How to sew a baby bib (free pattern)

To sew a baby bib, cut one bib front and one back, place them right sides together, and sew around the edge with a ¼ in seam, leaving a gap to turn. Clip the curves, turn it right side out, topstitch the edge, then add a snap at the neck. The free Sewzy baby bib pattern takes about 20 minutes and comes in newborn, baby and toddler sizes.

TL;DR

• Time: about 20 minutes. Difficulty: beginner.
• Sizes: newborn (9½ in), baby (10½ in), toddler (11½ in).
• Seam allowance: ¼ in (6 mm), already included in the pattern.
• Front: quilting cotton, double gauze or flannel. Back: terry toweling, flannel or minky so it soaks up drool.
• Close it with one size 20 plastic snap or a ¾ in piece of hook-and-loop. Never use a long ribbon or string at a baby's neck.
• The baby bib pattern is free in the Sewzy app, with all three sizes included.

What you need

One bib uses two fat quarters or scraps a little bigger than the bib shape. Pick a soft, washable cotton for the front and an absorbent layer for the back:

• Front fabric: quilting cotton, double gauze or flannel.
• Back fabric: terry toweling, flannel or minky.
• Optional middle layer: flannel or PUL, a thin waterproof fabric, for a heavy drooler.
• One size 20 plastic snap per bib, or 1 in of ¾ in hook-and-loop.
• Matching thread.

What size bib should I make?

Match the bib to the baby's age, then check the neck. Measure loosely around the base of the baby's neck; the snap gives about 1 in of adjustment, so one size covers a range.

How to sew a baby bib step by step

1. Cut. Cut one bib from the front fabric and one from the back fabric. If you are adding the optional middle layer, cut that too and baste it to the back piece.
2. Sew. Put the front and back right sides together. Sew all the way around with a ¼ in seam, but leave a gap of a few inches along one straight side so you can turn it.
3. Clip and turn. Clip the curves and the neck notch up to the stitching so they lie flat, then turn the bib right side out through the gap. Push the curves out with a blunt point and press.
4. Snap. Topstitch all the way around close to the edge, which also closes the gap. Add the snap at the neck tabs, or stitch on the hook-and-loop. The bib is done.

New to curved seams? The guide to sewing straight lines and curves shows how to clip a curve so it turns smoothly.

Can I sew bibs from scraps?

Yes, and that is the point of this shape. Each bib is one small piece front and back, so a fat quarter or a leftover of quilting cotton is plenty. Bibs sew up fast in a batch: cut four or five at once, chain the sewing, then turn and snap them together. A pile of handmade bibs in different prints makes an easy gift for a new parent.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the clips on the curves. Without clips the neck curve puckers once you turn it. Clip close to the stitches, not through them.
• A back fabric that does not absorb. A cotton-on-cotton bib looks pretty but drool soaks straight through. Use terry toweling, flannel or minky on the back.
• Any string or ribbon at the neck. For safety, close a bib with a snap or hook-and-loop that pulls apart if it catches, and take the bib off before the baby sleeps.
• Topstitching too far from the edge. Stitch close to the edge so the turning gap is caught and closed.

Should I prewash the fabric?

Yes. Prewash and dry your fabric before you cut, so the bib does not shrink out of shape the first time it goes through the wash. Terry toweling and flannel both shrink, and a prewash also softens them. Once the bib is made, wash it warm and tumble or line dry. If you used a PUL middle layer, keep the iron off that layer and press only the outside.

Bandana bib or classic bib?

This pattern is the classic rounded bib that sits flat on the chest and fastens at the back of the neck. A bandana bib is a triangle that doubles as part of an outfit. The classic shape covers more and catches more drool, which is why it is the better everyday choice. Either way the sewing is the same: two layers, sew, turn and close with a snap.

When can a baby wear a bib?

A drool or feeding bib can be worn from newborn, whenever the baby is awake and supervised. Always take the bib off for naps and night sleep, and check that the snap still holds firmly after washing. Never add beads, loose ribbon or anything that could come off near a baby's face.

More quick baby makes

A bib pairs well with a matching hooded towel for bath time and a pair of baby booties, or a wipes pouch for the diaper bag. For a full set, see our baby shower gifts to sew and the baby and kids patterns. If this is one of your first makes, the easy projects for beginners has more 20 minute wins. The bib is also one of the free Sewzy patterns.