Do overalls fit over cloth nappies?

Yes, but only if they're cut for it. Most overalls are drafted to fit over a disposable nappy, which is thinner than cloth. A cloth-friendly pair needs more room through the seat and thigh from the start, not just a size up.

What actually matters for cloth nappy fit

A bigger size doesn't solve the problem on its own. If the rise and thigh are still cut for a slim disposable fit, going up a size just makes everything else baggy while the seat still compresses the nappy. What matters is:

• Room through the seat and thigh, not just overall room 
• A longer rise that sits comfortably over and around a bulkier nappy without pulling.
• A tapered waist, so the extra room doesn't mean a baggy, gaping fit all over.
• Fasteners strong enough to stay closed through movement, not just closed at rest.

In sizes 1 and 2, I use metal snaps rather than the cheaper plastic poppers that tend to pop open with movement. The rise is longer than a standard overalls pattern, and the hip and thigh circumference is wider, so there's genuine room for a bulkier nappy rather than a squeeze. The waist is tapered despite the extra room through the seat, so baby stays covered, warm, and the fit doesn't gape. The hem is tapered too, which means it can be rolled up and stays rolled, then let down again as your baby gets taller.

Why I designed mine this way

I made this a deliberate part of the pattern, not an afterthought. As a new mum, I bought vintage overalls for my own babies, only to find they were too tight to wear over cloth nappies. They caused compression leaks and restricted movement. I'm a trained fashion designer and pattern maker, so rather than keep working around it, I developed my own pattern from scratch to fix the problem properly. Metal snaps and a genuinely wider seat aren't decorative choices, even though they get a tonne of compliments because they are as cute as they are functional! They're there because the alternative doesn't hold up, and I'd already lived through why.

Built from pre-consumer waste denim, made in regional Victoria

Every pair is cut from pre-consumer waste denim, and made by hand in my studio in regional Victoria. Unisex by design, so the same pair works across siblings or gets handed down without needing to match a gender.