Links

Check out these links for more information and or to chat about cloth nappies and wool nappy covers.

Forums

Cloth Nappy Addicts - feed your cloth nappy addiction

Mums Online - parenting forums

UK Parents Lounge - parenting forums

Resources

Choose a Nappy - an interactive quiz for choosing the right nappies for your baby

The Cloth Nappy Portal - A fantastic resource for everything about cloth nappies

Medway Cloth Nappy Network

The Nappy Lady - advice and information about cloth nappies

Womens Environmental Network - Educating women about environmental issues

Work At Home Mum Directory - Directory of Work at home mums

Want to suggest a link? Please email webmaster@thewoolresource.co.uk with the URL.

Clair Coult

About

The Wool Resource was started by me, Clair Coult with a lot of help and support from my friends. As a member of several internet parenting forums I found myself replying to a lot of the same questions about using and making wool nappy covers. One day I thought to myself, wouldn't it be good if there was a website which had all the answers, so with the help of my friends and wool making WAHMs The Wool Resource was born!

The ethos of the website is for all us wool users and makers to pool our collective knowledge and experiences so we can share this valuable information and use it to educate parents and promote the use of wool nappy covers.

If you have anything you would like to contribute to the website then please email us at:webmaster@thewoolresource.co.uk

Credits
This website would not exist if it were not for the generous contributions of my friends. All content copyright Clair Louise Coult and named authors unless otherwise specified.

Logo concept by Sarah Hughes. Logo knitted and photographed by Clair Coult.

Yarn Suppliers

Got your pattern? Now you need something to make it with. Here is a list of yarn suppliers who can deliver what you need. Happy shopping!

Babylonglegs Hand dyed yarns, fibre and handspun

eBay - Bag yourself a bargain!

Farm Yarn - Natural Alpaca Knitting Yarn from the UK

McA Direct - Rowan, Sirdar, Freedom and more

NZ Wools The home of pure new wool, and quality yarns from New Zealand

Texere - Pure wool, Airedale BFL and King Cole Merino

Clair Coult

Patterns

No matter what your talent, be it knitting, crochet or sewing you'll find a pattern here so you can have a go at making your own wool nappy covers.

Dandelion Dreamers - Knitting and crochet patterns

Fern and Faerie - Knitted soaker and pants patterns

Little Turtle knits Knitted soaker, pants and skirt patterns

Wool Soaker knitted soaker pattern

Wooly Wonder knitted soakers and longies patterns

DIY FAQ

Fancy having a bash at making your own wool nappy covers? Don't know where to start? you've come to the right place. Here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions about making your own woolies.

Where can I find a pattern to knit/crochet/sew a wool nappy cover?
Take a look at the Patterns page for a whole list of patterns to buy or download for free.

Where can I buy wool from?
See the suppliers page for shops that sell wool.

Do I have to use 100 per cent pure wool?
There is no simple answer to this question, it depends. 100 per cent wool works the best but people have had success with wool/synthetic blends. The higher the wool content the better, I wouldn't recommend using anything with less than 80 per cent wool.

Can I use acrylic/nylon/synthetic yarn to knit nappy covers?
Yes, but you need to treat them in a different way to wool nappy covers. You don't treat them with lanolin but just like fleece covers they do need to be washed every time you use them. Acrylic is a great alternative to wool for babies allergic to lanolin. It's best to use purely synthetic yarns, anything with a cotton content is going to absorb moisture and wick.

I want to make a recycled sweater soaker, do I have to felt it first?
It depends. If the sweater fabric is thin you might want to felt it to make it thicker. Before you try and felt your sweater read the care label, if the sweater is machine washable it probably won't felt as the fibres have been treated to stop this from happening.

I want to knit/crochet a wool nappy cover, what is the best kind of wool to use?
Not all wools are equal, some are rough and itchy but there are some very smooth soft wools which are ideal for babies. Look out for Merino or Bluefaced Leicester wools, they are both very soft and perfect for nappy covers. Alpaca wool is also very soft but it doest not naturally contain lanolin.

What weight of wool is best to use?
Double Knit or Aran weights are ideal for wool nappy covers. Anything thinner would need to be felted or have 2 layers to make it effective, anything thicker would give your baby a huge bottom!

I can't knit or crochet, can I sew a wool nappy cover?
Yes! You can make a wrap style covers from woven wool fabric or you can recycle a wool sweater and sew cute shorties or longies.

Clair Coult

Shops

Looking to buy a wool nappy cover? Then try these shops!

Addicted To Ewe

Angel Tots

BabyLongLegs

Cambridge Baby

Flowerpot Tots

Halo Baby

Kittykins

Lily's Knits

Lizzies Wonderland

March Hare

Natural Child

Natural Knits For Nippers

Pixie Knits

Puddlepants

Seahorse Slacks

TheMotherKnit

Wee Notions

Woollywraps

Woolsoaker

Wooly Wumpkins

Clair Coult

HELP! Wool Problem Solver

Using wool can be simple but occasionally things go wrong. Here's some helpful tips for happier wooly bottoms.

My wool is leaking! What can I do?
Don't panic! There are a few things you can try.

If you are getting damp patches on the outside of your wool nappy cover then it could be time to re-treat it with lanolin. See the How To page for instructions.

Is the nappy fastened OK? Sometimes if the snap, nippa or velcro comes undone your baby can wee out the side of the nappy straight onto the wool which will leave big wet patches.

Does the nappy fit well? If the nappy is loose around the legs and your child lays on their side wee can miss the nappy and go stright onto the wool making it wet.

Is the nappy absorbent enough? Older babies wee more than little ones and need a more absorbent nappy. Try adding a booster to the nappy or change it more often.

I've shrunk my wool! HELP!
It's easily done, but there are things you can try.

Soak the wool in a solution of warm water and hair conditioner and gently pull the wool back into shape.

Alternatively you can soak the wool in warm water and a mild soap, then lay it out on a towel, roll it up to squeeze out excess moisture, roll it back flat again and gently pull back into shape.

If that doesn't work look on the bright side, your baby's favourite doll or teddy now has a lovely new wool wrap!

I lanolised my wool and it's gone all sticky! What can I do?
Wool can feel sticky if you used too much wool cure or you used pure lanolin and it didn't disolve into the water properly. It's an easy problem to solve. Just wash your wool using a mild soap and this should get rid of the excess lanolin and stop it from feeling sticky. If you have lumps of lanolin stuck to your wool just apply a litte mild liquid soap and gently rub until the lump disappears.

My baby has developed a rash after using wool.
Some people are allergic to lanolin. If your baby suffers from a rash after using wool see medical advice from your doctor or health visitor. The rash may or may not be caused by wool but it's best to get professional advice.

Clair Coult