The Perfect Bib Tutorial!

I never used baby bibs because they seemed too small or they were pulled off too easily.  My step mom gave my sister a bib made from a dish towel and I LOVED it. It was big for good coverage, tied around the neck and had armholes. This bib was more like a smock.  Perfect to use when eating, cooking, art or any activity where clothes needed extra protection. So I decided to make some for my kiddos.  I use them ALL the time!  They fit my 1 year old up to my 7 year old.  I added this short tutorial so you can make one or two! 

1. Choose a dish towel. New or used will do. Get extra wide, double fold, 1/2 inch bias tape to match the dish towel.

 2.Using a piece of paper make a pattern for the neck hole. It is approx  4 1/2 to 5 in x 2 3/4 in. It should be an oval. 
3. Fold your dish towel almost  in half. (depends on how long you need the bib) The shorter side is the back and the long side is the front.

 4. Center neck pattern on the fold and pin it in place.

 5. Find the center on the bottom of the back. Cut up the center of back until you reach the neck and cut around the pattern piece.

 6. Cut 2 pieces of bias tape to fit the center back raw edges.

  7. Next open bias tape and pin. Sew bias tape on edges. Sew straight stitch 1/4 inch from edge.  Fold the tape over and sew a top zigzag stitch.   1/4 inch from edge.  Remember to back stitch for strength. When you get to the bottom edge zigzag back and forth a couple times to prevent fraying.

 

 8. Cut bias tape to fit around the neck.  Be sure to leave the ends long enough to make the ties for around the neck.  I like my ends to be about 9 - 9 1/2 inches long.  Open the tape, pin in place and sew a straight stitch 1/4 inch from edge.  Fold the tape over.  Then sew 1/4 inch from edge starting on the end of one of the ties. Sew up the tie (don't forget to back stitch)   and then around the neck, back down the other tie. Back stitch when at the end.  In the picture I went from a straight stitch on the tie to zigzag stitch around the neck and then back to a straight stitch.  I back stitched with the zigzag before going into the straight stitch.  If wanted you could do a zigzag stitch around the neck and the ties.                                                  

 9. To make the arm holes sew the back to the front down on the bottom corners.  Sew with a straight stitch, about 2 inches long 1/4 inch from edge. Don't forget to back stitch. Depending on how big you want the arm holes you may want to stitch longer or even shorter.                                                                                                                                                                        

 There you have it!  Very simple!  Just right for the beginner! 

These make great gifts!