How To Make A Cute Toddler's Bib While Practicing Beginning Sewing Stitches Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of How To Make A Cute Toddler's Bib - where it will be finished! Like I said in the other hub, this is a larger bib that covers more of the little one's clothes so that they can make a playful mess and hopefully won't get any of it on their clothes.

The first thing that needs to be done now is to baste the bib together. The basting stitch is a temporary stitch which only holds the material together until it is sewed together permanently by a sewing machine or a tight straight stitch by hand. After the permanent stitches are in place, the basting stitches are then removed. The basting stitch is one of the first stitches which needs to be learned in sewing. It is a straight stitch which is a longer than a regular stitch and has a wider space in between stitches.

Start by cutting a piece of thread, (I always make the thread the length of my arm) and knotting it at the end. I'll teach you how to do a back stitch instead of knotting the thread at the end a little bit later. Start by inserting the needle from under the bib and pulling it through the material, pulling it all the way up. Make your seam allowance a little over 1/4 inch. After the needle is pulled up leave a small space and insert the needle from the top of the material right in front of the first stitch and pull it through the bottom all the way down. Repeat this process all around the bib.(figures 1 and 2).

When you've sewn around the bib and reached the first stitch, here is where you will do the back stitch. The back stitch is a securing stitch. Just go backwards one stitch inserting the needle into the material from the top and pulling it down, repeat this about three times in the same stitch, then cut the thread. After you've basted around the bib, take out the straight pins.

Now is when you will sew the bib on the sewing machine. Using the straight stitch, sew leaving about a 2 inch space for turning the bib. At the beginning of sewing with the machine, reverse a few stitches for security at the beginning of stitching and do the same at the end, reverse to secure the stitches. After stitching with your sewing machine, remove the basting stitches. (figure 3).

Turn your bib right side out and iron. (figures 4 & 5).The 2 inch space that is opened will be secured with a slip stitch which is another basic stitch for sewing. Again, take some thread about the length of your arm and knot at the end or you can try securing with the back stitch. Make sure the material is in the proper position for securing, then insert the needle in one side, only taking up a very small part of the fabric, then insert in the other side and pull (make sure your thread is already secured in the material by knotting the end or using the back stitch a few times). Again insert the needle in one side, only taking up a small piece of material, then the other side and pull. Repeat this until the opening is secured, Do the back stitch at the last stitch, then cut the thread.(figure 6).

Now is the time to add the rickrack for embellishment. Measure the area which goes around the neck and add two inches to that. Pin your rick rack around the neck edge making sure to lap an inch of rick rack over on either side of the back of the bib. Now your going to do the straight stitch to secure the rickrack to the bib.This is where a thimble will come in handy, I use the thimble comfortable on my third finger to push the needle through the material.(figure 7)

To secure the rickrack onto the bib with the straight stitch, take a piece of thread the length of your arm, you can knot the end or do the back stitch. Insert the needle from under the bib and through the bib and rick rack. Now insert the needle from the top of the bib down right next to the stitch. Don't leave a space in between like you did for the basting stitch. The straight stitch is a permanent stitch. My mother used to make clothes for my oldest sister by hand using this stitch, she didn't have a sewing machine then! (figure 8)

After the rickrack is secured, the velcro fastener will need to be applied. There are several types of velcro fasteners to choose from, There are little round ones, square ones and there is a roll of velcro where you cut off the size needed. Pin the velcro in place to the back of the bib, the smooth side on one and the rough side on the other. Try to place the smooth side on the upper side so it won't scratch the toddler. Sew the velcro on using the straight stitch going all around it and securing tightly.(figure 9)

There you have it. You can vary the design of this bib by changing the shape of the pattern or adding different types of embellishment or none at all. Just have fun making this as a gift for your little one or for a busy Mom, I guarantee you she will appreciate it!

Parts one and two of this project can be viewed at the links below. Take Care!