Baby Bib Pattern Maker
A baby bib is a body that catches spills and a neck band that closes it. Measure the neck, set how far down the bib should drop, and the bib body and the neck band are drawn to fit, with an absorbent backing layer.
Choose a snap or hook-and-loop tape fastening. Read the maker’s safety notes on this page before you sew one: it is a small item for a small person, and the fit and the fastening are for you to check.
Make this pattern in your size →Read before you sew
The maker prints this note with the pattern. It is guidance for choosing materials and using the finished item, not a guarantee.
- Use this bib only while the child is awake and supervised. Remove it before sleep. Check the finished neck fit and fastening before use, and that nothing (snap, tape corner or loose thread) can come away: small parts are a choking hazard. Use snaps made for baby wear.
What you can change
Size
- Measured neck circumference: 18–45 cm (7⅛–17¾″). Measure around the neck where the finished band will sit; ease is added separately.
- Body drop: 15–32 cm (5⅞–12⅝″). From the top of the bib body to its lowest point.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Measured neck circumference 26 cm (10¼″), Body drop 18 cm (7⅛″).
Options
- Fastening: snap or hook-and-loop tape
- Measurements and counts: Neck ease, Body width
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| Small bib | neck 26 cm + 2.5 cm ease · snap · body 19 × 18 cm | neck 10″ + 1″ ease · snap · body 7½ × 7″ |
| Everyday bib | neck 31 cm + 3 cm ease · hook-and-loop · body 23 × 22 cm | neck 12″ + 1¼″ ease · hook-and-loop · body 9 × 9″ |
| Longer bib | neck 37 cm + 3.5 cm ease · snap · body 28 × 28 cm | neck 14½″ + 1½″ ease · snap · body 11 × 11″ |
Cutting list
At the starting size (Measured neck circumference 26 cm (10¼″), Body drop 18 cm (7⅛″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bib body | Main fabric | 1 | up to 19.4 × 20 cm (up to ≈7⅝ × 7⅞″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Bib body | Lining | 1 | up to 19.4 × 20 cm (up to ≈7⅝ × 7⅞″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Neck band | Main fabric | 1 | 34.5 × 5 cm (≈13⅝ × ≈2″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
| Neck band | Lining | 1 | 34.5 × 5 cm (≈13⅝ × ≈2″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
| Snap reinforcement | Interfacing | 2 | 1.8 × 1.8 cm (≈¾ × ≈¾″) | Strip: cut by measurement |
You will also need: Thread; Snap set. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 0.3 m of 112 cm fabric; Lining about 0.3 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Cut the bib front, absorbent back and neck-band layers, plus two support squares to the cutting-list sizes. Seam allowances are included. Transfer the turning-gap notches, body attachment marks and fastener marks.
- Measure the child’s neck and allow 2.5 cm room. The path between fastener centres on the finished band is 28.5 cm. Make a paper or fabric test band first and check the fit on the child before cutting the final bib.
- Fuse one support square behind each snap dot on the wrong side of the outer band.
- Put the two neck-band layers right sides together and sew around at the marked seam allowance, leaving the lower-edge gap open. Clip the corners, turn, and press. Close the gap with an edgestitch, then topstitch the rest of the band.
- Install the two matching snap halves at the printed dots through the reinforced ends, with the ends overlapping when fastened. The fabric beyond the dots forms a 2 cm overlap at each end.
- Put the bib front and absorbent back right sides together. Sew around the edge at 1 cm, leaving the 7 cm gap between the left-side notches. Clip the curved corners and grade the seam allowances without cutting the stitching. Turn, press and topstitch all around to close the gap.
- Centre the finished band over the bib’s 11.09 cm top edge, with the band overlapping the bib front by about 1.5 cm. Keep the fastener ends free. Sew a reinforced rectangle through the band and both bib layers between the printed attachment marks.
- Fasten the neck band and check that it lies comfortably, the body hangs flat, and no fastener or seam can be pulled loose. Remove the bib before the child sleeps.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: Soft, washable woven cotton or linen. Avoid loose decorations or detachable trims.
Lining: Absorbent cotton terry or flannel for the backing. Check that it feels comfortable against the skin.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: Two small fusible interfacing squares support the snap positions. Hook-and-loop tape is stitched to the finished band.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: great choice. Stable enough for a measured neck band and comfortable as a top layer.
- Heavy or stiff: possible, with care. A thick body and band can be bulky near the neck; choose a lighter outer cloth.
- Stretchy knit: not recommended. The neck band can stretch out of its measured fit.
- Slippery or fine: possible, with care. Baste the two body layers so the tapered sides stay aligned.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 2 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
What size can I make?
The baby bib pattern takes measured neck circumference from 18–45 cm (7⅛–17¾″); body drop from 15–32 cm (5⅞–12⅝″). It starts at Measured neck circumference 26 cm (10¼″), Body drop 18 cm (7⅛″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. There are 3 starting points to begin from (Small bib, Everyday bib, Longer bib). Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the baby bib pattern?
Soft, washable woven cotton or linen. Avoid loose decorations or detachable trims. In the maker’s fabric advice, stable woven is a great choice; heavy or stiff and slippery or fine are possible with care; stretchy knit is not recommended.