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Free Baby Bandana Bib Pattern to Sew with a Serger

Do you have a baby or grandbaby who is teething? Teething babies drool a lot, which wets their little outfits. Make adorable bandana baby bibs with our FREE PATTERN and your serger or sewing machine.

Annette is babysitting one of her great-grandchildren and needs some bibs.  I noticed purchased bibs were made with a simple serged edge of the bib and thought I’d make similar bibs for Annette to use.

This simple bib pattern makes a perfect gift for a new mom.  Use our free patterns for bandana baby bib, burp cloth, changing pad, crinkle tag toy, and reversible bib, and package the perfect baby shower gift basket with baby accessories. Free Bandana Baby Bib Pattern & Tutorial - fb

Our bandana bibs stitch up super quickly with a serger and can be made in about a half hour. Cut out two pieces of fabric, serge them together, add snaps, and you are finished. This is an easy sewing project to make with your serger and will give you practice going around tight corners.  

If you don't have a serger, don't worry; you can still make these baby bibs using a sewing machine and the zig-zag stitch.

Kam Snap Closure

These bibs use a Kam Snap closure.  Kam Snaps are fun and colorful plastic snaps used in many sewing projects. 

Placing two snaps on each side of the bib makes it adjustable to fit almost any baby. Different combinations of snaps can make the bib smaller for younger babies or larger for older babies. So, it’s a one-size-fits-most bib.

If you don't have Kam Snaps, scroll to the end of this tutorial to find links to purchase starter packs of plastic snaps.

Alternatively, you could use small pieces of velcro instead of plastic snaps.

FREE PATTERN!

The first thing you will need is the Free printable PDF pattern. You can get the bandana bib pattern by scrolling down to the end of the page, past my signature. There, you will find a link to the FREE sewing pattern.

If you prefer an ad-free printable PDF version of this bandana baby bib tutorial, please click the link below to visit our Etsy shop. Your purchase will also include the free pattern. Purchases from our Etsy shop support our small business and help us keep making more videos and tutorials like this.

For a step-by-step video tutorial, click the link to our YouTube video, or keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to make the bandana baby bib.


PRINTABLE PDF TUTORIAL - If you would like an ad free printable version of this tutorial optimized for printing, please visit our Etsy Shop listing for Baby Bandana Bib Pattern to Sew with a Serger #ad. For a small fee, you can purchase a PDF downloadable version of this tutorial.
Keep reading for the free version of this tutorial.


COMPLETE VIDEO TUTORIAL AVAILABLE! The video below is a preview with no audio, to watch the whole video tutorial, click the link Free Baby Bandana Bib Pattern to Sew with a Serger to watch in Youtube.


Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We make a small commission on sales through the affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for your purchase and your support! Please see our full Affiliate Statement for more information.

WHAT YOU NEED to sew a bandana baby bib

Step-by-Step Tutorial to make a DIY baby bib

These instructions will show you how to make this bandana baby bib using a serger sewing machine.

If you don't have a serger, use a regular sewing machine's zig-zag stitch to make these bibs. Instructions are included below in Step 4b.Serger Bib Three Finished

STEP 1: Selecting Fabrics

Look in the nursery section of a fabric store for cute fabric. There are many knit and flannel fabrics for this adorable baby bib. Use a flannel on one side and ribbed knit or fleece fabric on the other, making the bibs soft. Some other fabric options are terry cloth or cotton fabric.

The two layers of fabric help absorb the baby's drool.  

I found it easier to serge these bibs using a flannel on one side.  I made one bib with two stretchy knit fabrics, and the stretch made it harder to go around the tight corners. So, the best fabric is one flannel layer and one knit.Serger Bib 1 Fabrics

STEP 2: Get the Free Printable Pattern

The FREE bandana baby bib pattern is available at the end of this tutorial.  Scroll past my signature to the links with supplies for this project.  The free pattern link will be there!

Open the pdf sewing pattern file and print the two pages with the pattern pieces. Select 100% or the actual size when printing. Serger Bib 2 Printed Pattern

STEP 2: Cut the fabric

The two pattern pieces are for the front and back of the bib. The front piece is a little larger in the neck area, creating the fold in the bib by the neckline.

Fold one of the fabrics with the wrong side together.  The folded fabric should be large enough for the bib pattern piece.  Place the straight edge of the pattern piece along the fold.  Pin the pattern in place and cut along the solid curved line.  Do not cut the side with the fold.  Serger Bib 3 Pattern On Fabric

Cut out one front and one back piece for each bib similarly.Serger Bib 4 Fabrics Cut Out

The photo above shows the two pattern pieces cut out.  Note that the side with the fold was not cut, as shown in the image below. Serger Bib 5 Showing FoldThe pattern also includes suggested placement for the snaps.

STEP 3: Place Front and back together and pin

Unfold the two fabrics and place them with the wrong sides together, matching the point through the neck arm.Serger Bib 6 Layer Fabrics

Pin the pieces together from the point up to the neck arms.Serger Bib 7 Pinned Fabrics

There is extra fabric along the neckline.  This is to make this fold in the finished bib. Carefully pin the neck by matching the raw edges of the fabric.Serger Bib 8 Pinned Neck

STEP 4A: Sew the bib using a serger

Note: If you want to sew this bib with a sewing machine, look below for Step 4B.

Set up the serger for a 4-thread overlock stitch.  A 3-thread overlock could also be used for this project.

The normal serger tension and stitch length settings can be used.  If you are sewing two layers of knit fabrics, you may need to adjust the differential feed to correct a wavy seam. Serger Bib 9 Setup Serger

Start sewing the bib from the point, removing the pins as you sew.  The serger will cut the pins, which can get caught when sewing the overlock stitch.  Serger Bib 10 Start Sewing at Point

As you sew, cut off 1/8" - 1/4" of fabric. This will clean up the edge as it stitches the overlock.Serger Bib 11 Trim Quarter Inch Off

Go slowly around the curve.  As you stitch, stop with the needles down, lift the foot, and turn the fabric as needed.  You may not trim fabric when going around the corner. Serger Bib 12 Slow Around Corners

Continue stitching around the neckline.  Be sure not to catch any of the extra fabric in the seam.

Finish sewing around the other neck arm and back to the point.  Hold the starting thread tail and let it cut off the tail as you finish the stitch.  Stop 1 - 2 stitches past the end of the point.Serger Bib 13 Continue Back To Point

To secure the stitches of the seam, lift the presser foot and flip over the bib. Serger Bib 14 Stop Lift Foot

 Then, sew back across the point of the bib. Just catch the tip of the point.Serger Bib 15 Flip Over Sew Across Point

Sew a few extra stitches and cut the thread, leaving about a 1/2" tail.  Pull on the thread ends to knot the threads.  Trim off the ends.Serger Bib 16 Pull Threads to Knot

Step 4b: How to Sew the Bib with a Zig-zag Stitch

You can still make this project if you don't have a serger. The steps are the same, except use a wide, short zig-zag stitch on your standard sewing machine. With this method, no seam allowance will be trimmed.

Go slowly around the corners. You may need to put down the needle, lift the presser foot, and turn the fabric to get around the corner. Serger Bib 22 Alternative Zig Zag AroundFinish the seam by back tacking at the beginning and end.

STEP 5: Iron the fold

Lay the bib flat on the ironing board. The extra fabric along the neckline should create a natural fold.  Iron the bib and the fold.Serger Bib 17 Iron

STEP 6: Add Kam Snaps

The last step is to install the Kam snaps, as shown in the photo below.  Two snaps are installed on each arm.  Install one set with the flat cap facing up towards you.  The 2nd side will be installed with the flat cap facing down. Serger Bib 18a Showing Snap InstallationInstall both studs on one side and the sockets on the other side.

The pattern has two marks indicating the suggested placement of the snaps. Mark the snap placement on the bib arms.Serger Bib 19a Mark Snap Locations

Two snaps are placed on each arm, allowing the bib to be adjusted for different-sized babies. Use combinations of the snaps to adjust the fit from small to large.  Serger Bib 23 Finished Bibs Showing Different Sizes

Pick out the colored snaps and use the awl and Kam snap pliers to install the snaps. If you are unsure how to install Kam Snaps, click the link to see our full tutorial.Serger Bib 18aa Snaps with Pliers

Select four caps, two studs, and two sockets. Serger Bib 18 Kam Snaps

Make the holes with an awl at the marked spots.Serger Bib 19 Poke Hole with Awl

Install the snaps with kam snap pliers.Serger Bib 20 Place Snap Into Pliers

For the snaps to work correctly, install the snaps on one neck arm with the snaps facing down and the other side with the snaps facing up.  Also, install two studs on one side and two sockets on the other.Serger Bib 21 Squeeze to Install Snap

If you make a mistake when installing the Kam snaps, see our tutorial on how to remove Kam snaps.

The bandana baby bibs are ready to be used.Serger Bib 24 Finished Bibs

Below is a closeup of a bib.Serger Bib Finished Closeup

The photos below show the bibs on a couple of stuffed animals.Serger Bib on Bear Serger Bib on Bear and Rabbit Serger Bib on Bear showing back Serger Bib on Rabbit

We hope you enjoyed learning how to make a bandana baby bib with a serger sewing machine.  Scroll down to get the FREE PATTERN!

Click the link to browse some other baby sewing patterns.

Happy Sewing!
Chris's Signature  

PRINTABLE PDF TUTORIAL - If you would like an ad free printable version of this tutorial optimized for printing, please visit our Etsy Shop listing for Baby Bandana Bib Pattern to Sew with a Serger #ad. For a small fee, you can purchase a PDF downloadable version of this tutorial.




QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about this project, contact us through the YouTube Video comments or our Contact Us page. We respond to questions in e-mails and YouTube comments regularly.

Other Baby Sewing Projects you may be interested in are:

Supporting Products and links: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. We make a small commission on sales through the affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for your purchase and your support! Please see our full Affiliate Statement for more information.

 FREE PATTERN! Bandana Baby Bib

FREE PATTERN! Bandana Baby Bib PDF

Click this link to download the printable PDF sewing pattern for the bandana baby bib. Print using option for 100% scale or Actual Size. Needlepointers.com

 KAM Snaps/Plastic Snap Sets

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 Starter Pack KAM Plastic Snap Setting Pliers & Awl Set with 100 Complete KAM Plastic Snap Sets

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Maxilock Serger Thread Cones

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JOANN has a lot of fun nursery fabrics to choose from to make your baby quilt. Affiliate Link to JOANN

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Sewing Scissors

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