Bibs Bibs Bibs!!!!

Im obsessed with bibs at the moment. My life currently revolves around them, choosing them, washing them, changing them...so many bibs! I have at least 80 of them, probably more. Some I never use until the pile is low, some I use the minute they are clean, some I use for going out, some I use for staying in, some are small just to catch the dribbles, some are so huge that they get in the way when Elyssa tries to feed herself. Some are plastic backed, most arent. So what do I decided to do? Make more bibs!

Crazy, I know, but all these bibs are stressing me out because I never seem to be able to find a bib that will do everything I want. Last year I adapted a bib pattern to make some dribble bibs and Im still happy with these but now I want some bibs that will cope with the food onslaught. I am so sick of having to change Elyssas entire outfit because there is pumpkin all over it and Im also sick of seeing her covered in pumpkin when I don't bother changing the entire outfit!! I went looking on Etsy and madeit.com and found some designs I liked but realistically I need at least nine, but probably twelve, of the things and at over $10 each thats just a bit crazy. So I decided to once again make my own! The beauty of this is that I can design the ultimate bib to suit a particular purpose.

I want a bib for each meal that covers Elyssa almost all over, is still a bit fitted so that it doesn't get in the way of her hands and food and that is easy to get on and off...so I drafted a pattern that I think fits all of the above. I then made nine! They aren't all finished yet, I have to put either snaps or velcro on them all yet but I have completely finished one and this is it!

The Back

It Fits!

The Ultimate Test

It Works!

I made these bibs out of old towels and material from my stash. Im thinking of going all out and buying some bamboo terry and making some really good dribble/reflux bibs. See? Im obsessed. I think it comes with having a reflux baby. Chloe hardly ever wore a bib, she never even really dribbled. Little Elyssa always has something coming out of her! Next Im going to make some sleeve covers, probably like baby legs.

More Patterns!!

After writing my sewing list yesterday my mother in law came down for a visit with a big tub of the patterns she used to use for making her kids clothes. My favourite was definitly an Enid Gilchrist sewing book, probably from about the 1950's. I was so excited that despite having a headache and it being ten o'clock I got drafting! I decided to do a bib first so it would be quick. I chose a design with a tie under the arm as well as around the neck. The best part about it all was then being able to alter the pattern to your own design as your were drawing it up. I made it a bit smaller and would probably make it even smaller still. I also made mine so the ties meet the top ties so you only have to tie it once. I didn't have any bias binding so I made mine with two layers, I used an old table cloth for the absorbant side and a nice print for the back. I made the ties out of the print as well. At the end I decided the front was boring so I put a square applique on which is probably going to end up stained with pumpkin but thats ok with me! Overall it was a good first try and filled in an hour!

Reflux, Bibs and Spew Cloths

I have the messiest baby. Whatever I put in her, alot of it comes back up. I have decided that since I constantly have to have a cloth of some sort within arms reach they may as well look pretty. Plus, if friends are giving her a cuddle its nice to be able to give them something cute to hold as well as my bub! rather than a dirty old stained bib. I found this tutorial and adapted it slightly to make the burp cloths. I cut the cloth nappies into quarters so they are a more manageable size. I also used old bunny rugs from the op shop to make them look pretty. Im also working on some small dribble bibs. I don't want bibs that will fall over her face or get in the way of her hands. I just traced a bib, altered it so it didn't hang as low, cut out two pieces of material from scraps in my stash and sewed them together, turned it out and top stitched around the edge. I have put ribbon on them as a temporary solution until I can buy some hook and loop.