Bibs, like diapers, are an absolute necessity when you have a baby. You need several at home, more packed in your diaper bag and emergency bibs kept at grandma's house. Then, of course, there are the holidays that need special bibs. Rather than spend a lot of money buying bibs, handmade bibs can show off your creative side. One-of-a-kind bibs can be made with old clothing, textiles and even trash.
Basic Baby Bib Template
Measure and draw an 8-1/2-inch wide by 11-inch long rectangle on poster board or lightweight cardboard and cut it out. Curve the corners. With the short sides laying horizontally, one is the top and one is the bottom of the bib. Find the center of the bib top and measure down 1-1/2 inches. Draw a centered 3-1/2-inch circle using a compass. Cut from the top center of the bib down to the circle and cut out the circle.
Cowboy Denim Bib
Cut the legs from an old pair of adult-sized blue jeans. Cut the legs open at the doubled outer seam. Lay one leg right-side down on your work table, place a red bandanna on top and complete the layers with the other jean leg right-side up. Place the bib template on top of the three layers and trace around it (make sure all three layers are under the template). Pin through all three of the bib layers and cut out. Sew around the cut edges of the bib 1/2 inch from the edge, including the circle neck cutout. Cut slits along the edge 1/2 inch apart. Do not cut through the stitching. Throw the bib in the washer and the dryer to make the edges raggedy. Trace a star cookie cutter on the paper side of lightweight fusible web and cut out. Place the fusible web star, glue side down, on the back of a leftover bandanna scrap and iron to adhere. Cut the fused star out. Peel the paper from the back of the star. Place it, glue side down, on the front of the bib, centered and slightly to the right. Iron to fuse in place. Topstitch around the star 1/4 inch from the star's edge to secure.
Cut a front and back of 5/8-inch wide Velcro, 1/2 inch long. Overlap the cut ends at the top of the bib 1 inch. Place the Velcro pieces between the overlap and pin one piece to each overlap. Topstitch the edges of the Velcro to the bib.
Junk Food Baby Bib
Choose a bag from your favorite type of potato chip. Cut away the seam at the top and bottom of the bag. Cut the center back of the bag open from the top of the bag to the bottom. To remove any greasy residue, clean the bag with a rag, soap and water. Lay a 12-inch square of flannel right-side down on your work surface. Cut a 12-inch square from the potato chip bag front and place it right-side up on top of the flannel. Top the layers with a 12-inch square of clear vinyl. Center the bib template on the vinyl and trace around it with an ink pen. Pin the layers together, inside the traced bib, 1/4 inch from the bib edge. Cut the bib out through all three layers, just inside the pen mark. Zig-zag stitch 1/4 inch from the bib edge, including the circle neck cutout. Attach Velcro as in the cowboy denim bib to finish the bib.
Tags: inch from, three layers, 12-inch square, from edge, inch from edge, circle neck, circle neck cutout