Wednesday 6 October 2010

Tutorial: Dribble Bib (aka Bibble)

It seems that the height of bib fashion (who knew there was such a thing as bib fashion?!) is currently a triangular neckerchief with a popper fastening, and which snuggles beneath the chin to catch the dribble that flows from teething babies/toddlers.


You can find oodles of these dribble catchers in the shops, including some very fancy ones with waterproof innards and velour layers, although they do cost anything up to £8 each! But they are a doddle to make from recycled/upcycled fabrics and here's a short tute to prove it.


You will need:
  1. some thin card to make a template
  2. some absorbent fabric for the backing (e.g. terry, towelling or fleece)
  3. some fabric for the top (e.g. t-shirt material, dress fabric)
  4. press stud or fastener
  5. scissors/thread/needle

1. Using an old bib as a guide for neck length, make a template for the bib using the card. You will need to draw a right angle triangle with a long edge that corresponds to your old bib (in my case, measuring approx 40cm/15").





 2. Use the template to cut backing material. Here I am using a well used bamboo terry square.


3. Use the template to cut the fabric for the top of the bib. Here I am using a plain (but rather bright!) t-shirt...


4. Next stitch the two layers of fabric together. Because I am not a very accomplished sewer, I simply topstitch about 1/4" from the edge, leaving the edges raw. Alternatively you could zigzag or overlock the raw edges together OR sew together with right sides facing (leaving a short gap) and then turn right sides out and finish by top stitching. If you are making these as a gift, then you might also consider finishing with bias tape to make them really neat.



5. Add your fastener/popper at the appropriate places. Some of the commercial bibs have two poppers so that length can be adjusted.



6. Add bib to baby and smile.



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