Tag: baby

how to make sew and no-sew bibs

April 29th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win the center bib! Your chances are uh…crazy good.

Sometimes I get completely freaked about how quickly time flies. Apparently it’s been nearly five months since I sewed these reversible bibs. Huh!?! And apparently I haven’t touched my sewing machine in two months before today. Anyway.

Sewing reversible baby bibs is a super easy, quick project that is perfect for new sewers or otherwise. I promise you: you can do this! And if you feel that you cannot, or don’t want to, first I’ll show you my no-sew version.

“Kimberly – did you just tie a British flag around Baby’s neck and call it good?” Um yeah. Pretty much. I actually tie all sorts of cloth around his neck as a make-shift bib: tea towels are my favorite, followed my large napkins (I think that’s what the flag is – I found it at ReRun for $1) and finally hand towels. Towels are awesome up to a certain point and then you’ll need to use a clothespin or clip to make it fit. Free and easy!

The next version I’ll show you is the simple sewn version, which is reversible! My mom actually drafted this pattern and sewed up several for her home. We started using them at six months and they still fit at 20 months; Kendra’s son is over three and it fits! So if you make this bib, you won’t need any other bib. Sweet.

Materials:

  • Large paper or newsprint (for pattern)
  • Fabric (an old bath towel and/or flannel cloth from pajamas or sheets works great)
  • Thread to match, or contrast if you’re confident
  • Hook and loop tape (Velcro)
  • Chopstick or point turner
  • Pins

1. Draw the bib shape on your large paper or newsprint and cut out (see note at bottom of post for dimensions). Fold over fabric and lay the pattern over it, with the straight edge on the fold. Pin the pattern in place and cut. I think I was able to get seven bibs out of a single bath towel!

2. I like to sew-on the Velcro next, though you could do this last instead. I eyeball the placement; it’s about 1/2″ from the tab end, centered. Sew very close to the edge of the Velcro, all the way around, and then zig-zag the heck out of it down the center using a wider stitch width. Repeat on reverse side of bib back.

3. With right sides together, sew 1/2″ from the edge all around, leaving a 3″ opening on one side. Press to meld the stitches.

4. Trim the seam allowance to 3/8″ around the inside and outside edges. Now clip the inside curved edges.

5. Notch the outside curves.

6. Press the 3″ opening to the outside, flush with the sewn seam allowance.

7. Turn the bib right side out and using a chopstick or point turner, push out the corners and flatten the notches. Press.

8. Topstitch (sew 1/8″ from edge) all the way around the bib. Press.

Now mangia in that new bib!

I would be so happy to know if you make these. Again, you could simply win a finished one here! And if you’ve made bibs before, we’d love to read any tips or tricks you might have; be sure to read mine below. Happy Sewing!

Notes:

Bib Pattern Dimensions  – important – the pattern is a half-bib shape as it is cut on the fold! (refer to step #1 above for visual)

  • Length: 14 7/8″
  • Width: 6 3/8″
  • Tab Ends: 1 3/8″
  • Widest Point of Tabs: 2 1/2″
  • From center of neck hole to outside edge: 4 3/8″

If you’d like me to make this pattern downloadable, please leave me a comment.

Fabric Prep – if you’ll be washing and/or drying your bibs on hot, be sure to prep the fabric this way. Otherwise they will bunch and shrink.

Velcro vs. Snaps – I use Velcro so the bib is easily adjustable which is paramount to making this bib last from baby to toddlerhood. Alternatively, you could use snaps, but you’ll need a row of several snaps to keep it adjustable. Remember to stick the Velcro together before tossing the bib in the wash; this will prevent it from snagging on things.

Fabric – This bib is reversible, so go nuts! Personally, I like using an old towel for the backing as it’s super absorbent and doubles as a towel for meal clean-up. I use flannel for the front because it’s soft, absorbent and a food magnet. The printed flannels used for this post are from Joann’s.

Scissors – If you use a towel, I recommend using craft scissors rather than your nice sewing scissors, otherwise they’ll get dull super quick.

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a note and a circus elephant

August 21st, 2010 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

So…I’m still around! We recently got back from a trip to the coast (Florence, Oregon in case you were wondering – lots of incredible farm fresh food, sea air, embroidering, Trivial Pursuit, some sand boarding, great family fun time!) and I’ve been in crunch mode gearing up for Baby’s first birthday*. I’ve been so immersed in glue and newspaper and scissors flying at every spare moment I have (which is barely any with a teething/*this close* to walking babe). I started out with these grand plans in my head, but as the party is almost here, I have to get real. Somehow I don’t think I’ll have time to replace our backyard with a giant lake, willow trees and a sailboat. Rats. Or hand make all of the 10,000 presents I had planned. Double rats. I promise to take pictures of the big day, as I have created quite a lot…at least it feels that way. I’m particularly happy that I’ve managed to use a lot of re-purposed materials. Cheap (or in some instances free!) and eco-friendly. In the interim, I’ll show you something else that I have been working on:

I am loosely participating in Amy’s newest Tie One On circus apron theme. I’ve selected fabric, a pattern and cut it all out. I’ve embroidered these lovely elephants for the pockets (free, fabulous pattern from So September) and my next step is to sew.it.all.together. This week at sewing class was the first time we actually started sewing. Like, on fabric, real fabric, with the intention of creating a bathrobe. I’m completely intimidated by clearing off enough space and sewing the apron by myself, in my home…for whatever reason I feel like I’ll need a huge chunk of uninterrupted time to concentrate and swear and stuff of that nature, and that’s just not realistic. Submissions are due by September 5; still time to participate if you’re up for the challange. We’ll see if I make it.

* If you’ve read this far, dang, thanks. Here’s some more blathering: this summer has been freaking weird. As soon as the weather changed and the air conditioner flicked on, I was bombarded with all of these smells and memories of last summer. That long, miserably hot, incredibly bizarre, intense summer. Honestly, this summer I almost felt pregnant again, as if re-living Summer 2009. I’ve been hormonal and nostalgic and sleep deprived, still sleep deprived. This year. Wow. This long, but not at all long, crazy, joyful, painful, hard, awesome, freaking ohmygod year. I could write a novel, but I’ll stop here. I just freaking love my baby love so freaking fiercely. I cannot believe he’ll be ONE tomorrow. One. *sigh*

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summer salads

June 30th, 2010 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

And just like that, it’s summer. Thank GOD! I was starting to fear blue skies and high temps would pass us by.

So while I love firing up the grill and cooking up slabs of meaty charbroiled goodness, I’ve been trying to steer away from meat lately mainly due to reading this, this and this (I’m not sure how I feel about it all yet, so that’s a topic for a different day). I just adore side salads, enough to make a whole meal out of it, so that’s just what I did! This was our first meal dining al fresco this year:

I made three to be exact, and I hope you’ll enjoy one or all of these for the upcoming holiday.

1. The dish in the yellow bowl is a Three-Bean Salad with Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette. Oooh baby was it delicious! I would never typically choose this at a salad bar, having experienced this type of salad at an Izzy’s when I was a wee lass. It was this lukewarm, congealed, canned bean disaster. Sick. This salad was anything but. Fresh and tangy and delightful. Well, I suppose it was sick if you use it in this sense. I added a bit of fresh thyme and kale (omitted watercress) from my garden and dried tarragon in lieu of fresh. I also didn’t have any chives as I cut them all the day before (and left them on the deck overnight – grr!), but I think it would have given the salad more of a “bite” and been even more amazing.

2. The dish in the red bowl is a Double Cabbage Slaw. First off, I abhor the word “slaw” and because of that, I tend to shy away from coleslaw altogether. After reading Smitten Kitchen for a few months now, and witnessing her love of it, I decided I would give it another whirl. Slaw is damn good! This couldn’t have come together any faster or easier and it had this sweet yet spicy kick. I used plain whole milk yogurt instead of non-fat. I rolled some up in a whole wheat tortilla with melted cheddar cheese for lunch, and dinner and dinner again the next night. Amazing!

3. The dish in the green bowl is a Cucumber-Mint Berry Salad. This was hands down our favorite of the three. Because our dill is growing like a weed (heh heh), I’m going to make this cucumber salad next, thanks to Everybody Likes Sandwiches. I used plain whole milk yogurt instead of plain soy. I halved the recipe and added about one ounce, perhaps two of this amazingly creamy homestead feta. I highly recommend you do the same!

All three complemented one another beautifully and we have loads of leftovers for lunches and dinner. Like the pretty pink drinks? It’s a delightfully bubbly brew of rhubarb soda, which I recently made. The gorgeous straws can be purchased here if you’re local, and here if you’re not. Want another side salad idea for the upcoming holiday? Try this Hannibal Lector approved dish. Mangia!

P.S. – Notice the little dish that held a mini wooden spoon, scoop of applesauce and a sliced avocado? That was Baby’s supper and the avocado was his first experience with finger foods.

Jury’s out on what he thought.

But he sure liked playing peek-a-boo with Daddy after dinner.

Have a Happy Fourth!

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ew to the ick

May 20th, 2010 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Last week I spent several back breaking hours sowing seeds and planting all of my surviving transplants. My sister and brother-in-law, who had a lot of success last year with their garden (using methods gleaned from Mel and Patti), swear by including a trowel full of compost with each transplant and adding steer manure to their soil (before planting). Having done this last year myself using only plant-based compost, I can attest to the fact that adding compost while transplanting and sowing will make your plants grow all crazy big and bountiful…but I hadn’t yet tried adding steer manure. At first I thought “poop? like, from a giant mammal? ew to the ick.” Having misinterpreted my sister, I scooped that manure straight into the ground with every planting and every seed sowed. I also sprinkled it around every plant before giving it all a final water.

So now, sadly, my plants are probably all going to BURN* UP AND DIE! Why is this tragically so? Manure generates heat as it decomposes. It can even spontaneously ignite when stored in large piles. Hello!?! I already knew this and thought it a weird gardening trick even as I was packing that poop straight into the earth, and yet I stupidly, foolishly continued. All that said, please don’t be scared off from the poo. There is definitely something to be said about the manure. I wish I would have taken a before and after because my radishes are out of control huge…but they’re probably going to burst into flames and catch our fence on fire and burn down the neighborhood. Let’s enjoy the beauty while it lasts:

I planted a three sisters planting of corn, beans and squash. I also planted zucchini, cucumber, chives, garlic, broccoli, tomatoes, parsley, artichokes, oh hell, I can’t remember what else. Lots of veggies. I’m going on a recon mission later today to try to mix that manure around underground as well as above to break it up a bit. I’m crossing my fingers and am hopeful that all is not lost.

Growing food is cool, even when mistakes are made. Last year I learned these lessons, and I’m going to add “always read package instructions and dilute that poo!” into my bag of tricks as well. If you think you can’t because you only have a small space, consider square foot gardening as it allows you to grow a significant amount of food in a small space – a two by two garden box on a stoop or balcony is probably all you need. You could also grow your food in containers (that’s where all of my herbs are currently living). Here’s a spiffy little post about growing radishes that I recently stumbled upon. Happy planting!

PS – in other totally cool, yet entirely random news, yesterday I made more diy baby wipes so I figure each half roll of paper towels lasts about three weeks, so we’re spending less than a dollar per month on baby wipes. Not bad.

*Update – so the amount of steer manure in my garden isn’t actually enough to get so hot that it will literally burn from heat. That’s like, if you had a ginormously huge pile. The burn that may result in my garden will be a chemical burn. I’m paraphrasing here, but my sister explained it by likening it to vitamins. Taking one multi is good, but you would get sick and may die if you took an entire bottle.

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time to make the donuts!

April 27th, 2010 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

While it’d be fun to craft a post about frying little orbs of dough, I don’t actually know how to do this, and if I did, why risk third degree burns when the holy grail of donuts exists in two handy locations? Seriously though, it’s actually time to make more butt wipes because I’m almost out. “Huh?” you may inquire. “Whaa–?” I’m talking about DIY baby wipes people, and there are scads of reasons to make them even if you don’t have a soft whittle baby bum to wipe.

Suggestions include*:

  1. hand wipes for everyday, on-the-go uses
  2. body wipes for after gym, camping, mid-day refresh, etc.
  3. make-up remover facial wipes
  4. pet wipes for fur or messes
  5. disinfectant cleaning wipes**

These wipes seriously take about five minutes to make:

  • First, cut a roll of regular-sized Viva paper towels in half – these must be Viva; they truly are soft and strong like cloth! Here’s a printable coupon.

  • Next, mix a solution of two cups boiled or distilled water, one tablespoon oil (I prefer grapeseed, jojoba or olive oil) and two tablespoons of baby wash or suds of your choice. If using a concentrated soap such as California Baby or Dr. Bronner’s, one tablespoon will suffice.

  • Swirl it all together and then dump the solution over the roll, really saturating the hell out of it. Let the mixture soak into the roll for a few minutes before sliding the cardboard roll out. If it’s at all difficult, wait a bit longer. Thread the center wipe through the top of the container and…

Ta da! Mission accomplished!

Variations – the possibilities are endless!

  • antimicrobial essential oils – use two drops for baby wipes (I like calming lavender), five drops for face, up to 15 for body, and a 1/4 teaspoon for cleaning. NEVER use essential oils on pets as they can be toxic.
  • grapefruit seed extract for its anti-fungal properties – use same quantities as above
  • 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar – antifungal/antibacterial
  • 1/4 cup aloe vera gel – heals, soothes and moisturizes
  • replace the oil with an infused oil (by herbs, flowers, bark or roots) Huh? This book and this book are great resources for how-tos.
  • store wipes in the fridge for a seriously refreshing experience

* While it’s always best for the environment and your skin to use cloth towels and wipes, sometimes you need the convenience of disposables. Making your own saves a LOT of moola, reduces packaging waste and while paper towels are bleached, you’re in complete control of what goes into the solution. If you use 100% cloth all the time (if so, my hat is off to you!), whip up a batch of solution, pour into a jar or spray bottle and wet the cloths before wiping. Stellar fabric choices for DIY baby wipes include flannel, sherpa or hemp fleece. Why not re-purpose an old pair of jammies, towel or pillowcase?

** the solution for disinfectant cleaning wipes is a bit different than that for a bum:

  • 1 3/4 cups warm water
  • 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon liquid detergent or soap (I use Seventh Generation dish liquid)
  • up to 1/4 teaspoon antibacterial essential oils of your choice. Good combos include: rosemary, peppermint and a dash of sage, or lavender and lemon with a dash of rosemary or peppermint.

Update: I feel it important to mention that some sources claim lavender and/or tea tree oil may not be good to use on baby boys. I’ve read the research and have chosen to use both EO’s in moderation with my child; I encourage you take the time to research it and come to your own conclusion.

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