I was looking over all the fun accessories I’ve been making for Annie and myself lately, and I started to feel bad that I hadn’t made anything for James. Don’t get me wrong, he really rocks a wired scarf, but I wanted him to have something just for himself. I am nowhere near being able to sew baby clothes, but I thought bibs would be pretty simple. If James isn’t eating, he’s drooling, so bibs get a lot of play around here.
I went to my local Joann Fabric Store, found some cute patterns and brightly colored terry cloth, and a project was born. I whipped out four bibs in a day (I machine-sewed two and hand-sewed two), so I can confidently say they are easy no matter how you sew them together. I made them reversible by pairing different fabrics/patterns together.
If you want to make some cute reversible bibs for the baby in your life, you’ll need:
Terry cloth
Cute patterned fabric
Pins
Velcro
Fabric scissors
Bib pattern (see below)
Fabric scraps & stencils (if you want to get fancy)
Needle, thread
Start by placing your bib pattern on the back of your first piece of pre-washed fabric. You can either trace an existing bib you have, or you can download the template I made here and here (the template was too large for standard 8.5×11″ paper, so cut out the two template pieces then tape them together). Cut your fabric, then repeat on your matching fabric.
Pin your fabric together inside-out, with the two FRONT pieces on the inside. If you are going to add any extra designs to your bibs, you would do this before you pin the pieces together. I have an example/explanation further down.
Sew the pieces together. Keep the stitches small and tight if you are hand-sewing. Make sure you leave an inch-long opening to pull your fabric through.
Once you’ve completed sewing, pull the bib through the opening you left.
See the ragged opening there, where you pulled your fabric through? Tuck those edges in so they look like the picture below.
You can close the hole in one of two ways: You can simply close it by hand or machine sewing, or you can topstitch. A topstitich is a stitch sewn parallel to the hem (here’s a great explanation.) It’s definitely not necessary, but it not only makes your bib look even nicer, it also makes it more durable (important for repeated washes!). I closed this bib by hand, but then I went back and topstitched it because I like how it looks.
Add your velcro. I cut 1.5-inch pieces.
Sew all around the edges of the velcro, and I suggest also sewing in an X shape across the velcro as well. James tugs on his bibs so the X helps to really secure the velcro pieces.
Here it is all done! I called this one “The Hipster Lumberjack,” because it made me laugh.
James is very hip.
These are the four I made. If I (a perfectionist who is figuring it out as she goes along) can make four of something in one day, you know it’s easy!
This one is proper in the front, pillage in the back. See the red felt bow tie? That’s what I meant by adding an extra design. You want to add these BEFORE you pin your bib pieces together. I used felt and cookie cutters to create the shapes I wanted, then I sewed them onto the front side of my bibs. Once the shapes were applied, I pinned the bibs together. I also did this on the bib below.
I call this one the “Rawr! Whale noise! bib” Annie picked the animals from the cookie cutters I have.
Clearly James loves them.
I kept this one simple. One side is plain, for when James wants to be under cover. The other side reveals his superhero identity.
He’s super!
These were really fun to make. I wish I had some pregnant friends, I think they’d be a nice baby shower gift!
Any questions, let me know! Have fun!
charlene says:
you seriously need to think about baby modeling, he is a natural
Missy says:
I TOTALLY agree!!! He’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying alot cuz I have some seriously cute babies myself! And he is ALWAYS smiling!!
Linda says:
Honestly, there is not a more beautiful baby boy in the world than James.
Paula says:
Jamesie’s hair is growing! Holy buckets! It really shows in that last photograph! He’s a ham for the camera and knows how to whip out the tongue for extra effect!
Kenna says:
He is such a happy smiley baby! I love his photos!!
Even easier – you can get heat-applied Velcro that you put on with your iron. Works like a charm and is super easy. For the appliques, look into Wonder-Under. It will make pretty much anything into an applique that you can iron on. I use it, but like you very much prefer the topstitched look, so I stitch them down.
Heather says:
I thought about the heat-applied Velcro, but does it hold as well as the stitched-on kind?
Arlene Cloud says:
I use Wonder Under for all my appliques, and then machine or do a pretty hand embroidery stitch. As for the iron on Velcro, not as much luck after repeated washings. I do use if I need to keep the velcro in place before I sew it, but the “stick-um” gums up my needle pretty bad.
Kenna says:
I have used it on play capes that I made for the kids and never had a problem. I usually round the corners (to avoid corners lifting) and I make sure all the edges are sealed down well. I almost always leave the iron on way longer than directions suggest!
Lisa says:
First, James is out of control cute.
Second, your captions cracked me up. Proper in the front, pillage in the back? Rowr! Whale Noise!? Hilarious.
defendUSA says:
Mmm.MMM.MMMM. That bay-bay is a star. These pics made my morning!!
Sarah says:
You are hilarious, Heather! Your blog really brightens my mornings. Thank you for sharing your adorable children with us.
Nicole says:
Oh gosh I wish I could post the side-by-side of James in the Hipster Lumberjack and a Bill Hader image! Something about the way James has his eyebrows totally reminded me of an animated Bill Hader! (James is way cuter though.)
Wendy says:
I love them and you can never have to many as proved by the girl next door to me who had 26 on her washing line the other week ( yes I counted them). None of them as nice as yours those. James will look very trendy.
Jenn says:
GOOD JOB MAMA!!! OMG!!! COULD HE BE ANY CUTER?!?!? The second pic on the right (well my right) so reminds me of Maddie! I love all the pictures but the one with his little tongue out cracked me up!!! You’re getting really good a sewing! You should be proud of yourself!!!
Rob O'Neill says:
Great Job! How did you make that cutest baby bibs ever? What do moms want for a baby bibs? It’s reversibility, right? I think there are only few baby bibs that is reversible. For sure many moms love these kind of bibs because you can use all the bibs for two times (the back and the front).
Angela Jackson says:
Thanks for showing how easy it is to do your own bib. Your instructions are very easy to follow and clear.