How to replace the elastic in your pocket diapers

This picture tutorial features a bumGenius pocket diaper that I bought at a consignment store. The elastic was in need of replacing after only a couple washes but it was still nice not to pay full price! Cottonbabies sells a “Refresher Kit” which includes replacement elastic, velcro replacement and laundry tab replacements. I bought one of these kits at a local cloth diaper store and decided to replace the elastic in the legs of my well loved diaper.

Stretched out elastic on the left, new elastic on the right side.

First, open the diaper and cut a small slit at the very top and bottom where the elastic begins and ends in the leg gussets.

Pull out the old elastic and cut it as close to the attachment point as possible.

Decide where you want to attach the new elastic to. For me, it worked well to sew the new elastic to the surged edge of the PUL as high as possible inside the slit I cut. Sewing by hand is best for a job as small and intricate as this.

Stitching the elastic to the surged edge of PUL inside the cut I made to remove the elastic.

Pull the old elastic completely out and cut near it’s attachment. Attach a safety pin to the unattached side of the elastic and feed it through the leg gusset and out the slit you cut at the other end.

Sew this end of the elastic just as you did at the other end.

Stitch the slit you cut closed. TADA! New and improved fit around baby’s legs!

Arrows point to stitched slits that were cut previously to make repairs.

This is a simple repair that you shouldn’t let intimidate you. Get all the life you can out of those diapers! And if you don’t want to make the repairs, donate them and let them know that they will need to replace the elastic. Many modern diapers can last well through 3 children if they are taken care of properly and mended when they need it! I hope this tutorial helps!