Babies love to grab and chew — you don't have to be a parent for long to figure that out. Here's something that will keep little hands occupied while your baby is breast- or bottle-feeding. It also offers needed distraction when his or her first teeth come in. This necklace, to be worn by the parent, is both fashionable and functional. Choose a patterned fabric with bright colors to attract your infant's attention. To clean the necklace, simply hand wash it in warm water with a mild soap and hang to dry.
Materials
- one 4-by-44-inch piece of clean cotton fabric
- sewing machine
- thread for the sewing machine
- one 44-inch-long piece of embroidery thread
- seven medium-size, round wooden beads
- scissors
- two narrow, 14-inch-long ribbons, ends cut on an angle (grosgrain ribbon is best, as the ends rarely fray)
Instructions
- Step 4
- Fold the fabric in half lengthwise. If there is a printed side, it should face in.
- Using a sewing machine, stitch the edges of the fabric together, making a quarter-inch seam and creating a long tube.
- Turn the tube right side out.
- Loop the embroidery thread through and around one bead, securing it in place with a double knot. Leave a seven-inch tail at one end.
- Drop the bead and thread down into the fabric tube. The ends of the fabric and the thread should line up.
- Step 6
- Gather the fabric and the embroidery thread together, making a tight knot on each side of the bead.
- Thread another bead on the string, letting it fall down into the fabric tube. Tie it in place with a knot and repeat until you have seven beads on your necklace. Make a secure knot after the last bead has been threaded.
- Hold the necklace up to your neck to see the length. If desired, trim the ends of the fabric to shorten it.
- Fold in both ends of the fabric tube at least a quarter inch.
- Step 10
- Slide one ribbon about a half inch into one end of the fabric tube, then sew the seams shut. (Tip: Sew over the seam several times to make it extra strong. Babies tend to pull hard!) Repeat on the other side of the fabric tube.
- To wear the necklace, tie the ribbons together in a tight double knot.
- Inspect your necklace prior to each use to make sure it remains intact and baby safe.
Comments