I am kind of addicted to the quilt-as-you-go method. Thanks to whoever was the genius who figured it out….and thanks to all those who have posted tutorials on this simple quilting technique! It’s fast and easy and GREAT for little projects.
A couple of friends in my neighborhood had babies recently and so I decided to use the quilt-as-you go technique on some baby bibs. By the way, baby bibs were one of the first things I started making when I started sewing again 10 years ago and they were also one of the first things that liZ and I started selling at craft fairs…..we made a bajillion of them and then after a while couldn’t even look at them to sew them anymore. (Do you ever get that way?)
But, bibs are fun! And easy! And are a great gift! And they use up scraps!!
My house is in shambles right now (more on that later) so I couldn’t find my original baby bib pattern but I did find one that is a similar shape to the one I love. The pattern is found here…
And here’s what I did:
Handmade Baby Bibs {Quilt-as-you-go}
Step 1: I traced the bib pattern onto the batting.
Step 2: I laid out my scraps to fit over the general bib shape.
Step 3: I started with my fussy cut square and quilted that one first.
This is what it looked like after I quilted it…..I did 1/4 inch lines on this piece and alternated 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch lines on each piece in the bib.
I then added the next piece.
And just kept going….
Until I had the whole bib done. At that point, I cut it out.
Then I just put the bib backing on top (with right sides together) and sewed around both of them. Turn and flip and top-stitched around like you would another bib pattern.
I used Velcro to close the bibs with a decorative button on top (but I always freak out and tell people to cut off the buttons if babies aren’t supervised while wearing them–when we sold them we didn’t put buttons on any bibs).
And you are done! Oh, I can’t tell you how glad I am that it is Friday. And I have some time to work on my house……whew….it’s been quite the couple of weeks.
~Elizabeth
I just started making bibs for my shop and I am a bit obsessed. I am prepping them for my first holiday show and hope they do welI there and on line. I love being able to use my “scraps” and piecing them together in a 2/3, 1/3 pattern–so stinkin’ cute! I was on a “bunny ear” teether kick before that and was WAY obsessed. I think this technique is wonderful although too time consuming for making more than a few. I’ll save it for my grandkids perhaps 🙂
I love these…. they are darling! My kids aren’t much on bibs but I’m wishing they were!
This would be great for baby showers!!! Love it. Pinning for future reference.
This is so cute! I’ll have to try it!
Thanks so much for sharing this. We have a new grandbaby coming in January. I may have to give this one a try!
Thanks ladies, I am on a serious scrap-busting mission….I need to down-size the scrap bins!
The fabric of the two kids fishing is adorable. Where did you get it?
This is darling, I love the vintage prints!
Sorry for the silly question but i am a beginner sewing machine user. In the example above how did you quilt the horizontal lines on the red fabric without the starting thread showing and how did you secure the stictches at the start ? Assuming that you attached the red fabric first to the white and apple fabrics ? Thank you so much
The pieces look as though they are sewn together or else the material would fray?? How/ when do you sew them together, or do you fold over?
I have the same question. Just wondering if the Simple Simons’ used a lockstitch by placing the stitch length at zero and using some pressure, three dives into fabric and then re-setting stitch length to normal and sewing on or perhaps they had the lockstitch feature on their machines. These are perhaps the lovliest sewing of baby bibs on the Internet! Thank you so much for letting us in on your secret. You are both so talented. I am working on one at this minute! If you could off some insite we would appreciate.