Sewing Chloe Toes Diapers With "Hidden" Snap Closures

 

 

The basic instructions for sewing Chloe Toes diapers allow for construction of the entire diaper (all styles), followed by application of the snap closures.  The snaps are applied with the caps showing on the inside front of the diaper opposite the socket pieces and on the outside of the diaper wings opposite the studs.  I have found this approach to be fast and efficient and have not experienced any difficulty with having exposed snap caps touching my baby's skin or with applying snaps through full-thickness diapers. 

However, some people prefer to "hide" the cap side of the snap sockets within the body of the diaper.  There are several reasons one might prefer this method.  The snap caps will not be touching the baby's skin directly.  It may also be easier to set your snaps securely through fewer layers of diaper fabric, rather than attempting to push the caps through the full thickness of a heavy diaper.  For pocket style diapers, since the snaps do not go through both layers of the diaper, the hidden snap construction allows the stuffer/soaker to be pushed further forward inside the pocket toward the front edge of the diaper.  This latter feature is particularly advantageous for diapering boys, since they tend to wet mostly up front and therefore need more soaker fabrics in the front "wet zone".

If you choose to use hidden snaps, the construction method differs only slightly, primarily by changing the order of certain steps.  You will need to set your snap studs on the front body of the diaper prior to binding the diaper layers together.   Instructions for applying hidden snaps are provided here.

Keep in mind that while there may be advantages to using hidden snaps, there are also some disadvantages.  First, you may find that constructing the diapers this way takes a bit more time and may involve additional steps (such as cutting and applying a facing if you make a pocket style).  It may also make the process of sewing the FOE binding a bit more tricky (working around the snaps).  Lastly, hidden snaps are difficult (if not impossible) to fix, move or replace once the binding has been sewn on.  You may wish to try both techniques before deciding which method you prefer.

For a fitted or true AIO diaper, you will cut all the same layers and begin by sewing the internal soaker in.  Then you will baste the hidden middle layer and the outer layer of diaper fabrics together.  Mark the snap socket placement on the hidden soaker layer.  Then set your snap studs through the middle and outer layers, placing the cap from the inside to the outside, so sockets face outward.  Once snap sockets are set, baste the remaining layers together and proceed with constructing the diaper as usual.  The snap studs will not have hidden caps, since the caps are on the outside of the diaper.

For a pocket AIO with hidden snaps, you will need to cut an extra facing from your outer waterproof fabric in order to provide reinforcement for your snap row.   If you fail to reinforce the fabric, snaps may be more likely to pull out.  The facing can be cut from the diaper pattern and should extend below the snap row by about an inch.  Mark your snap socket placement on the right side of the facing.  Place facing and diaper outer wrong sides together.  Use your washable glue stick to adhere the facing to the diaper outer.  Set snaps, pushing snap cap through facing from inside to outside, so sockets face out on right side of diaper.  Then trim the facing close to the snap caps (approx. 1/4"-1/2"). 

 

Now proceed with construction of the rest of the diaper.  Apply FOE to the inner pocket opening.  Tack ends of pocket opening.  Baste diaper layers together.  Then bind with foe as usual. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

    

You will need to take care to avoid the snaps when sewing the FOE to the diaper. 

   

When you complete the diaper construction and FOE binding, your diaper will look the same from the outside, but will have no snap caps visible from the inside.

 

 

To complete the diaper, set snap studs in back diaper wings as per usual instructions.  Snap studs will not have hidden caps.