Bibs and a Giveaway!

You can never have too many bibs. Especially not when you have two boys! I love this (free!) pattern from Nicole Mallalieu.

I have a small basket of bibs that I have been binding one at a time as I get the chance, some with home-made bias, and some with shop bought.
That's Noah's hand there. It's really tricky to take photos with a couple of toddlers running around! It's even trickier to take pictures of toddlers - they never seem to sit still! Such a serious face!

I have been very lucky lately and have won some wonderful things reading other people's blogs, and I have decided that it is time to share the love. If you would like to win a bib like the ones in the picture, comment on this post. Tell me if you want a girl bib or a boy bib. If you post on your blog and include a link to this post, I will give you an extra entry. Followers get an extra entry too.


This giveaway has ended and the winner has been announced.
Thanks everybody for your lovely comments!

Tuesday Tips, Tools, & Tutorials

Bias Binding

I was first introduced to bias binding in high school. The first item I ever made using it was an apron. We used store bought bias binding, which is cheap and convenient. It's cheap for a reason though. Generally, it is plain and boring. Often it contains polyester, which means when you press it, it shrinks and melts.

You can also make your own bias binding. It is easier than you think. I like to use quilter's cotton. It comes in many great colours and patterns, and it doesn't shrink and twist out of shape when you iron it with a scalding hot iron.

Bias binding is basically just strips, cut at 45 degrees to the selvedge edges. The edges of the strips are then folded to the centre. Lengths of strips can be joined together to make even longer bias binding. Pretty Jane has a really great tutorial to make continuous bias binding.

Once you have made your continuous bias strips, you need to fold them. You can use this technique, which I haven't tried myself, but it looks quite clever. Or you can use bias tape makers. Clover make great bias tape makers. Even though they are about double the price of the other brand that you often see, they are well worth the extra money.


There are many different ways to attach bias binding. Angry Chicken has a really good tutorial on how to attach bias tape to your project. You should watch it, if nothing else, you will be thoroughly entertained. I actually prefer (when I remember) to attach the bias first to the wrong side of the fabric, and then fold it back over to the right side, and then top stitch it down. Sometimes, I will fold all of the bias tape to the front of my project so that there is none on the wrong side at all. This technique actually works really well for an apron. The project shown above (sneak peak, its a gift, I will reveal more later) was sewn with the bias attached first to the front and then topstitched also from the front catching the bias at the back.

If you are looking for a project to use up all the pretty hand-made bias tape you make, Nicole Mallalieu has a free tutorial for a bib. One day, when I have one that is completed and is not covered in someone's dinner, I will post a picture here. They seem to be going straight from the sewing machine to the table these days.

Chicken Dance

I've finally created a hat for Liam from my Nicole Mallalieu pattern. I've used quilters cotton from Spotlight with chickens dancing cheek to cheek! I saw it, loved it and had to have it. Its been sitting in my stash waiting for a suitable project.

The other fabric is a very lightweight denim (chambray?) that I have had FOREVER.

The only thing I have done differently with this hat is I bound the edges with bias binding. I added an oval applique cut out of a nice chicken couple.

I did the underside of the brim in the chicken fabric too, because lets face it, its too wonderful to have it hidden all the way up inside the hat where nobody sees it, right?

Its probably about time Liam got his own hat. He has been wearing the lovely one that I entered in the pattern review contest. He loves it.

Hopefully he loves this one more.

FIFTIE'S STYLE BIB

This is Liam's bib, I made using the (free) Nicole Mallalieu's Fifties Style Bib pattern from the link over to the right of the page.

Its a pretty good pattern, the photo here doesn't do the bib justice! It has ARM-HOLES!

The fabric is pretty cute too, its got Sheep, Cows, Pigs and Chooks on it. I have some more bias binding in the green and the blue so I can make more bibs the same, yet a bit different.

I had to rush off to Spotlight to get more bias binding to finish this off. The pattern says 2.25m, and I didn't put the pocket on there, so I expected the 2m and a bit I had would be enough. It wasn't.

MUM - THESE BIBS ARE H-U-U-U-GE!

I put in a really good day of sewing today, I got heaps of stuff done. I managed to finish three grow suits, although I have only done the popper studs on one of them.

I also did the bias trim and neckband on two bibs, and I completely made a pair of overalls, including tracing and modifying the pattern. I had to do a last minute dash to Spotlight to get some bias and more poppers so I could finish the overalls. We listened to some Christmas music while I sewed. Liam seems to like the noises in the Crazy Frog music.

I made the green overalls a size bigger than the orange ones, and lengthened them too. I made them a medium size, but the length of the legs was the same as the Extra Large. They have an almost 3cm hem on them, and they fit nicely with the hems rolled up, so he should be able to wear them for awhile. I forgot to add extra to the inside leg seam to allow for the poppers, but there seems to be plenty of room.

I modified the back of the overalls as well. The orange overalls were straight across the back, where these are not. I think I will still change them a bit more for the next pair, I had to cross over the straps a little, and I would like it better if they were not crossed over.

I went looking for some buttons in my stash, and found a really nice one that went really well with these overalls, but there was only one - just like the orange overalls. Paige and I went through the button stash and found these brassy looking ones that we think look nice, so thats what he got. I thought I would have a quick look and see if I could find something for the blue fabric, and once again, found ONE LOVELY BUTTON. I think when I make the blue ones, I might go and buy some buttons to match. I haven't looked to see what matches the red.

Anyway, I had a really good day of sewing (probably the most productive ever), I feel like I have achieved so much! Just need to finish off the poppers on those other two growsuits!