271- Diaper Goal Surpassed!

I had no way of knowing that when I challenged the sisters in the Hobble Creek 8th Ward (almost 8 weeks ago) to make 300 diapers for Marie to take to Haiti that they would nearly double that number! But I will also tell you that I am not surprised!

We had 3 nights where we met at the church and worked like house-elves! We laughed, visited, sewed, un-sewed, ate and basked in the glow of doing good for people we don't even know. But countless more diapers were taken home and finished and returned.  Sisters made them by the dozens. Service is such a wonderful blessing!

Marie got those vacuum bag-thingies to suck all the air out of the diapers and pack them in as tightly as possible.



The airline is allowing each of the Healing Hands for Haiti team members to check 3 bags. Marie's are mostly filled with diapers but the others have medical supplies, crutches (yes, in the bags) and they were even going to try to get a wheel chair dismantled and in a bag!


MARIE'S BAGS WITH THE LAST MINUTE DIAPERS FINISHED SINCE LAST THURSDAY... ABOUT 6 DOZEN.

The young women in the ward wanted to do something too. They spent several activity nights making these darling little brown-skinned dolls for the children.



Marie told me that there is an American lady who lives permanently in Haiti to help the relief efforts, Marie will talk to her and determine where the greatest needs are. I can hardly wait to see some of the faces of the recipients... it is my prayer that they will reach those babies, and mamas, who need them most.

Service truly is good for the soul!

262- Diapers IN Haiti

Meet Gary!  He is one of the first diaper recipients in Haiti.  Look at that bright and happy face. I just want to just pick him up and love him!



Doug and family came over for dinner tonight, the first time since he returned from Haiti. He brought his photos. The minute I saw this one of Gary I knew he was going to be the *poster boy for our diapers*.

Doug delivered the first dozen diapers in Haiti when he was there last month. Even though he broke his right arm, both bones right at the wrist, the day he got there he served the Haitian people with his sweet smile. Here he is giving diapers to some of the ladies at the tent orphanage, yes, tent orphanage!  Notice that the ladies are holding some diapers.  He is holding little Gary. 


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Another 56 diapers went with the first group of Healing Hands for Haiti last week and more are headed with the next *wave* going this week.

We have our last diaper sewing night this coming Thursday. Marie will depart the following week.

Remember that challenge I gave the ladies? Let's just say we made it and then some! At last count we have 339 AIO diapers plus another 11 dozen regular cloth diapers. What a blessing... for us and for the Haitian orphans!

EDIT from Doug-

Mom-

I just read your blog about the diapers. Thanks again for sending them with me. At the risk of sounding picky, most of the orphanages I went to were in tents since the buildings had either been severely damaged or leveled by the earthquake. What really set that particular orphanage apart for me was the fact that they were literally in the middle of a field, they never had a building. Do what you will with that information :-)

I love you- Doug

252- Diaper Dudettes

Can I just say what a fun group this is? We got together tonight to work on the Diapers for Haiti project again. (click here, here or here for more info). Tonight things really started to come together! What a bunch of workers!! It is great to see the progress and the growing pile of completed diapers.

I wish I'd kept track of all of the diapers that ladies took home to finish... but I can say this... they went out with their arms full!



We will meet again in 2 weeks, the 23rd, to finish then all up for Marie to take to Haiti!

238- The Diaper Nazi

This evening was the Diapers for Haiti Humanitarian Project; what a wonderful turn out and success! At one point I counted 17 sisters and there were another half dozen who had come and gone or weren't there yet! What happy sounds there were in that room: sewing machines humming, scissors slicing, laughter, lots of pinning, giggles, happy conversation... and yes, even a few labels applied (see title)!

All of this is Marie's fault!! She's the one who gave the RS lesson that grabbed me by the heart back on 8/1! By the next Sunday I had almost a dozen diapers finished, had purchased enough Touchtape for 300 diapers and challenged the sisters of our ward to make 300 diapers for Marie to take to Haiti on October 1st. (Funny story... Marie bought a new sewing machine for this project!)



Marsha was one of the first to arrive when she asked me what to do I told her, "You grab these bad-boys here..." It tickled her that I called the soaker pads *bad-boys*. I showed her what to do and we were off and running.

We got to talking about our own bad-boys (she is the mother of 5 boys) and the boy theorem which is: When you need a job done by boys- if you have one boy you have a boy, if you have two boys, you have half a boy and if you have three boys... you have no boys at all!!



She was a quick study.



Here's Denise... what a fun girl! I just have to smile every time I see her.



Our fearless leader-Relief Society President, Deborah (right) and Ann one of our Humanitarian committee ladies who came even though she was sick.



Holly and Diane... what happy sewers!



Look at these darling sisters, Carol and Joy. They cut and cut then pinned and pinned!



Now this girl, Shelly! She caught the vision! She made 2 dozen diapers at home since she couldn't stay for very long. She takes care of her elderly father-in-law. Marie was thrilled!



These are some of my favorite girls here! Margie (say Mar-Gee with a hard *G*) and her niece, Sarah. They are always up to something crafty. Sarah was our champion turner! (and labeled me the diaper-nazi) And that's another Carol hiding behind Margie. She cut all the corners off the Touchtape.



It just made me happy to see so many willing workers. There was a job for everyone.



Candy had more than her share of frustration with her sewing machine... but hung in there to the bitter end.



We will be back again on September 8th to complete the diapers. BTW - Deborah counted and we have 224 diapers in various stages of completion! You know, I think we'll make our goal!

Ladies... thank you so much!

220- Diaper Tutorial

This morning before church Marie called to ask if I would bring some of the diapers I've made this week to show. She told me she'd seen them on my blog and loved them.

In Relief Society as I was telling how this humanitarian project had grabbed me by the heart, and why, I felt impressed to Throw Down the Gauntlet to the rest of the sisters. I ordered enough Touchtape (click on any link to go to that internet site) for 300 diapers so my challenge was that we make 300 diapers for Haiti!



After church Marie called again for some specifics and asked if I would post a more detailed set of instructions. I am pleased to share what I've learned this last week.

To make 3 diapers you will need-

• 1 yard of 44-45" wide flannel
• Touchtape (a hook and loop product similar to Velcro but stronger and more durable. Velcro doesn't hold up well with repeated use and washings. But remember if you live here or want to send them to me I have enough for 300 diapers)
• 3/8" elastic
• Old towels or microfiber for soaker pad
  

I am using a free pattern from Rita called Rita's Rump Cover.

Download the pattern HERE!

It prints out on 4- 8.5" x 11" pieces of paper and you will need to trim match the symbols to put it together. Cut around the pattern about 1/4" from the solid line. Cut *V*s at the elastic notches for easier marking later (but only on the pattern, not the fabric)



Now you have to be tricky and a bit Scotch (which I am) to get 3 diapers out of 1 yard of flannel. Starting with the fabric the way it come off the bolt fold it in half lengthwise so you have 4 layers of fabric with your selvage edges matching and cut edges matching. Now place the pattern as close as possible to the cut edges with the back of the pattern lined up with the selvage edges. (see photo below) Cut around the pattern starting at the selvage edge and being careful not to make any other cuts into the remaining fabric.



Now open the fabric so you have only 2 layers, reverse the pattern so the back edge of the pattern is by the folded edge and you can cut that 3rd diaper.



All right, don't laugh, save those scraps! Bring them with you to the Humanitarian night or drop them off at my house and I will turn them into humanitarian quilts. Waste not, want not!



Here are your three cut out diapers- a total of 6 pieces.



I like to mix and match my fabrics on the inside and outside, but that isn't necessary. Do what ever makes you happy.

To cut soaker pads I used old towels cut into 11" x 15" rectangles. I found that I could only cut through one layer of towel with my rotary cutter. You will need to serge or zigzag around the edges so the fabric will not fray. (I had large bath towels could get 3- 11" pieces from each width. I placed the ruler on the selvage edge where possible to save serging one more side.)



Take one diaper piece and place it RIGHT SIDE down. Fold one of the soaker pads in half lengthwise so you have a 15" x 5.5" rectangle. Center it on the WRONG SIDE of the diaper.



Using a straight stitch, stitch around the outer edges of the soaker pad and then add 2 rows of stitching down the length of each pad for stablility.



Place another diaper piece, without a pad attached, FACE UP, then place the piece with the soaker pad FACE DOWN on top of it, with RIGHT SIDE TOGETHER. Pin. You will notice that the piece with the soaker pad has shrunk up a little... don't worry about that.



Starting at the front of the diaper (right side in the above photo), right of center a couple of inches, stitch using a 5/8" seam. Back stitch at the beginning and end leaving an opening so you can turn the diaper. But don't turn it yet...



Now you will need to mark your diaper so you can add the elastic. With the soaker pad side down make a pencil mark at each notch on the seam allowance.



Place the end of your 3/8" elastic at the beginning mark ON THE SEAM ALLOWANCE. Tack down the end, put your needle down and stretch the elastic as far as humanly possible and stitch it ON THE SEAM ALLOWANCE using a 3-stitch zigzag. If you don't have this stitch, don't sweat it, just use a regular zigzag. When you get to the other end of the elastic mark tack your elastic. Cut elastic close to stitches and trim threads.



This is what it will look like after you've added all three piece of elastic.



Trim the seam allowance on the back tab area to about 1/2". But don't trim any other seams; with rock washing we want to make sure the seams will stay put.



Turn the diaper right-side out.



I have biggish hands and find that a chopstick helps me push out the back tabs. I also use the chop stitch to smooth out the seams on the back tab curves.



Starting at the front opening match folded seam edges together and sew up the opening. Continue to top stitch around the diaper. (I would normally use thread that matched the fabric but I've used white here for contrast.)



When you get to the beginning of the elastic (you will see the pucker and be able to feel it) put the needle down, pivot the fabric 90 degrees take a few stitched, then pivot back so you are sewing 3/8" from the finished edge, creating a casing for the elastic. Pay close attention at the tabs, make sure that you keep your seams from creeping back in.



I find that it helps to use a stiletto, or straight pin, to coax the seams out.



When you reach the other end of the elastic, pivot again so you are top stitching right on the edge. Continue to top stitch and make the casings until you are back to the beginning.



We're almost finished! Cut one 6" piece of loop and two 1 1/2" pieces of hook from your Touchtape. Round corners on top of loop and ends of hook pieces (see photos below)

Matching the centers of diaper front and Touchtape, pin the Touchtape to the OUTSIDE front of the diaper. Top stitch around the Touchtape back stitching at the beginning and end.



During the process, make sure that the inside of the diaper is smooth without any wrinkles.



Pin the rounded end of the hook tape on the INSIDE of the front tabs just back from the edges. Top stitch. After stitching if there are any sharp edges protruding beyond the edge of the diaper trim the Touchtape close to stitches.



That's it! You've done it! You've made a diaper!

What a difference you will make in these little orphan baby's lives!

And when (not if) we surpass the 300 diaper mark I will order more Touchtape!

215- Service is Good for the Soul

I mentioned yesterday that I was working on a new humanitarian project; this one, like the one eleven years ago, just reached out and grabbed me by the heart. Let me tell you about it.

One of the sisters in our ward, Marie, is a health care professional. She is affiliated with an organization called Healing Hands for Haiti. Five years ago she went with a team to Port au Prince. She said she cried for the first 4 days (and this was before the January 2010 earthquake!) She taught the Relief Society lesson on Sunday about Haiti, a brief history, their sad living conditions and their needs.

One of the places she worked was in an orphanage; every baby she picked up was wet! The workers there wash their clothes in the river on rocks, most of the children have never seen grass.

Her team is going back again in October. Her desire is to provide All-In-One (AIO) reusable (aka cloth) diapers for these orphanages. The minute she held up her little sample diaper I wanted to hold it in my very-own-hands! I knew this was something I HAD to do.

I've collected so much fabric over the years that it is ridiculous! One of my passions is flannels! For a time I was making those raggy-quilts, but all that clipping is so hard on my wrists and, believe it or not, my elbow! WELL, do I ever have a need for all that flannel now!



I spent much of yesterday morning researching AIO diapers! Stinkin' Cow! there is a whole mommy-movement back to cloth diapers and specifically these dandy AIO. Mommy-makers frequently use a Polyurethane laminate [(PUL) is generally a polyester interlock knit fabric that has been laminated to a thin film of polyurethane] for the outer cover so they are waterproof. The other thing I learned is that Velcro doesn't stand up under the constant wear and use so makers use a hook and loop product called Aplix or Touchtape that is more durable. [Again, with the Stinkin' Cow! I had to learn a whole new language!]

The consensus on Sunday was that we probably didn't want to have a waterproof outer barrier which might mean that the babies would be left in wet diapers longer so I didn't have to worry about PUL.

I stumbled upon a pattern that I really like from a very unlikely source. Rita over at CoffeeShop.com, whom I know because of all the wonderful actions she writes for PhotoShop and all of her wonderful photography, mentioned in a blog post yesterday that she was using a piece of leftover Minkee for a backdrop from when she made diapers for her boys! Who would have ever guessed? So I went straight to Rita's Rump Cover pattern.

I cut out a bunch of diaper pieces AFTER I'd made my first sample diaper. I found that I like using pieces of thick terry bath towels for the soaker pad. I sewed this directly to the lining of the diaper and I added two vertical lines of stitching to keep it from shifting with all of the *rock washing* it will have to endure.



Here's the right side of the lining.



I have the above featured 6 diapers finished, except for the hook and loop which I had to order online. There are another 14 cut out and in various states of completedness (is that a word?). Then I have another two dozen soaker pads ready and waiting for more flannel... which I just happen to have!

So, now I will make my point... service is good for the soul... particularly a soul that tends to grieve on this day for the last 29 years... Yes, the Lord is so good to give me things to do, serve my fellowman or in this case, fellow baby, and rejoice in my blessings. Yes... so very good and kind.

If you are interested in helping with this humanitarian please let me know and I will hook you up!