Nursing Bib

Materials: One yard print cotton, one yard flannel, two packages jumbo rick-rack, 1 1/2" D-rings, 1/2 yard boning (the kind covered in the dark fabric)

My sisters had both made nursing bibs before but they just weren't big enough.  No matter how much I tried not to, I would always get a flash of my sister's nipple every time she went to nurse.  I decided to make mine the size of a baby blanket (which is what I had always used before). 

Take your two pieces of fabric and lay them together.  Mark about six inches down from the top on both sides.  (I put the selvedge where the sides of the bib are going to go.)  Fold the fabric in half matching up the sides.  Mark the top center.  Lay a string a cross the top of the bib from the sides marking six inches. Take your piece of boning and match the center of the boning to the top center of the string.  Use the boning as a guide to draw a curve about two inches high at the center and coming down to meet the straight line of the string.  (Look at the picture if you are completely confused.  It should look like a straight line with a slight curved bump in the middle.) You do this so the bib will bow out when you use it.  That way you can see the baby. Cut along the lines that you have just drawn and use the leftover fabric for the pocket and straps.  

I had never used rick-rack before so I was a little nervous.  However, the lady at the fabric store assured me it was simple.  You start by sewing the rick-rack to the right side of cotton fabric.  I tried to just sew it right down the middle.  Don't bother pinning the rick-rack to the cloth because it stretches and will be all off by the time you get to the first pin.  On the corners, form the rick-rack in a curved pattern with your fingers first, then slowly run it through the machine. When you curve the rick rack first, it guides the needle around the curve.  

Once the rick-rack is on, put the right sides of the flannel and cotton together.  Sew them together using the same path you used with the rick-rack, it shouldn't take you long since you already have a guide.   Leave about a four inch gap at the base of the curve for the boning (this way, you will already be sewing a strap there and the seam won't stick out as much).  

After you have turned it right sides out, iron it flat around the edges.  It might not meet up exactly because the flannel stretches, but you can iron to look like it is.  Now you are ready to add the boning.  You start by laying the boning on the outside of the curved piece so you can get an idea for how wide you need to make the hem to hold it.  Then, you start sewing where the boning will meet at the bottom of the curve.  To make the turn to start sewing along the curve, just leave the needle in and pick up the foot to rotate it.  You will want to make the stitch about a half of an inch away from the edge or the width of the boning.  When you get the of the curve, slide the boning into the curve (through the hole you used to turn the fabric right sides out). Once the boning is in, stitch along the end to hold it in place.  

Now, it is time to sew on the neck bands.  I cut these just using the extra fabric that I had.  I make both about a half a yard.  I sew the two different types of fabric together and turn them right sides out.  I tuck the un-sewn end under and sew it to the bib at the base of the curve.  The second strip i fold in hale, slip the D-rings on and sew to the other end of the curve.  Once it is sewn to the bib, hold both D-rings together and make a stitch right underneath them. (I forgot to do this when I made mine at first.  If you don't sew underneath them, they slide around and the strap comes off from around your neck.  

  

At this point you are almost done and feeling pretty pleased with yourself.  All that is left is to sew on the pocket.  I got a little over zealous and added rick-rack to mine in the same manner I put it on the bib.  Find the center, or where ever you would like the pocket to be on the bib) and iron it flat.  Now, just sew it on using a thread that will match the front fabric.  

Yea, you are done.  This project takes about three hours start to finish.  Don't be hard on yourself if it takes you longer.