Bibs

I have finally knuckled down to it and had a first attempt at those waistcoat bibs that I was searching for buttons for. I have decided to go with the hammer on press studs rather than the safety eyes as the press studs were easier to get hold of here.

I would be grateful for any feedback you have the time to give me. I am quite happy with them but can't quite put my finger on what else I need to do to them, I think it's the fake hanky that bothers me but I am not quite sure that thats it. I have cut out some more in some confederate flag fabric and some in fake cowhide thats a little furry, I think they call it pony skin, I am strangely reluctant to make them up, and there is no one here to give me a second opinion at the moment. Not sure why.

They are on my personal pages under the link to odd items on the RH side of the index page.

Many thanks for your time

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen
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The bibs are adorable. Do I remember that the design is original with you? I've certainly never seen that idea used for bibs before. Great job!

Your mention of pony fur fabric reminds me of a remnant a client gave me many years go. It was just enough for a skirt and vest for one of my little 'cowgirls'. Haven't thought of that in a long time.

Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen Hendrix

Doreen,

Thank you for the kind words, yes the design is mine. It's kind of an organic idea, it grew out of a conversation I was having with my friend while we were on the stall I do at the Country Music Festival each year.

I did bibs last year but just standard shaped ones with cowboy motifs appliquéd on. During the 5 days I had some customers that wanted small waistcoats but wouldn't buy the smallest size I do ( 12 to 18 months) as they were for smaller babies than that. I offered the bibs but only 2 them took that idea instead. I was generally moaning that it's so difficult to sell the very small waistcoats as they don't get worn for long enough and although they look good on the stall as they are so cute people always buy a bigger size than they need "to make them last" then I said why can't they see that a bib would last longer than a waistcoat for a small baby, followed by I'll have to work out how to make bibs that look like waistcoats.

I don't know why I'm not 100% about them I'm probably just thinking that they were a bit too easy having been planning how do make them work for about 10 months. Do you think the false hanky is ok? I feel the ones in jeans would be a bit dull otherwise, but at the same time I'm not sure it looks right. I will try and do some of the brighter fabric tomorrow afternoon and see how I feel about them then.

By the way, I used the butterfly t-shirt pattern you kindly let me have for a second time not long ago. I made the wings in cerise chiffon which I added to a brought neon pink sweatshirt and added beads and bits I was really pleased with the result and my friend's little girl loves it apparently. My niece has to be bribed out of the original one I made, so thank you again for that.

I have the pony fur fabric as the same niece requested a "Jessie from Toy Story" costume for her birthday which turned out quite well considering I haven't seen her for a while and had to guess her size from her photos versus her actual age and work out the clothes to make from the cover of the VCR box and goggling images!!

Perhaps the bibs will look better after a bath and bed! Not that they look bad I'm just not 100% happy that they stand out.

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

That thought process for the evolution of your waistcoat bibs makes perfect sense! Yes, I think the false hanky is a nice addition, especially for solid color bibs. But even in bright colored ones you make, I think it's a nice touch, and I can see it as something that would catch a baby's attention...something to grab onto as hand/eye coordination develops.

What about a colorful plaid for the bib? Might be eye-catching.

I'm so glad you've been able to use the butterfly pattern. The chiffon wings and your embellishments sound like something a little girl would be crazy about. My DGK's loved their butterfly shirts too...can't remember if I said this before, but they'd wear them rollerblading and pretend they were flying.

I'll bet the Jessie costume was really cute. You are bound to be one of the world's favorite aunts!

Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen Hendrix

Those are absolutely fantastic! You've done yourself proud there - they are adorable.

Reply to
Pogonip

Very cute! I love the bright splash of color from the hanky. For more of an authentic "jeans" look, you might consider double rows of topstitching and some bar tacks, and a faux "placket" along the front. And maybe a tiny pocket, or at least a stitching outline of a pocket.

Do they button to the left for boys and right for girls? ;-)

Just another idea: When I made an embroidered bib for my niece, I made the neck band longer and put in three upper and one lower snap/gripper, so it would be adjustable and she could use it longer. Pics are here, #7 and 8:

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Reply to
BEI Design

Claire, I think they are darling!! I like the hanky. The only thing I think I might add is a "falsey" pocket for the hanky to stick out of. (couldn't see that there was one in the pics.) You could do a fake welt, or a teeny jeans shaped pocket.

But that's the only thing I would change! I think they are very cute. Great job!

Sharon

Reply to
Sharon Hays

claireowen a écrit :

Well I have slept on it and this morning I took the two I had made so far, with me to the market I do on a regular basis just to get some feed back.

Comments were very positive, one woman said they were very original and that she hadn't seen anything like them before, to which I replied with a smile of course, that I should hope not as I designed and made them. She looked shocked. Honestly I give up some days, I have Artisan written

6 times on large cards on the table a great big poster saying welcome to the largest enterprise in France "The Artisans" and people still don't realise it's what we make!!! prahaps I should consider tattooing it on my forehead .. only joking! I even have T-shirts when the weather is good but very few people take any notice.

Any how the upshot of my contemplations this morning was that I need to make them a bit more pointy so that the waistcoat shape is more exaggerated, at the same time I have added a very little width and a bit more length so that I didn't loose coverage while making the front more pointy.

I have made one up in the new pattern in a check fabric as I have had enough of jeans for this week, I also added false plackets to see how they would look. I am happy with the result, if you want a look I have put the photo up on my personal site under the first ones, and also added the flower bibs at last.

Thank you one and all or your kind comments.

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

Well I thought I would let them all be unisex ;-)

Yes, Beverly, I liked how you did that when I saw that bib before, it is a good idea. However I won't get any more for them even though they have the extra fastening so I will keep that for the nearest and dearest

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

I love those!! That just made them look perfect. Great work! The flower bibs are so adorable!!!!! I especially like the lady bugs. :) Makes me wish there were some girl babies in the family right now. lol

Sharon

Reply to
Sharon Hays

Absolutely superb. The vests - I think wider and longer is good, and the check is fabulous - and the flowers!!

People just aren't accustomed to anyone making anything anymore, are they? Shopping is an international sport, and I guess they think everything comes from Asia, ready-made by invisible Asians. What with transportation costs rising and Asians deciding they would like a living wage, we may see some changes in the future. I can just imagine everyone on this NG becoming gurus to a whole new generation who want and need to learn to sew.

Reply to
Pogonip

Pogonip a écrit :

I like the description of shopping as an international sport.

I spend a lot of my time trying to persuade people to buy the right size for their child's age as I cut out what I consider to be proper sizes i.e. a reasonable fit for that age. My 1 to 2 year old size will last most children until they are 2 and a half, unless the are particularly fast growing. Most customers seem hell bent on saying wells she's 6 months but already wears 18 month sized clothes, to which I have to bite back the reply yes in midget Asian sizes at 5 euros retail per article.

Last week I sold a sweet dress for a 1 to 2 year old, to a grandmother of a 5 month old. The maddening thing was I had the exact same design in

6 to 12 months size and the baby was there in the pram, she even held the dress against her( she was swimming in it) by the time it fits her properly it will be the wrong time of year AGHHHHHHHH!!!

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

Thank you, thats very kind. I am happy with the result now. I had already cut out 6 in the original pattern and will make those as they are and upgrade to the new improved version after.

I'm now looking forward to making them in "cow pat" as it gets called in this house.

Claire in Montréal France

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Reply to
claireowen

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