My overall creative goals for 2013 are simple. I want to create for my family, learn new skills, and design one-of-a-kind items to grow my handmade business.
Creating for my family is in the forefront of my thoughts right now. I've had fabric prepped for two simple projects-- cloth napkins and baby bibs-- for months now. Yesterday morning I sketched out my intent for the day.
And then I took action.
It was a good way to start the year.
Notes:
The bib pattern is from Chickpea Sewing Studio. It's a great size for smaller babies. The one thing I do differently is trace the full pattern piece onto rectangles of my two bib fabrics that are right sides facing, then stitch 1/4" inside of that line and cut out the bib shape afterwards. I find it's so much easier than trying to match up two pattern pieces with curves. I used hemp/cotton fleece on the back this time. I used to use inexpensive chenille from Jo Ann Fabrics, but my last batch smelled so strongly of chemicals even after washing that it worried me. Hopefully these will be absorbent enough-- once we go through a test run, I'll make more. Solid foods are coming soon!
My napkins are just simple squares of quilting cotton, prewashed and bound with a rolled hem on my serger. I'm definitely no serger expert, but I will say that once I got the settings right on my machine (a Brother 1034D) they were quick to finish up. In the past I've used this simple tutorial from Prudent Baby. Right now I'm also taking Amy Alan's Beginner Serging class on Craftsy. If you have a serger and are intimidated by it, take the class! Amy is adorable and such a natural teacher. You'll learn a lot.
