Behind the scenes

While it may look like all is quiet at fishnoodles (no stocking last week), there's actually a lot going on behind the scenes. One thing is custom stash orders of Solo Flyers. Here's a whole bunch ready to pack and ship. I've now added the custom stash info and ordering page to the store.

Another thing has been my futile quest for a new sort of one size fitted. As I mentioned way back in August, I think it was, I was developing a new type of fitted. Well...that was overly optimistic. What seemed absolutely brilliant in the dead of night (lying awake in bed) turned out to be a dud in the harsh scrutiny of daylight (testing on actual babies). I don't have anyone in diapers at home anymore, so my team of testers rose to the occasion. We tried a number of variations on my new idea, and the diaper was pretty good on younger babies that don't move much. With active toddlers, forget it, the diaper just came loose. So, now several months later, I've abandoned this concept. Maybe I'll bring it back at some point if I have another inspiration (you'll notice I've carefully not mentioned exactly what it is).

In the meantime, I've had a stack of diapers cut out and ready to sew, hogging up part of my main worktable for months. All that testing did give me good fit information, and so I finally sewed up the fitteds and did a fold-to-fit snap front panel. These are nice, squishy bamboo diapers, and I know they fit various sizes of babies well. I'm giving away a free boyish one this week, and there will be a freebie girly one next week.


I also had some Snapper covers prepped and ready to sew, and rather than keep shifting those around my work space week after week, I went ahead and finished them too. Wrapper (side snap cover) mamas, I do apologize. I've been sold out of those for a couple weeks now. Wrappers will be coming soon, I swear!

Solo Flyers have been very popular lately too - just about sold out on them - so more will be coming over the next couple of weeks. Whew! That's about it.

See? It really is busy over here!

Strange numbers of print solo flyers

Well, speaking of cutting print PUL carefully, as I mentioned last week, it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes my brain gets the best of me.

I first noticed this back in kindergarten, where I had trouble with "left" and "right". My mind would just switch them on me. No one every talked to me about dyslexia in school, but over the years I've learned to double and triple check myself when balancing the checkbook or recording inventory.

Still, sometimes I mess up. Just recently I had to notify the same customer - on two occasions - that I had mis-stocked one of the items in her order and it was not actually available. Sigh. So embarrassing!

Back to the print PUL: Last week, I *meant* to cut 1 small, 3 medium, and 3 large from each of my prints. Somehow the inners and outers didn't match up when sewing...and I discovered that I cut 2 medium and 4 large from each print. I wish I understood just how that happens in my head. I went back and cut the matching inners, and that's what we've got this week. If you're looking for large, great! Medium, better snag your print. Small, sorry about that.
Once, as a college student driving home, I could have sworn I took the westbound exit. I drove at least 45 minutes before I figured out I was heading east. It's amazing I've survived this far.
Oh...and if you've read this far, then you deserve to know that I'm offering a large olive solo flyer free for shipping this week. Come on over and put your name in between noon Friday and noon Sunday.

Free stuff for newborns

Bitty Fluff congo, (all newborn all the time) which I am a member of, is doing a whole bunch of free for shipping drawings on Friday October 9 as part of our regular bi-weekly stocking. If you know of an expectant or new mama, send her on over to put in a few entries. I'm offering a bamboo velour prefold with quilted zorb center core - and this is a one size up to an 18" rise. So no matter the age of your little one, feel free to come on over and put your name in.
I was aiming to stock print solo flyers at fishnoodles this week but that's not going to happen until next Friday. I am working on a huge 33 diaper stash for twins! (Why the odd number? She's already got 1 diaper at home :) While it's true that I don't do customs for covers, I will do customs for 10 or more solid color solo flyers. For mamas who have tried them and want a complete stash, they can choose PUL and snap colors for each diaper. Not for prints though - the print PUL is still so hard to find and expensive that I need to cut it carefully so I can offer as many different items and sizes as possible in the prints.
If you're interested in the solo flyer custom stash, just email me to set up your order.

New Print Covers Friday

Just a quick heads up to let you know I've got four new prints stocking at fishnoodles Friday October 2 at noon. These are all Snapper diaper covers in poly PUL, for no wicking.

Pink Chocolate Hearts

Wild Cat


Thing One Thing Two


Retro Owls

I'm also in the process of reconfiguring the store a bit. I liked the idea of grouping items into one listing - fewer clicks to actually see the items. However, it has gotten too hard to manage all the sold out items. I've gotten myself confused a couple of times now. So the storefront is a little ugly at the moment but I'll work on that. Everything is still there, it just looks different when you arrive!

What's up this week

At fishnoodles this week I've been working on stock for my brick-and-mortar retailer. I've also been working on an exciting new project - a one size, snapping, bamboo, turned-and-topstiched fitted. What's so new about that, you say?
Well, it's all about the closure. I've developed a new way to have a snapping diaper that doesn't drown baby in zillions of snaps.
Here's the backstory: about a year ago, I developed a multi-size fitted, but wasn't fond of applying 33 snaps to each diaper - a typical amount for any one-size snapping fitted. I shelved that pattern, though the diaper fit well and had good reviews. But I still wanted to have a bamboo fitted. Over the summer I brought back a closure-free version of that pattern. It's a fine diaper - but it does leave one dealing with pins and snappis. For months I've been thinking there's got to be a better way.
A couple weeks ago I had one of those aha! moments. I think you're going to find this new idea intriguing, maybe even tempting enough to try.
I've got samples out to testers and am working on tweaking the concept. I can't wait to reveal it when it's ready!

Solo Flyer solids

Up this week are some new Solo Flyers in a great fall palette of burgundy, olive, deep purple and pink. Also, just two in chocolate. Would have liked to offer more but we are sold out of that particular color for now. Check it out at fishnoodles this Friday the 18th at noon. If you could use a medium-long snapper cover now or in the near future, put your name in for another free for shipping drawing!

Hot off the press!

The snap press, that is. New solid color diaper covers in rich fall colors. There's a little sampling here, more in the store. Stocking Friday Sept 11th at noon, with lots of variety, but as usual, mostly one in each colorway per size. If you've got a size medium LO, be sure an enter the FFS drawing for a free Pumpkin Pie diaper cover too.