What's the hardest part of a new design for you?

[CraftyMommaOf2]

I have the worst time getting the right size opening for the legs. That takes me the longest. So far I've done each soaker differently...I really need to stick with one basic design for soakers, shorts, pants, etc. Ugh, so wishy washy lately! lol... Any tips on how to make it not so complicated with the legs? I think I make it harder than it has to be, but I am trying really hard to make sure I don't do anything similar to another mama. Def don't wanna seem like I'm snatching someone's pattern, KWIM? Super sorry for the ramble!!!

:love

[pmcgary]

Where are you placing the leg opening for your soaker? I don't know if I will be of any help as that is kind of the same issue I have. I can get a soaker for my dd but that is just one size and one lean baby.

I do find for my dd I get a better fit with teh ones with the legs more at the bottom than at the front of the soaker - if that makes any sense...the LTK soaker is one where legs are at the "bottom"

[CraftyMommaOf2]

My legs are more to the front and side, but that makes it hard to get a small enough crotch width, KWIM? It's much too late...lol.

[pageta]

Interesting... We get the best fit if the legs are at the front of the soaker, similar to Mosaic Moon. I love the LTK pattern, but I had to do so much adjusting to that thing to get it to work - I think it took 4 soakers for me to finally get one that fit right. We use Kisslauvs which are bikini cut in front and tend to have more bulk in back. I had to add stitches in the back after the ribbing, do twice as many short rows, and then when I split for the legs (at the point where she says to do it for the pattern size 2 sizes smaller than I'm making), I only decrease 2 sts (not 4) on each row and then it works for us. Kisslauvs are more like a triangle in back where most diapers are more like a T so the soaker wasn't making it to the top of the diaper in back nor was it covering the diaper around the legs in back. He also has very chunky thighs which is why I split for the legs sooner.

As for the moral of the story...if I were designing a pattern, I would make it to fit my kid and just assume that there are other kids out there who have the same fit issues that we have. Not all soakers are going to fit all kids. Some do better with the LTK, some do better with Mosaic Moon. You can't be all things to all people - you have to find your niche. So make them however you want. As long as you can make the legs bigger or smaller (fat thighs vs chicken legs), you should be just fine.

On a side note, I think those of us who design things expect much more in fit than we do in things we purchase. If your soakers are cute, people will buy them even if they aren't a perfect fit. I sew also, and when I make things for myself, I'll spend hours agonizing over getting the perfect fit, but when I go to the store and buy the same item, they always have those same fit problems that I try to avoid when I sew.

[pmcgary]

Getting the leg openings and crotch quite right is a trick. My dd is lean and it seems many of her soakers are not only big in the openings (I tend to use a tighter rib around the leg on hers than I would have for my ds for example ) BUT also that crotch is sooo wide that it looks uncomfortable.

It would seem to me that there should be some sort of "formula" or ratio of crotch width to leg size....but if there is someone is keeping it a secret...and maybe kids' size and diaper style just make it impractical to figure such a thing.

From a design standpoint I think getting one style that works and then getting several sizes covering a range is probably what works best.

And I agree that we may be more picky than anyone buying the soaker.

[CraftyMommaOf2]

Here's my leg placement...this is a tester for a little girl. Does it make more sense to see it than to try to understand my babbling? :D

ETA: the link!!!! sheesh....

http://woolywonder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=593#593

[pageta]

I looked at those pictures and your legs are way out on the side. I think a 55/45% with the lesser amount being in front is a good rule of thumb. I sew also, and pants always have a bit more fabric in back than in front. Don't know if that helps...

[littleturtlemama]

get your hands on a copy of Maggi righetti's "sweater design in plain english." It will help tremendously in figuring out those ratios :) Even though it's geared primarily to sweaters, LOL, it really explains a lot of the nitty gritty design stuff that once you figure out, you'll be able to come up with pretty accurate ratios for just about anything :)

Oh, and my best tip of the day: Once you do find the perfect leg placement and number of stitches, WRITE IT DOWN!!! You will not remember, and when you go to duplicate it, you will be very sad that you've got to start from scratch cause you can't remember how many stitches it was, LOL. Ask me how is Know :roll:

[CraftyMommaOf2]

Just got the feedback from the mama...she does love it. The babe wore it overnite twice and was completely dry outside :) She said her diaper was soaked but none came out. The legs work great because of the chubbiness :LOL I will admit, I was sweating about this one :oops:

[pageta]

That's good to hear. I think they usually fit better than we expect them to because yarn is so stretchy and flexible - it just goes where it needs to be. I work so hard to design the perfect soaker, and except for issues with rise, they all fit about the same.

[stellaria]

I always try to figure out the way I'm going to do something mathematically, sometimes using graph paper (I use a graph paper generator so I can make it to gauge) before I do my experimenting. Any way you could try that? Work it out on paper first?

[geowalkmama]

get your hands on a copy of Maggi righetti's "sweater design in plain english." It will help tremendously in figuring out those ratios :) Even though it's geared primarily to sweaters, LOL, it really explains a lot of the nitty gritty design stuff that once you figure out, you'll be able to come up with pretty accurate ratios for just about anything :) :roll:

Thanks I am going to look for this now!! I can do sweaters it is the pants I fear :eek