Hand-knit Wool Diaper Cover Pattern

Are you searching for a soaker pattern that will keep your baby covered without overwhelming him? Something that is full and flexible, that will move with his every movement? A cover pattern, designed for use with 100% wool?

Then I would like to share my pull-on wool diaper cover pattern with you!

• Tight knit and made with 100% wool for maximum absorption.
• Full and flexible, so that it moves with baby and his diapers.
• 1 x 1 ribbing in the crotch, to fit day-time or night-time diapers.
• Cut high in back and low in front to keep the diaper fully covered, without overwhelming baby.
• With leg openings are designed to be close fitting, but not too tight.
• Cute enough to wear on it's own!

Pictures may be viewed full size by double clicking on them.

In this pattern, the crotch is knit first, then the original stitches are picked up and it is knit in the round to the waist.

The legs are made stretchy with a ribbed edge.

The cover is knit with some negative ease, because wool has a tendency to stretch.

To reap the benefits of wool, the yarn must be at least 75% wool.

There are six sizes available, but you probably will not need all of them. The size(s) you need will depend on the size of your baby and the type of diaper you are using. My last two boys weighed about 9 lbs. at birth, and I couldn't have used the first two sizes. For me, a handful of Mediums and Toddlers have worked well.

Size.......... Hips, over Diaper........ Leg Opening...... Rise, Excluding Ribbing

Preemie................12"..............................8"....................................13"

Newborn...............14"..............................10"..................................15 1/2"

Small....................16"............................10 1/2"...............................16 1/2"

Medium................18"..............................11"...................................17"

Large...................20".............................11"...................................17 1/2"

Toddler................22"..........................11 1/2"................................18 1/2"

Materials:

4 oz. / 100g of worsted weight wool.

Round (16", or use magic loop method) or Double Pointed Needles, size 3 -- or size you require to obtain gage.

2 stitch markers.

Gage:

5 stitches = 1 inch. 7 rows/rounds = 1 inch.

Instructions are given for Preemie [Newborn, Small, Medium, Large, Toddler]

Beginning at rear crotch:

Using a provisional cast, Cast-on 43 [57, 63, 69, 73, 79] stitches.

• Ribbing around leg opening is created by knitting the first and last 3 stitches of each row (garter stitch). Otherwise, the cover is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side, to create a smooth cloth).

Row 1: K across.

Row 2: K3, p 37 [51, 57, 63, 67, 73] (all but the last 3 sts), k3.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 for a total of 12 rows.

Note: If your baby has really chubby legs, work more rows here.

Place markers for decrease and begin ribbing:

Row 13: (RS) K 18 [24, 26, 28, 28, 30], pm, *k1, p1* for 6 [8, 10, 12, 16, 18] st (to form 1x1 ribbing), k1, pm, k to end, turn.

Row 14: (WS) K3. p to marker, *p1, k1* (for ribbing) until second marker ( 7 [9, 11, 13, 17, 19] sts between markers). P to last three stitches, k2, turn.

Decreasing:

• To decrease, k2tog or p2tog right before the marker.
• You will decrease 1 st on each row until 13 [15, 17, 19, 23, 25] st remain on needle. These st will be the garter st for leg opening and the ribbing st, between markers.

Row 15: (RS) K 16 [22, 24, 26, 26, 28], k2tog, work 1x1 ribbing between markers, k across.

Row 16: (WS) K3, p 13 [19, 21, 23, 23, 25]. p2tog, work 1x1 ribbing between markers, p 14 [20, 22, 24, 24, 26], k3.

Finish Crotch:

• Work 7 rows the same as rows 1 & 2. End with a knit row.
• At end of row, pm, to mark the beginning of rounds.

Begin Knitting in the Round:

• Remove waste yarn and pick up cast on stitches.
• Adjust to proper needle as necessary. (I have used a second, smaller round needle to pick up cast on stitches with, as this simplifies the process.)
• Join front to back by Knitting in a round. (Be sure the crotch is not twisted!)
• Continue knitting for 18 [20, 21, 22, 23, 25] rows.

Waist Band:

• Work 2x2 ribbing (k2, p2) for 4 [ 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] rounds.
• Eyelet Round: *K2, yo, p2tog* repeat around.
• Work 4 more rows of 2x2 ribbing.
• Cast-off, using your favorite method.

Finishing Touches:

• Knit an I-cord or crochet a tie to thread through the eyelets -- about 40 inches long.

• Embroider, add lace, or anything else you desire. (Or leave plain.)

PRINTABLE VERSION OF PATTERN ONLY

This pattern is intended for your use.

Feel free to link to this pattern, but do not copy it.

Copyright(c)Christa Dovel 2009.

Where To Get 100% Wool:

I have bought my wool from Bartlettyarns.com.

"Much of our wool comes from individual sheep growers who deliver their fleece to us each springtime in trade for knitting yarns. We spin our yarn on a spinning mule, a marvelous machine that is one of the last of its kind still operating in the country. Mule-spun yarn retains the softness of the natural wool fibers, and has a homespun appearance and durability that is highly valued by knitters." -- Bartlettyarns.com

Other Sources:

• Knit Picks
• Lambkin's Hideaway
• Loin Brand

* I am not affiliated with Bartlettyarns.com.

Using sport/lace weight wool yarn and a size 1 crochet hook, make three lengths of lace.

Chain 57 [69, 69, 81, 81, 93]. Turn.

Row 1: In fourth ch from hook *dc 1, ch 2, dc1 in same chain, skip 2 ch*, in third ch repeat from * to * across. End with 1 dc in last ch. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: In first *2 ch sp, sc 3. In next 2 ch sp, sc 1, ch 3, sc1, ch5, sc 1, ch3, sc 1.* Repeat across, ending with sc 3. Fasten off.

Crocheting Abbreviations:

ch -- chain

dc -- double crochet

sp -- space

Hang or lay covers in a warm place to air and dry, after each diaper change.

The cover may smell like urine to begin with, but this will dissipate quickly, unless the cover needs washed and relanalinized.

If there is poo on the cover, rinse it off in tepid water, scrubbing gently. Squeeze (don't wring) out extra moister by rolling in a dry bath towel, and hang to dry.

When the cover begins to smell of urine even when dry, wash it gently by hand in lukewarm water with 1/4 of a cup of lanolin soap. Squeeze gently to fully saturate, and let it soak for 15 minutes. Rinse in lukewarm water. Squeeze it out, then roll it up in a towel and press the excess water out. Give the diaper cover a quick, brisk shake, block to size, and allow it to dry, preferably over a mild heat source. If a heat source is not available, then lay it on a cotton towel in the sunshine to air dry.