How To Turn a Fleece Jacket Into a Diaper Cover

If you’re using jackets, cut off the sleeves. If you’re using a blanket, cut it in half.

For symmetry, fold both the paper bag template and the two fleece sections in half lengthwise. Lay the folded bag on top of one fleece section, and snip around the template. Be sure to leave roughly a quarter-inch while cutting to allow for a seam. Repeat with other fleece section.

Lay one piece of the cut fleece on top of the other. The inside of the fleece should face out. Use a sewing machine to straight stitch the two together, starting a half-inch in from the edge of the diaper’s front panel. Be sure to begin the stitching at one corner of the front panel and go all the way around to the other, leaving the front flap open.

Using a zigzag stitch on your machine, sew in the three elastic strips. The first two go in the seam allowances under the side wings – these are your leg openings. Sew the third elastic into the middle of the top back row – the waist of the diaper cover. Pull the elastic strips tight, while sewing from one anchor point to the other.

Fold the diaper cover in half and compare the side flaps’ size and shape. Trim off any excess so the two sides match.

Stick your hand through the open front panel and turn the diaper cover right side out. Once you’ve worked out all the edges and corners, stitch the open flap closed.

To complete your diaper cover and ensure it will fit securely, hand sew strips of Velcro in. First, fold the front flap upwards and sew a long fuzzy sided strip a half-inch below the top edge. Then, sew a pair of prickly Velcro pieces to the inside of the side flaps. Your fleece diaper cover is now ready for use!