Orchid Longies

Ok, so I might have a bit of pride over these - but really, aren't they the most adorable longies you've ever seen? And while these are longies, intended to be used over a cloth diaper, they would also make a great baby gift for a baby girl.



It was a little tough to lay the patterns out just right, but I think the end product is nice. I hee-hawed over how to finish the hemlines as well...and as I was contemplating putting a rolled hem on, my daughter came over and I noticed the lettuce edges on her shirt - ah hah! I set my machine to a tight satin stitch, stretched the wool as I sewn, and went over it a total of three times.

I have to give credit to my dear sweet mom, who knows how I love to sew wool into longies. When she saw two lady's shrugs that were 100% wool and for a pretty reasonable price, she purchased them for me. On the shoulder of each shrug were these pretty flowers. I was so delighted when she gave them to me. I almost hated to cut them up, but then again, I could envision the longies they would make. I am more than happy with how nice they turned out.


I was able to get 2 more pair of longies out of these shrugs, but they are plain, with no flowers. I have the materials on hand to needle felt, and since I've been wanting to do that, I think I'll give it a go. Since the red and burgundy are pretty girly colors, I'm thinking of felting hearts onto them...what do you think?

Blessings,
Hope

Longies

In regards to cloth diapers, wool has many uses. Longies are pants made traditionally from wool sweaters. Wool soakers are knitted or sewn from wool sweaters as well. A Wool Diaper Cover, or Wool Wrap as I like to call them, is made from either a sweater or wool interlock. When used with cloth diapers, wool makes an excellent 'waterproof' barrier. Wool can absorb up to 30% of it's weight in moisture while also 'repelling' the moisture. It is a property known as hygroscopic property.


When wool items are lanolinized, they have been soaked in a solution of water and lanolin. Lanolin is the natural oil or fat secreted by sheep's skin glands. Lanolin also has water-repellent properties. So when you add lanolin to a wool diaper cover, or longies, you have further ensured no moisture will escape the diaper beneath.



While wool soakers, covers, or longies can by made using only 80% wool, I prefer to use 100% wool articles. This ensures the wool items I make are of the best functioning quality.

Cloth Diaper users are already contributing greatly to the reduction of trash created in our world. When a family uses a recycled wool item for their child, they are increasing the trash reducing benefits since that wool item was already an unwanted clothing article.