast-on sts. of gusset. ending with purl row, then work from **
to ** as given for Back.
TO MAKE UP:
Sew side, gusset and legband seams.
For the cord, use a crochet hook to make a chain 34 inches long.
Thread through holes.
Pattern Designed By Maxine Alexander
OPTION #1 - Use coloured or multi-coloured yarn for a designer look.
OPTION #2 - Can't knit or crochet? Cut equal-sided triangles from old, shrunk
and matted sweaters (Hint: use sweater waist band as cover waist band)
and zigzag-stitch edges to prevent unravelling. Fold points in, as above and stitch up
sides to form leg-holes.
TO USE: Multi-layered or double diapers work best with these soakers. Pull on and
tie in front.
Make 4 ch, join to form ring.
First round: 10 dc into ring, join into first dc with s-st.
Second round: 3 ch, 2 dc into each dc, join with s-st into top of 3 ch.
Third round: 3 ch, * 1 dc into 1 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * to end,
join into top of 3 ch with s-st.
4th round: 3 ch, *1 dc into each of next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from
* to end, join with s-st into top of 3 ch.
5th round: 3 ch, * 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from
* to end, join with s-st in top of 3 ch.
Continue, increasing the number of dcs beffore you do 2 dc in same dc by
1 until pads are big enough. If you want to felt them, make them about
twice as big as you want them to be in the end.
Wash them in the washing-machine at 40 deg until they have felted and
shrunk to the right size. Now flatten them and allow to dry. This may
take up to 24 hours if you have felted them heavily.
Pattern Designed By Maxine Alexander
**********************************************
EASY DIAPERING HINTS:
*** Double-Diapering? Fold up a flat diaper in half, and then in half again width-wise,
and in half again. This pad will measure roughly 6"x12" (15cm x 30.5cm). Use inside a
second diaper (flat, prefold, shaped, fitted or All-in-One) for easy double-diapering.
*** No time to fold? Store diapers direct from the dryer in a laundry basket beside your
change table area. Then fold diapers only as you use them.
*** Often a pin won't pierce a cloth diaper. Run it through your hair a few times, and it
will slide right in. Or, store pins stuck into a bar of soap, and you'll never have a problem.
*** Use baking soda or vinegar to deodorize your diaper pail, and a toilet brush to scrub it
out.
*** A mug rack hung above your change area is a great place to air-dry diaper covers between
alternating changes.
*** Insert diaper liners as you fold diapers, to save time.
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