I spent a little time working on the bibs the other day.  I gathered all my little tools (the picture doesn't even show all the items I needed) and readied my workspace (my dining room table).  I used a cutting board (portable and self-healing), iron, ironing board, hammer, sewing machine, and patterns that aren't shown, along with the scissors, rotary cutters, water-soluble pencils, straight pins, snap setter and snaps, and thread all pictured in this photograph.  After the first bib, I realized the water-soluble pencils were unnecessary, but other than that, I used everything else I'd gotten out

I worked with just the orange backed bibs because I didn't want to have to change out bobbins in the middle of my project.  I still have orange material left so I'll probably make a few more bibs (lots of pregnant friends right now and these will make great gifts to have on hand) out of it before moving on to the next color.  I actually made five bibs, but the first one isn't pictured here because of various mistakes I made.  It is now a bib for Sophie's dolly, which she was beyond excited to receive.

To start off the project, I arranged the material wrong side out, pinned the pattern, and traced with the pencil (totally unnecessary step which I changed up later).  I removed the pattern, pinned the fabric again, and cut the bib out using the rotary cutters.  I pretty much followed the directions in the book/article mentioned in this post.  After turning the bib right side out, I pressed the bib and managed to not press the opening quite right, so when that was sewn it was off a bit.  No worries since neither Sophie nor her dolly care in the least.

When starting the second round of bibs, I was determined to find a somewhat more efficient way of making these.  I dropped the pencil and just cut with the rotary scissors around the pattern.  I cut out enough material for four bibs before starting sewing.  While at the machine, I sewed all four (had to refill the bobbin about halfway through), then turned all four, pressed all four, did the top stitch on all four, and then set snaps on all four.  I have to admit, this was much easier. 

During this second round of bibs, I cut two sets each of two different patterns.  I think I like the bib with the side snap a little better than the bib with the back snap.  The area I left open for turning was much easier to close for some reason, and there was only one major curve to deal with instead of the two curves at the back of the other bib.

My sewing skills are improving, but there are still plenty of mistakes.  Take a close enough look at the pictures and my uneven top stitching can be seen, along with the snap mistake I made on one of the bibs.  It's getting there, slowly but surely.



I plan to give these to friends and family in sets of three or so bibs for little extra gifts since they're so inexpensive to make (and so easy).  I'm already planning what colors and prints I should do next (after all the original material purchased is used up, of course). 

Reader Participation:  Other than terrycloth, can you think of any other fabrics that would work for the back of the bib?  Is there anything besides the cotton print on the front that would work well?  What type of closures do you prefer on a bib, snap or hook and loop?  Which style bib do you prefer, the side closure bib or the type that closes in the back?  Do you have pictures of your own projects you'd like to share?  Post the links here with a little description!  :)