
T-shirt bibs are a great way to repurpose old clothing and make a practical item for babies and toddlers. They are easy to make and can be customised with different fabrics, colours and patterns. You can use a pre-made template or create your own pattern, and the process is simple: cut the t-shirt to size and shape, sew on a backing fabric, trim and decorate as desired, then add fasteners such as snaps or Velcro. T-shirt bibs are a fun, creative project that results in a unique and useful item.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Materials | T-shirt, fabric for reverse (old tee shirt/flannel shirt/flannel pj pant leg), sew-on snap, backing fabric (fleece or terry cloth), washable marker or fabric pencil, trims such as buttons and lace, sew-on Velcro, needle and thread, scissors, iron, sewing machine |
Steps | 1. Cut the bottom of the shirt off. 2. Cut off the arms. 3. Cut around the image, leaving space, and around the neck of the shirt. 4. Shape the bib. 5. Place bib face-to-face with backing, sew, and trim. 6. Reverse and trim. 7. Topstitch. 8. Open the neck and attach snap. |
What You'll Learn
Choosing the right fabric for the back of the bib
When making a t-shirt bib, it's important to choose the right fabric for the back of the bib to ensure it is comfortable, absorbent, and easy to clean. Here are some factors to consider when selecting the fabric:
Softness
The fabric should be soft and comfortable against the baby's skin. Some fabrics, like knit terrycloth, are section softer than their counterparts, making them a good choice for babies with sensitive skin. Similarly, flannel is also known for its softness and can be a good option for the back of the bib.
Absorbency
Absorbency is a key factor, as the purpose of the bib is to catch food and drink spills. Fabrics like terrycloth, with its spirals on the inside and outside, are excellent at wicking away moisture and preventing spills from soaking through. Cotton is also a good option, as it is absorbent and easy to clean.
Waterproof
If you want a waterproof option, consider using a synthetic material like Polyurethane Laminate (PUL). It is excellent at preventing liquid spills from soaking through and is soft and comfortable enough for the baby's sensitive skin. PUL is also breathable and can be washed in hot water to get rid of germs. Alternatively, you could use Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), which is similar to PUL but slightly less durable and more flexible and environmentally friendly.
Ease of Cleaning
Choose a fabric that is easy to clean and can be washed in the laundry without special treatment. Fabrics like cotton and bamboo are easy to clean and can be washed on high temperatures.
Other Options
Other fabric options include polar fleece, which is inexpensive and acts as a barrier to liquids, and microfleece, which is softer and more absorbent than polar fleece. If you're looking for a luxurious feel, plush fabric (formerly known as Minky fabric) is an excellent choice, although it is more expensive and can be challenging to work with.
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Cutting the T-shirt
Lay your T-shirt out flat, ensuring it is inside out. If you want to, you can cut the T-shirt apart at the seams, but this is not necessary. If your T-shirt is particularly wrinkled, iron it out before marking and cutting the fabric.
Now, lay your bib pattern on the T-shirt. If you don't have a pattern, you can use a store-bought bib as a template, or cut around the collar of the T-shirt, leaving 2-3 inches of fabric below it. If you are using a paper pattern, pin it to the fabric to prevent it from slipping.
Trace around the bib pattern with a washable marker or fabric pencil. Use a light-coloured marker or pencil for dark fabrics and a darker one for light fabrics. Once you are done tracing, adjust the pattern on the cloth as desired—for instance, you may want to make it larger, longer, or change the shape of the bottom. A squared-off bottom is easier to sew closed later.
When you are satisfied with your shape, pin the pieces together and cut around your bib, leaving a generous seam allowance. Be careful not to pull or stretch the fabric while cutting, as this can cause your finished product to become crooked.
Now, cut off the bottom of the shirt, and then cut off the arms. Cut around the image, leaving lots of space, and cut around the neck of the shirt. You can shape the bib as you like—for instance, by cutting the corners to make them rounded. Leave approximately half an inch around the edges for the hem.
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Shaping the bib
Firstly, decide on the shape you want for your bib. You can choose to cut the corners for a curved look, or leave them square for a more traditional style. If you're using a t-shirt with a design, ensure that you trim closely around the neck and narrow the join between the shirt and the neck to create a neat appearance. Leave approximately half an inch around the edges for the hem.
If you're using a paper pattern, pin it to the fabric to prevent slipping. You can also adjust the pattern on the cloth if desired—make it larger, longer, or change the shape of the bottom to suit your preferences or requirements. For instance, a squared-off bottom is easier to sew closed later.
Now, cut around your bib, giving yourself a generous seam allowance. Be careful not to pull or stretch the fabric while cutting, especially if you're working with knit fabric, as it can cause your finished product to become crooked.
If you're using a t-shirt with a design that you want to incorporate, ensure that you centre the bib over the logo or image. This will ensure that the design is prominently featured on the finished bib.
Once you're happy with the shape and positioning, it's time to sew the bib together. Set your sewing machine to a long stitch to prevent the fabric from puckering, or, if hand-sewing, be sure not to pull the thread too tightly for the same reason. It's recommended to start sewing from the bottom, slightly off-centre, as this is where your opening for turning the bib will be.
Sew slowly and carefully, especially around the curves, to avoid pushing or pulling the cloth. For the curviest parts, you may need to raise the presser foot and turn the cloth while the needle is still in the fabric to maintain a straight seam. Remember to stop an inch or two from where you started sewing to leave an opening for turning the bib right-side out.
After sewing, trim the edges closer to the stitches, except where the opening is. Then, clip notches into the rounded parts of the bib to ensure it turns correctly. If you've squared off the pattern, don't forget to clip across the corners as well.
Now, turn the bib right-side out through the opening. Use your finger or a pencil to push out all the curves or corners for a neat finish. Press with a hot iron to align the seams correctly and prepare for top-stitching.
Finally, turn the edges of the opening inside and line them up with the shape of the bib's bottom. Press with the iron again to hold the shape. Now, your bib is ready for top-stitching!
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Sewing the bib
Now that you have your materials and pattern ready, it's time to start sewing your bib!
Lay your chosen fabric for the back of the bib on top of the front piece, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Pin your pattern on top and cut around it, leaving a seam allowance of around half an inch. Remove the paper pattern but keep the fabric pieces pinned together.
Sew the front and back pieces together, remembering to leave a gap of around 1-2 inches so that you can turn the bib the right way out. Turn the bib the right way out and iron it flat. Pin the gap shut and stitch it closed.
Top stitch all around the edge of the bib to ensure the layers don't shift over time. Finally, attach your chosen fastening, such as Velcro or a snap, to the ends of the bib.
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Adding fasteners and decorations
Now that you've cut out the fabric for your t-shirt bib, it's time to add the fasteners and decorations. Here are some tips and ideas to help you with this step:
Fasteners
- You can use sew-on snaps, Velcro, or elastic for the fasteners.
- If using snaps, hand-sew them onto the two halves of the neck opening. You may want to fold over part of the neck fabric to reinforce the snap.
- If using Velcro, consider using Babyville snaps instead. They look good on both sides and allow the bib to be reversible.
- If using elastic, thread it through the neck casing created by the ribbed neck of the t-shirt. Stitch the ends of the elastic together and pull it into the neck casing.
- For a simpler option, you can skip the fasteners altogether and simply tie the bib around the baby's neck.
Decorations
- Use decorative buttons, embroidery, iron-ons, stencilling, rick-rack, lace, stamps, crocheted edging, or fabric patches to decorate your bib.
- If you want to stamp or stencil a design, do it before sewing the bib together to avoid any ink bleeding through.
- Be sure to secure all decorations to prevent them from becoming a choking hazard for the baby.
- Avoid using scratchy items on the main part of the bib, as this may irritate the baby's skin.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a T-shirt, preferably an old one, backing fabric such as fleece, terry cloth, or an old towel, a needle and thread or a sewing machine, and fasteners such as sew-on snaps or Velcro.
First, cut the bottom of the shirt off, then cut off the arms, and finally, cut around the image and the neck of the shirt, leaving enough fabric to work with. You can also cut the shirt apart at the seams if you want to use the same material for the front and back of the bib.
You can choose to cut the corners or leave them square, depending on your preference. Trim closely around the neck and narrow the join between the shirt and the neck, leaving about half an inch around the edges for the hem.
Place the bib printed side in on the backing fabric and sew the backing on all sides except at the neck. Then, turn the bib print-side out and trim the backing fabric to meet the neck of the shirt. Topstitch all around to secure the backing fabric in place.
You can use sew-on snaps, Velcro, or elastic for the fasteners. If using snaps, cut open the neck near the shoulder and hand-sew the snap onto the two halves. For Velcro, sew it onto the tabs of the bib, with the scratchier side on the "facing up" tab and the softer side on the "facing down" tab.