Towel Baby Bib Pattern

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Towel Bibs are so convenient and they can be quick and simple to make as many as you need! You will love this Towel Baby Bib Pattern.

Towel Bibs are so convenient and they can be quick and simple to make as many as you need! You will love this Towel Baby Bib Pattern. #homemadebabybib #babybibpattern #homemadebaby #freepattern

Homemade Baby Bibs

Towel Bibs are so convenient. They cover so much of baby, and they’re super easy to just slip over their head! Unfortunately, they can be pretty expensive if you buy them in-store. We’ve figured out how to sew them up pretty quickly, and for a fraction of the cost! If you don’t have a little one, this would also make an awesome baby shower gift to bless a new mom!

Towel Baby Bib Pattern

What you need:

  • One hand towel
  • Children’s t-shirt (up to size 4/5)
  • Light-colored marker
  • Straight pins

Using another towel as a pattern for bib size

How to make baby bibs out of hand towels:

I had some towel bibs already on hand, so I used them in this tutorial for a size guide since I had liked the way they fit on my littles. You can adjust it to the size you need, or think is best. When you cut the towel, remember to cut as straight as possible, and to leave room for hemming the edge of the bib as well.

Using neck of old t-shirt for bib

For the hole in the bib that you will be slipping over the top of baby’s head, there’s no need to create one from scratch. I used an old t-shirt that was a hand me down from another one of my children. I just turned the shirt inside out and cut along the seam around the neck, so I was left with a clear seam to attach to the towel.

–Looking for more Creative Ways to Start Repurposing old T-Shirts?

Once you have the neck hole cut out, line it up on the bib where you want it to be placed on the backside of the towel bib. Using a light-colored marker or marking pen, trace around the outside of the circle. This will be your guide for cutting out the circle to sew the neck of the bib onto. When you cut the circle out, don’t cut directly onto the line you traced. Cut the circle about half an inch smaller all the way around. This will ensure it will fit nicely onto the t-shirt neck.

Pinning the neck to the towel

The next step will be to pin the circles together. Pin the t-shirt neck onto the towel. You will have a little extra room in the towel, so make sure to leave it just a little puckered. This is to make sure that when you sew it is even all the way around (see pic for reference). Once it’s pinned, you are ready to sew. I used a bright blue for this tutorial so you all could see the stitching a little easier, but for yours, you will need to find a thread that matches the towel.

Sewing the neck

Using a zig-zag stitch to maintain the stretch around the neck, sew the towel and the t-shirt neck together on the back side. Remove the pins as you sew around the circle to maintain a smooth stitching pattern. Once you’re finished with the circle, sew a hem on the cut side of the towel to complete the bib.

Once you’ve finished all your sewing you can trim around the inside of the circle, getting close to the edge of the zig zag stitches so the edge is as streamlined as possible. Trim any extra threads for a clean, and finished look!

Finished towel bib

If you want to make these for a small baby, you can always use a washrag for a smaller coverage area. I like this size, even for small babies, because it covers more. Babies have a tendency to make food spread out all over the place! The bigger the bib, the better, in my opinion.

Enjoy whipping up a bunch of these, and save a ton of money by making them yourself too! I found these hand towels at my local Walmart for just $0.97! By using the old t-shirt collar, I was able to complete this project for under $1.00! Not a bad price for something you know will last a long time, and will fit exactly like you want it to.

Finished towel bib

You could also use this Towel Baby Bib pattern to create some wonderfully thoughtful gifts. I’m working on a batch of them for my sweet little baby niece that has just started enjoying solid foods. 🙂

, towel bibs, how to make baby bibs out of hand towels

If you liked this baby bib pattern, you may also want to try one of these baby projects and posts:

 

Do you have a little one in your life that you can make this Towel Baby Bib Pattern for?

merissabio

This Towel Baby Bib Pattern was originally published on Little House Living in January 2017. It has been updated as of January 2020.

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15 Comments

  1. When our two growing blessings were smaller and in the season of bib wearing, the towel style were my favorite! Thank you for sharing with us how to make one. Have a great day. Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!

  2. Just wanted to tell you I received the “Little House Living” book yesterday and I have enjoyed reading it thus far! I may never make any of it, But I am just enjoying what you do! I come to your Facebook page often to see what is new! Thank you so much for sharing your story and your ways!

  3. What an easy-to-follow tutorial. I can see making a bunch of these for a baby shower gift or to donate to our local women’s shelter. Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party. Pinning now.

  4. I use towel bibs for my babies and now toddlers. If you can find them, tea towels work great for little babies. Bar towels also work well. Kitchen towels are perfect for toddlers – if you can find cotton ones. To dress them up you can cut out motifs from other fabric and applique on the front. Not only do the towels cover more of the little one but are great for wiping off the face and hands quickly as your toddler is running away or cleaning up spills left behind.

  5. I make this style bib for craft shows I sell at. I have to buy ribbing to do so, but that allows me to make the bib fit snuggly around the neck, keeping that area clean, too . ribbing is often purchased by the inch, rather than by the yard. I cut 3 inch strips for a neck. you can plan a custom fit by wrapping the strip around baby’s head snuggly and cutting that amount plus 1/2 inch for a seam allowance. sew a narrow1/4inch seam making your strip into a 3 inch tall tube. fold the tube wrong sides together and you have your neck ribbing ready to apply bib. you get several neck ribbings from one strip of 60-inch wide ribbing fabric. cotton with lycra or cotton/polyester blend retain their stretchiness better than plain cotton.

  6. I remember finding these kind of bibs really practical when my kids were little. I never thought to make my own. Thanks for the clear tutorial.

  7. What a clever idea. You certainty can save a lot of money with these and the baby will be grown and out of them before you know it. But in the meantime you definitely need them. Great repurpose of hand towels.

  8. I love towel bibs and I just didn’t realize how easy they would be to make. Thanks so much I can’t wait to make another one for the grandbaby. I love you comment policy too. I will have to make one for my blog soon.
    thanks for both of the ideas!

  9. OW Wow! I love this idea i have been looking for different bib ideas and this is the best one i have found! Thank you!

  10. Thanks for the idea!

    Just a thought from a Grandma who remembers that some babies do not like things pulled over their head. Why not cut a slit up from what will be the back of the bib? Still cut out the circle and put in ribbing but leave the back open. Add a narrow hem to the slit and ribbing edge, finish with a snap or tie for a bib without the agony of going over the head.

  11. With a few adjustments, towels can be made into bibs for the elderly, or anyone who needs assistance with feeding.

  12. Made these 25 years ago for my daughter. Her kids are using them now! Bonus: after eating use it to wipe up baby just like a washcloth, then rinse and use to clean tray. Toss in the washer and you are done!

  13. and when the front gets ucky with food dripping, pull the bib off from back to front and you avoid smearing more uck on baby.