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Basic Bib Tutorial

2014/08/02 By: Emily39 Comments

This post contains affiliate links, which means I am compensated if you make a purchase using this link. Thank you for supporting my blog! 

I love to give homemade bibs as a gift to new parents. Even though my son is six now, I remember how many bibs I would go through each day while trying to keep his clothes clean. I much preferred getting formula and food on the bibs rather than his clothes. After all, the bibs were cheaper than the clothes. When my son was little, we were stationed at a small town in Oklahoma. Walmart was just about the only place I could buy bibs (and truthfully, about the only place I could afford to buy them). I was not very happy with the selection I had to choose from, and I hated how rough they felt.

Making your own bibs gives you the option to personalize them however you want. You can make them reversible, add minky or chenille to the back, add a monogram, piece scraps together for a quilted bib, and the list goes on. I like to use my imagination and make each one a little different.

Getting started on the Basic Bib Tutorial you will need the following items.

Tools
Sewing machine
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter
Acrylic Ruler (Shape Cut is preferred)
Coordinating Thread
Straight Pins
Water soluble pen
Babyville Boutique Snap Pliers
Babyville Boutique sz 20 Snaps
Bib Template
Sharp scissors or pinking shears

Fabric
Regular bib- 1 piece 10″x12″ for front, 1 piece flannel 10″x12″ for back
Newborn bib- 1 piece 7.5″x11.5″ for front, 1 piece flannel 7.5″x11.5″ for back

Basic bib instructions:

1. Print the bib template out for the size bib that you’d like to make, either regular size or newborn. Cut out the template and trace it onto freezer paper, chipboard (an old cereal box), or stencil material. Using stencil material or freezer paper will allow you to see the fabric patterns underneath the template, which is helpful with images on the fabric that need to be kept straight. Cut the new template out.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

2. Cut your front and back fabric pieces to size using your cutting mat, rotary cutter, and acrylic ruler.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

3. Place your flannel on your work surface. Place your front fabric on top, right side down.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

4. Set your bib template on top of the fabric. Ensure the template is straight and that it is .25″-.5″ away from all edges. Trace around the bib template with your water soluble pen. Draw a rectangle opening on one side of the bib that is approx 2″ tall and .5″ wide.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

5. Carefully pin the layers together, placing a pin every few inches.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

6. At your sewing machine, you will start sewing at the bottom of the opening you drew. If you have a fix button on your machine, select that so that the thread sews in the same place for several stitches. If you do not have that feature, you will want to sew forward, back-stitch until the opening line, then sew forward again. Stop sewing at the top of the opening and fix/back-stitch again.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

7. Cut approximately .25″ away from where you sewed. Be careful not to cut through your stitching. Cut on the outside of rectangle line that you drew earlier.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

8. Slowly flip the bib right side out through the opening. Use a pointy object such as a bone folder (scrapbooking tool), that purple thang (sewing tool), or an unsharpened pencil to help around the curves.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

9. Iron the bib flat. Fold the rectangle to the inside of the bib and iron it.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

10. Top stitch all the way around the bib, close to the edge. I use my zipper foot to sew about 1/8″ away from the edge. Be sure to go slow, as this is the hardest part of making the bib. You can skip this step and hand-sew the opening shut if you’d like but it really gives the bib a profession look.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

11. Tie the thread in a knot on the front and back of the bib where you started and stopped sewing.

Snap instructions:

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

12. Using the shank tool that comes with the Babyville kit, poke a hole through the fabric on both sides where the snap will go.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

13. Insert the base of the snap into the back of the left hole and place the female part of the snap on the front side.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

14. Use the snap tool to clamp the snap. To keep the snap from breaking, first squeeze the snap tool half way down, then all the way.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

15. Repeat with the male side of the snap on the right side of the bib. Make sure you put the base of the snap on the front side this time.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

Easy, right?! Once you have mastered this basic bib, try out other variations.

Reversible bib:

1. Cut a front, back, and flannel lining piece to size using your cutting mat, rotary cutter, and acrylic ruler.

2. Place your flannel on your work surface. Place your back fabric on top of the flannel, right side up. Now place your front fabric on top, right side down.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

3. Follow steps 4-15 above.

Add an applique:

Adding an applique looks best on a bib that is not meant to be reversible. I like to use letters, the number 1, a mustache, anchor, or any cute silhouette that I can find in my fonts. You can also do an Internet search for a silhouette image. Iron fusible interfacing, such as Wonder Under, to the back side of fabric for the applique. Peel the paper layer off. Trace the image onto the interfacing and cut it out with sharp scissors. Place the applique where you would like it to be and press with the iron. Top stitch with a blanket stitch, satin stitch, or 1/8″ away from the edge for raw edge applique.

Basic Bib Tutorial with Printable Template in Two Sizes | Auntieemscrafts.com

I used Andrea Victoria Aqua Flowers for my newborn bib and Fox Trails for my reversible regular sized bib. The navy chevron bib has solid pepper for the one and backing. My Superhero Words bib is a newborn size and is reversible with navy chevrons on the back. All fabrics used are from Riley Blake. Some bibs are available for purchase in my Etsy store.

I hope you enjoy this project. Each bib will take approx. 30 minutes to one hour to make. Not bad for a cute, custom baby gift!

PS- If you want to add a binky holder to the bib, check out this tutorial.

Auntie Em

Comments

  1. 1

    simplymamacita says

    2014/08/02 at 3:43 pm

    Awwwww! Love those bibs! Really cute and clever! 🙂

    Reply
  2. 2

    Karen says

    2014/11/21 at 7:07 am

    Love this bib and will make lots of them in pink! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. 3

    Kay says

    2015/02/18 at 4:27 pm

    Newborn and baby bib pattern with “printable” template . Could not find “printable template” Like the pattern but really would like to have template. Instruction #1 is “PRINT” template, when click on “PRINT” just get sent to another site for printing coupons. Does anyone have the answer??

    Reply
    • 4

      Emily says

      2015/02/18 at 5:11 pm

      Sorry for the confusion, Kay. Here is the direct link to the template: http://52.43.193.142/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bib-Template.pdf

      Reply
      • 5

        Jessica says

        2015/09/04 at 3:28 pm

        That isn’t working for me either 🙁

        Reply
        • 6

          Emily says

          2015/09/04 at 9:25 pm

          Jessica, click here for the direct pattern link: http://52.43.193.142/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bib-Template.pdf

          Reply
      • 7

        Karen McFall says

        2019/11/09 at 4:32 am

        Link doesn’t work 🙁

        Reply
        • 8

          Em says

          2021/01/20 at 2:19 am

          Doesn’t work for me either, over a year later!

          Reply
          • 9

            Emily says

            2021/04/20 at 6:06 pm

            Have you tried this link? http://www.auntieemscrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bib-Template.pdf

  4. 10

    Marie says

    2015/02/19 at 2:24 pm

    Thank you so much, I have been trying to find a pattern for bibs for our women’s shelter. It will be put to good use many times over.

    Reply
  5. 11

    Carol says

    2015/02/21 at 7:54 am

    I have been making bibs fir quite sime time, but this method is sooo much better! Can’t believe I didn’t think of it! Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
  6. 12

    jmseamsright says

    2015/02/23 at 8:24 am

    Applique before Sewing the 2 sides together .

    Reply
  7. 13

    Jeannie says

    2016/01/28 at 12:18 pm

    it says to print either regular or for newborn, how do you get the different size templates?

    Reply
    • 14

      Emily says

      2016/01/28 at 1:23 pm

      When you click on the template, there are two pages, one for each bib size.

      Reply
  8. 15

    LaDonna says

    2016/02/18 at 6:24 pm

    So which size is the pattern , newborn or ??

    Reply
    • 16

      Emily says

      2016/02/21 at 11:57 am

      Hi LaDonna. When you print the pattern it will show two different sizes. The “newborn” size will fit the babies for at least 6 months though. (My husband fit it around his neck, so maybe even longer than that. Shh! Don’t tell him I told you that, LOL!)

      Reply
  9. 17

    Alana says

    2016/03/21 at 9:33 am

    Did you make your pin cushion? I love it!

    Also, for the bibs, the newborn bib looks like the neck opening is very large compared to some I’ve seen. Have you tried it on a newborn? Seems like it would hang too low and not even catch the drool/spit-up.

    Reply
    • 18

      Emily says

      2016/03/21 at 9:35 am

      Which pincushion?

      I put a bib on my baby when he was 10 weeks old and it was fine. (He is four months now). You could cut a little off the pattern on both sides then tape it back together before tracing it on the fabric, say 1/4-1/2″.

      Reply
      • 19

        Emily says

        2016/03/21 at 9:42 am

        Oh the one in the post? Yes I did. That is the pincushion from the Sit and Stitch pattern. I use it all the time! You can find the pattern in my AuntieEmsCrafts Etsy store.

        Reply
  10. 20

    PATRICIA says

    2016/04/28 at 5:43 pm

    If any one is concerned that the neck is too large for a newborn simply add a second bottom snap a little further along to give two fittings (not too far so it chokes). One for younger baby and the slightly larger for the older

    Reply
    • 21

      Emily says

      2016/04/28 at 5:44 pm

      Excellent idea, Patricia.

      Reply
  11. 22

    Tasha Garland says

    2016/05/24 at 2:25 pm

    Thank you so much for providing a pattern. It’s been too many years since I had babies for me to guess how large or small the inside edge of the bib should be! I’ve made 6 in newborn size so far and planning at least 12 of each size.

    Reply
  12. 23

    ANASTASIA says

    2017/01/09 at 4:06 pm

    HI EMILY
    CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SIZE DOES THE REGULAR BIB FIT
    THANKS
    ANASTASIA

    Reply
    • 24

      Emily says

      2017/01/09 at 4:22 pm

      Hi there. I would say 9 months and older, though it really depends on the size of the baby.

      Reply
  13. 25

    michele says

    2017/02/14 at 3:25 pm

    Can’t get pattern,,when I close click on link it doesnt do anything . Help !!!!! Thank you for tutorial. Michele

    Reply
    • 26

      Emily says

      2017/02/21 at 10:02 am

      Are you clicking where it says Bib Template?

      Reply
  14. 27

    jocelyn vernon says

    2017/09/26 at 5:54 pm

    Thank you for sharing the pattern. i love it for our Church craft sale.

    Reply
  15. 28

    Ruthie says

    2018/02/16 at 7:42 pm

    The direct link for the bib templates isn’t working. Would you repost, please? Thanks so much!

    Reply
  16. 29

    maggie says

    2018/08/05 at 9:33 am

    What size is the seam allowances on your bib pattern?

    Reply
    • 30

      Emily says

      2018/08/06 at 10:18 am

      There isn’t a seam allowance, per se, because you sew directly on the line that you draw with the template.

      Reply
  17. 31

    K. Snyder says

    2018/08/07 at 9:15 pm

    Help! I can’t get the link to open for the pattern. 🙁

    Reply
    • 32

      Emily says

      2018/08/09 at 3:30 pm

      Here is the direct link to the pattern: http://www.auntieemscrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bib-Template.pdf

      Reply
      • 33

        Faylene Romsa says

        2020/01/01 at 11:44 am

        This link works. The other two previously posted do not work.

        Thank you

        Reply
        • 34

          Emily says

          2020/01/02 at 1:39 pm

          Everyone, use this link http://www.auntieemscrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bib-Template.pdf

          Reply
  18. 35

    PatM says

    2019/03/28 at 11:44 pm

    Sew after tracing, then cut the fabric? Wow. So smart. I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t done anything like that in years. Now I’m going to do it a lot more in unique ways on all kinds of projects. That tip alone is worth gold, and thanks for the bib template and instructions too. You made my day, and I’m going to think of you every time I “sew first, cut later.” It will save me a lot of time. As I said, “Wow.”

    Reply
  19. 36

    Anita says

    2019/12/31 at 4:49 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful tutorial. My plan is to make these for the pediatrics ward at Walter Reed Medical Center. Very excited to make them.

    Reply
  20. 37

    Tracy says

    2020/02/15 at 9:33 am

    Thank you so much for the free pattern and tutorial. Making one for a coworker now!!

    Reply
  21. 38

    Patricia Venier-Starkman says

    2021/04/27 at 5:56 am

    Love this for my neices and nephews!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Quilted Burp Cloths - Simply Notable says:
    2015/10/10 at 10:40 am

    […] for her. I wanted to come up with an item that would be functional but not just the standard bib, binky strap, and snack bag that she was already going to be getting from […]

    Reply

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