My county ext. homemaker's club cooks a Christmas dinner, sings carols with and makes presents for the residents of a local nursing home each year. This year, we have decided to make adult bibs for them(2 each) and one for ourselves (and the husbands who attend) to join them in wearing for our dinner. I found some really great patterns on outonthetownbibs.com. My question is-what can we back them with that will repel some liquid, and remain supple after washing and drying? I'm thinking of using plaid flannel for the men's as it can look like a vest and tie. We haven't decided on what to use for the female ones. Your help is appreciated. Thank you, Selena

How about using the mats for baby cribs that are water repellant. The ones I have seen are flannel covered.

Well, I made some burp cloths for my new GD and I used the rubber backing u put on slippers. Bought it at Jo Anns. I used flannel on top and bottom and that in the middle also for laying her on it to change her diapers. Forget what u call it but just ask for the slipper rubber, etc. Will b perfect...... :lol:

Try some PUL (don't know the full name) It is a stretch knit that is covered with water proof coating on one side. The 'mama's' that make their own diapers and 'rubber' pants use this. You can google/bing cloth diapers and come up with a few sites that sell the diapers and PUL. I had a lady I took care of in my home a few years ago and I made pads for her to sit on in her wheelchair. When she had accidents it didn't leak through.

Couldn't you use the vinyl tableclothes? Put the printed side of them as the "wrong" side and have the soft fuzzy side that would be against the patient.

You can usually get these on sale after a holiday for a few dollars.

Poly urethane laminated- thanks that might work if our club can afford it. It sounds like great stuff.Haven't found anyone local that carries it yet.

How well do they hold up under repeated washings?

Be careful to not call them "bibs" when giving them to the residents. I cared for my aunt after she had been in a Board & Care. I told her I was putting an apron on her, and she said, "Thank you for not calling it a bib." They need bibs, but they are still sensitive.

Perhaps check with the nursing home as to what has been used in the past. They'll know what has worked ... and what has not!

That's why we are going to wear them too and make them not look like "bibs". hopefully. Thanks for the advice.Selena

My father was blind, and a little messy, so bought the low priced bath towels hemmed around the top to make a narrow area to go around the neck, were made long so covered most of his lap and used velcro to attach flaps, it worked great, washable and the terry soaked up most of the wet spills before they soaked thru.
Good Luck with you project, what a nice thing to do!!
He didn't want food down the front of his clothes, so had about 10-12 of them could reuse or get a clean one for each meal.

Here's another pattern

http://www.laurassewingstudio.com/NL/060407/060407.html

For 'waterproofing', what about the things that are used in baby cribs to protect the sheets? Maybe they are too thick, but it's just a thought.

My mother used these before she died. Hers were just terry cloth and she had a fresh one for each use. She never had anything go through the bib onto her clothing. Basically the pattern is exactly like a lobster bib. The terry cloth is no more trouble than washing a wash cloth. I made them out of towels so the bibs were nice and thick, not thin like the terry cloth that is for sale in the fabric stores.

I also recommend PUL. If you read diaper instructions, you will understand how to use it. I have to buy it online as I don't know of any independent locals who carry it.

Also what TanyaL and C.Cal said sounds good to me.

I've washed my table clothes several times...you might want to try one and give it a week's worth of washings in a couple days and see if it holds up like you'd like it to.

I worked in a laundry at a nursing home and theirs were just terry cloth It all goes in the wash and very hot dryers.

And the plastic tablecloths etc. that have been suggested .... would melt in the dryer!

Yes I would not use plastic.

Either the heat laminated poly or regular poly, quilted or oil cloth. Make sure to put a crumb catcher pocket at the bottom. Velcro closures are good and easier for them if they are off to the side a little. Great project!

I doubt they would melt...think back to bibs years ago...they were basically the same thing as the tablecloths.

I have washed and dried my holiday tablecloths several times without damage to them.

This was a cheaper suggestion and you can get many many many out of one tablecloth.

Good luck with whatever you decide on and if anyone does try the tablecloths please let us know how they work out for you.

Good Topic - thanks. A crumb catcher? Would there be alot of spills? --- just inquiring minds want to know....

exactly donna..

just use thick terry cloth..they absorb and hold up well to washings...

Excellent Link!!

I have made them with just plain cotton and they worked. They were two layers thinck.

Our nursing is no longer using bibs, degrading to the elders to look like babies. Duh

Those are very nice & look more like aprons. My mother hated the obvious bibs they wore at the nursing home. I think she would have been pleased with the apron look.

That's why we aren't making them look like baby bibs. And we are wearing them too. And the head of the nursing home liked the idea.

My mother is in assisted living - soon to move to Alzheimers Care. This was an excellent topic. Thank you all for the suggestions (especially that great link). I will begin making a stash now.

Yes, this flannel backed vinyl is great. You can buy it as yardage too at Joann's. It sews up great if you put the flannel side to the needle plate. I use it to back baby bibs all the time. It also works for diaper covers. I let the vinyl side out and it does not seem to irritate tender skin, but anyway for adults there would be clothing in-between.

Oh my I could have used this pattern when I was working as a case worker. I was always having to eat in my car on the go with home visits...I always seemed to have a food related stain on my bosom or crumbs on my lap....I always threatened to do a large bib that would look like I was wearing a suit, then would whip it off when I got to my destination. That way I would have good camouflage.

Maybe "adult bibs" could be called "tie-on napkins" ?

I need them, too.

I use terry cloth. very absorbant and good for wiping drips

I just came across a site that had freebie adult apron patterns...let me see if I can find it again and I will send it to you...I think there were directs for 2 vinyl backed bibs.

Here it is: www.outonthetownbibs.com

Thank you. That's the site I found. I thought the plaid vest looking one with the tie would be great for the men and the feminine one for the women. They don't look embarrassing to me.

We make bibs as part of our Sewing Ministry (ESAP = Every Stitch a Prayer). We use large, thick towels for the body of the bib and use two layers of cotton or poly/cotton for the neck opening. They are scraps from the dresses we make for children overseas. We opted to not make the crumb pocket because the smooth terry cloth is better for washing their face at the end of the meal if necessary.

I have used the vinyl tablecloths to make bibs for our disabled grandson. I don't recommend them as they tear at the stitching line. The terry cloth is great. You can get 2 or 3 out of a large towel if you use the cotton fabric at the neckline. This also makes a colorful bib.

I worked in nursing homes and we called them clothing protectors. Never call them a bib. That is a dignity issue.
Snownannie

Thank you, I was struggling with a name for them. I had thought of Oops Catchers and shirt protectors,

If they are for Christmas I would call them dress up vests.