FOE is Fold Over Elastic. You use it around the outside of the whole nappy, stretching it where you want the nappy elasticated. It serves as elastic around the legs and waist, and a soft binding everywhere else. It makes for a nice looking finish.

Lastin is a clear elastic which you sew in at the legs and waist, then turn the nappy in the other way - this is the "stitch and turn" technique.

So whether you use FOE or Lastin as the elastic for your nappies is a matter of personal preference, in that the nappies will function in the same way regardless of which you choose. Both are listed on our website in the Notions/Elastics section for sale by the metre.

The advantage of lastin is that your stitching is hidden - you sew it only where you need the nappy elasticated, and then turn the whole thing in the other way and do not see your stitching. For this reason many beginners prefer to start with the lastin kit.

One other thing to remember is sewing FOE on the outside means you are not using up the seam allowance, which is provided for in most patterns. So an FOE nappy will turn out a size larger than a lastin nappy made with the same pattern.

You will find both photos of nappies made with lastin, and nappies made with FOE, in our customers photo gallery.