Drool Pads Tips and Tricks

So now that you have made some straight sided drool pads and some curved ones, you kind of have a feel for how things are done. Time to kick it up a notch and make them even better! Here are some tips and tricks to help you make them look more professional and last longer!

1. Clip your corners! Anywhere where you will have a point (where you stopped, picked up the presser foot and turned) will need to be clipped in order to make a sharper corner. Just cut diagonally across the corner, close to the seam line. Don't cut close enough that your stitches are at risk of pulling out, but you want to remove the bulk of this fabric. Here's what the corner looks like before clipping and afterward:

2. On that note, push out your corners! I use the little screwdriver that came with my sewing machine because it's convenient and always near my machine. It has a nice small, flat edge to make those corners crisp.

3. Do your ribbons ever pull out of your drool pads? I know my toddler gets his hands on a toy that's connected to a ribbon and gives that seam a serious workout! Satin ribbon is especially prone to pulling out of the seam but there are a few ways to combat this.

• Step 1: Seal the edges. Grab a lighter or light a candle and pass the edges of your ribbon in the flame. This will melt the edge of the ribbon together and make it harder for it to rip through the seam. 
• Step 2: Cut your ribbon half an inch longer than you had planned for your loop size. Place that extra quarter inch per side above the seam allowance of your drool pad. This extra distance means extra strength since the seam is not so close to the edge of the ribbon. 
• Step 3: after you sew your ribbons into the drool pad, zig-zag stitch over the ribbons a few times in the seam allowance. This will really secure them in place and prevent them from being ripped out!
  

4. If the tricks for ribbons above don't do enough to stop the problem with yanking on toy loops, use elastic! There are some really cool elastics out there now with all sorts of fun patterns. Cut a strip and attach it just like you do for ribbons. That will give some extra resilience to your loops, especially if the toy is heavy.

5. Ever have a snap not quite line up? When applying your snaps, don't poke all your holes and put them all in at once. Put the snaps on one side of your drool pads. Apply the male side of the snaps first. Then put that flap over the top of the the other flap where the other side of the snaps will go. Press the snaps with your fingers into the fabric of your other side.The male end of the snaps will leave little circular indents on the other flap. Poke your holes in the center of these indents and apply the other half of your snaps. Voila, perfectly placed snaps!

Have a question? Need help with a problem? Post them in the comments and I'll see what I can do to help! Have a good idea or something that helps you? Post it below to share with other mommas! I'll keep this post updated as more tips and tricks come up.