Last Sunday I stopped in after church to see my granddaughter and her parents. I delivered the “leftovers” from a crockpot meal I had taken to church; and arrived in time to see the granddaughter up and about and playing. I had SO much fun with her for 20 minutes or so, before it was time for her nap. She is 10 1/2 months old and laughs and giggles so much. I hadn’t seen her in a few weeks, because she was “vacationing”. On the way out to go home, my daughter asked me for a little sewing repair job. I got that done yesterday, and along with the quick repair, I made a few more bibs. I had been in the store called Tuesday Morning on Monday, and tripped over a package of Babyville PUL fabric. The price was terrific – 3 fat quarters for $3.99. I purchased BOTH packages that were on the shelf. This product usually sells for about $9.99. I couldn’t wait to turn out a few new bibs.
My daughter picked out the cotton fabric from my fat quarter stash a while back, and I just had to pick from them something that these fun PUL pieces would work with! This batch of bibs is quilted with the warm and natural cotton batting behind the cotton print. Then the bib is assembled and top stitched. I don’t like to do a lot of stitching on the PUL fabric, as it reduces the waterproofing that is the primary feature.
Today, after my 2nd day of “Second Time Around” sorting, ironing, measuring folding was done, I thought I would play with an “applique embroidery pattern” I downloaded from Hatched In Africa.com ( http://www.hatchedinafrica.com/detail.aspx?id=3804&c=49&sc= ). This adorable FREE pattern – Easter Applique Medley, was one of several I downloaded today.
So, I set to work on another bib – I decided to “not cut out the bib shape” until I was finished with the embroidery. Less hassle hooping was my logic.
You can see yellow chalk where I marked the “center” of the bib.
I’ve never done any Embroidery with applique before and this was so much fun. The design has stops for you to add your fabrics as you go along.
I was really pleased with the result. After the embroidery applique was completed, I cut out the fabric, batting and backing for the bib. I quilted this one too before assembly with the PUL fabric.
I top stitched after it was assembled. Just need to add the snaps, and it is ready to wear!
Wait….Easter is a couple of months away….Time enough to wash the bib and get the yellow chalk marks off before she wears it. This Stitching Grandma better figure out a Valentine and St Patrick’s Day and a 1st Birthday bib before she sports her SPRING CHICK !!
I will definitely be doing more applique work with the embroidery machine, as long as free patterns are available for me to download. This was really fun and I am happy with my “first time” !! If you like machine embroidery, do go check out Hatched In Africa . com and the cute patterns they offer. There are lots of “freebies” and once a week on Friday they offer a free design too.
My next “sewing for baby” project is to take the “brown paper pattern” I traced during my visit, and duplicate a “food bib” with pocket. The current “meal time bib” has long sleeves and goes on much like an artists apron. Another learning opportunity!
Hope you are having fun with your projects!
Stitching Grandma 