DIY Baby Bandana Bib
It’s very easy to make your own DIY baby bandana bib. If I can manage this sewing project, anyone can!
Why Make a Bandana Bib
I remember the first time I saw a baby bandana and was confused. Is it for fashion? Are they starting a life of crime in the old west?
While you can definitely have bandana bibs that are fashionable, their main purpose is to catch spit and spit up.
My three month old, Louisa, is a very spitty baby. She doesn’t spit up much but she seems to always have a shine of spit on her little chin. Those cute little fists are often stuffed in her mouth, spit trailing down her hand as she happily gums her fingers.
I only had two bandana bibs on hand. They are the Nuby brand. I loved the soft feel and lovely pattern. The local Wal-Mart didn’t have any in stock so I decided to make some myself.
Cotton Muslin Bandana Bib
We have a TON of beautiful cotton muslin swaddles. The sad thing is, we rarely use them. We used the Nested Bean swaddle for Jane when she was little and Louisa has never liked being swaddled from the beginning. So two for two, we have a pile of gorgeous swaddles going to waste.
Rather than go buy fabric, I decided to turn some swaddles into bandana bibs!
Cotton muslin is a great choice because it is lightweight, soft, and very breathable.
Supplies for a DIY Bandana Bib
Aside from the Velcro I already had everything I needed for this project at home!
- One Cotton Muslin Swaddle
- Thread of your choice
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Baby Soft Velcro
How to Make a DIY Bandana Bib
Pattern
Begin by either printing the pattern below or making your own. If you already have a bandana bib that you like, lay it out on a flat surface and trace onto paper. Cut it out and you’re ready to start cutting your fabric.
Cut
For this bib you will need three layers of fabric. If that still feels too thin, add a fourth layer.
You can cut your fabric a few ways.
- Lay it out in one layer, then trace the pattern three times (I use washable marker) and cut them out. This option has the least amount of fabric waste.
- Fold the swaddle into thirds, then cut out along the pattern to get three perfectly matched pieces.
Personally I recommend the second option as your fabric is all lined up and makes pinning/sewing that much faster.
With the first bib I made I wanted to get the sort of swoopy look of the fabric on a Nuby bandana bib. I cut two pieces one size, and a third piece a few inches larger.
Honestly, the cotton muslin is light and soft it is kind of difficult to work with in layers. In the end I didn’t think it was worth all the extra putzing.
Lay it Out
We will be sewing this, then flipping it inside out. So, we need to make sure when we flip it inside out, you have the patterns laid out so they will be seen.
Lay your first layer down with the pattern facing up.
The second layer can really go either direction.
The third layer should lay with the pattern face down.
Pin
As I said, cotton muslin is so light and soft it moves easily and sticks to itself readily. I found it to be a patience-testing fabric to work with. That being said, I HIGHLY recommend you pin your pattern.
Place pins all around the edges to keep it all in place.
After pinning, flip the bib over to make sure you got all the layers where you want them to be.
I also recommend trimming off any extra overhang from a layer that doesn’t match up with the rest.
Sew
For this first seam I think a regular old straight stitch works well. Keep the setting so the stitches are close together.
Starting on one side towards the bottom of the bib, begin sewing around the entire bib, remembering to do the little “backward forward” reverse stitch move to keep in locked in place. Stop sewing about a 1 1/2 inch before you reach the end.
Snip the thread, then turn the bib inside out. It’s a small enough project you can work it through with your fingers easily enough.
Once the bib is right side out it is time for a finishing stitch. Meaning, sew along the edges of the finished project to keep everything held together well and give it a nice finished look. Use whatever stitch you like for this. I went again with a straight stitch.
When you reach the opening, fold the layers together and sew over it. You won’t even be able to tell that’s where you flipped it inside out!
Finish
To finish, take two pieces of baby safe velcro and sew them on to the ends of the bandana. Make sure you lay it out first so you get the pieces sewn on right. The first time I did this project I had to resew the velcro on!
How many bibs can I get out of one swaddle?
That depends on how big the swaddle is and how large your pattern is. I used a standard sized Aiden and Anais swaddle and was able to get four bibs out of it. But if you have better placement than I did you could easily get five.
Free Bandana Bib Pattern
Unfortunately our scanner at home isn’t working, but I will upload the pattern I made on February 7th, 2022. Please check back if you are visiting before that date.
More Sewing Projects
Looking for more upcycle sewing projects? One of my favorites is a tote bag made from an old compost bag (though a feed sack would work too) or this harvest apron I made from an old shower curtain!
Watch and Learn
Again let me emphasize I am what I’d consider a novice sewer. I’ve made aprons, tote bags, a dress, bibs, and a few other simple things. So if you are a sewing novice too or brand new then hey, this might be helpful.
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