So…

In a perfect world, I would be showing you pretty, sun-drenched shots of my latest craft or tasty creation for today’s Try-it Tuesday.

But, since that’s not possible in the I-didn’t-plan-ahead-for-the-soupy-mushroom-gray-skies world in which I currently find myself, I’m resurrecting a post I did a while back, which you may or may not have seen.

It was actually a guest-post, so it didn’t debut here on the blog, but it’s playing the debutante today, and I hope you enjoy.

I give you:

b ib-001

(I know…great name, right?)

Of course, the ironic bit is that, when I first made this tutorial, I only got my first two pics in daylight and shot the rest at night, so I’ll need you to pretend that the lighting in pics 1 and 2 continues through the rest of the post, k?

Okay, so you’ve probably noticed all the reusable tote bags for sale at practically every major retail and grocery store checkout counter recently, since being “green” is just about the trendiest thing since tight-rolling your acid wash jeans. 

Well, in the greenest of green crafts (not really, but it sounds good), I decided to take those totes and repurpose them into something that puts the “fun” in functional for your baby. 

Even if you don’t have a small drool-maker of your own, these make for super-simple custom baby gifts.

So what is this repurposing stroke of genius?

Easy-wipe bibs! (Wait, I already said that in the fun loopy graphics title above, didn’t I?)

Think about it—the tote bags are usually made of sturdy recyclable plastic, and they often come in fantastic patterns, prints, and colors that would cost $$$/yard from a fabric store. 

Instead, you pay $0.99 for about a yard of “material,” which is just too good for a bargain-shopper like me to pass up!

Here’s what you’ll need:

bib

  • Plastic tote bag
  • Terry-cloth
  • Thread/needle
  • Ribbon (mine is 1 1/2” because I loved how this pattern coordinated with that adorable owl print on my tote, but 7/8” would also work great)
  • Scissors (obviously)
  • Sewing machine (optional…you could definitely sew this project by hand)
  • Bib template (click for the one I made/used, or you could certainly create your own)

Here’s how you do it:

1. Cut out the template or bib-shape of your choice and layer it over both your tote material and your terry cloth. Pin the corners.

bib1

2. Cut around your template until you have the bib shape you want in both materials. bib2

3. Pin your ribbon to the top of your terry-cloth (because my ribbon was so thick, I cut 18” streamers for each side, but this could be shortened considerably for thinner ribbon).

bib3

4. Lay your tote material over the ribbon, right sides together (patterns facing each other).

bib4

5. Fold the ribbon up several times to avoid stitching through it. You can even pin it in place to keep it from flopping loose once you start sewing.

bib5

6. Stitch around the edge of your layered materials, leaving at least 1/4” seam allowance (I wouldn’t got any higher than 1/2”, though, since this is not a large bib to begin with).

bib6

7. Continue stitching your edges together, leaving about a two inch gap so that you can turn your bib right-side-out (hopefully your stitching is less wobbly than mine can be sometimes…this is what happens when you sew while your five-year-old feeds the baby and you’re constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure there’s more yogurt getting in her mouth than on her face)

bib7

8. Bit by bit, pull your innards so that they become your outwards (helpful hint: don’t shove your finger inside without looking unless you really like the feeling of a pin being jabbed into it).

bib8

9. Close the gap with your needle and thread, and…

bib9

10. Find an adorable baby-model to try your cute custom bib on.

IMG_8470

Ooooh. Look at that pretty bow!

IMG_8475

And there you have it, friends.

A fun way to think outside the fabric box so that you can have boutique-style goodies for your tykes without the high-end price-tag!

P.S. I find the best tote-bag prints at Marshall’s. I looooove practically every single one they carry.

So, what about you guys?

What have you repurposed lately?

I’d love to borrow your ideas be inspired!

The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming

Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia  ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse

Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims

Thursday ~ Thursdays are Your Days, Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue

Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can’t Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate

Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride  ~ Lolly Jane

Sundays ~ Homemaker on a Dime ~ Sunday’s Best

0 Comments

  1. Oh I wish we had a Marshalls here! I L.O.V.E those little owls. I wonder if Spotlight or some thing would have bags like that? Hmmm. Off to go and check it out. Thanks Abbie!

  2. Love this…especially the bow in the back!! If you didn’t have terrycloth in your stash, could you use one of those cloth-like bags you get at the grocery store (and everywhere else)? Am I the only one who keeps them in her trunk and forgets to take them into the grocery store? I think not.

  3. Abbie, cute idea!! Makes me wish I A) could SEW! and B) still had a kiddo small enough to need a bib! ;D ~Lori

  4. Their bags are so cute, but they rip so easily 🙁 I am slowly replacing my bags like that with canvas – but I wish I had babies to make bibs with the material! Haha. I actually had this exact bag too!

  5. Now that is a great idea, and so cute. Your baby is adorable. Thanks for visiting, I’m a new follower.

I love hearing from you guys!