I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed most baby bibs in stores aren’t great quality. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on something your baby will drool all over, you usually have to settle for what’s available.
When my first child was born, I received some really nice bibs as a gift, and they were fantastic. But when I tried to buy new ones of the same brand, they just weren’t the same! The quality had dropped, and the backing fabric shrank the first time I washed them.
Frustrated, I decided to make my own bibs. This way, I got to choose exactly the kind of fabric, pattern, and shape I wanted. Plus, since bibs don’t require much fabric, my costs were comparable to the cheap ones in stores, even though I used better materials.
This week, I made some bibs for a friend’s baby and thought I would share a simple guide on making your own. Small projects like bibs are great because they’re quick to finish and can be made for almost nothing. I used two pieces of fabric about 14″ by 16″. This is cheap to buy and even free if you have leftover fabric from other projects.
For these bibs, I used a cute organic cotton print on the front. There’s a growing selection of organic cotton fabrics with adorable, eco-friendly designs. For the backing, I used PUL (polyurethane laminate), which is often used in cloth diaper covers. It offers more protection for a baby’s clothes but isn’t essential.
I’ve also used terry cloth for the backing in the past. It doesn’t protect quite as well as PUL but is a good choice, especially if you prefer an all-cotton option. An old towel works great for this.
Another option is simple cotton muslin for the back layer. It’s cheap, easy to find, and also comes in organic versions.
There are tons of free baby bib patterns online, but I used one of those gifted bibs as a pattern. They’re worn out, but I just can’t throw them away. If you’re using an existing bib, add an extra 1/2″ around it for the seam allowance.
Lay your bib on a piece of newspaper or butcher paper with the velcro or snap undone so it lies flat. Trace around the whole bib, adding 1/2″ from the edge. I used a small sewing gauge and worked my way around, then cut along the line. This will be your pattern.
If you don’t have a bib for a pattern, you can use a free one from the internet, or if you’re feeling creative, draw your own.
I like to use a snap press for closures on my bibs, but velcro works just as well. It comes down to personal preference and what you have on hand.
Making your cloth baby bibs is fun, a great way to recycle old materials, and can save you money compared to buying them. Will you try making your own bibs?
