Free bib and burp cloth pattern (with/without bias tape)

Welcome back to the bias tape series here on Cucicucicoo! Today I have a tutorial to practice binding with bias tape with a free bib and burp cloth pattern! (You can find my lesson on how to bind edges with double fold bias tape here.)

If you want to learn how to use bias tape, click here to see all of the technical lessons and practical tutorials to practice the techniques on that I’ve created for Bias Month!

Anyway, like I said before, today I am giving you a free bib and burp cloth pattern which can be sewn in two different ways!

These are perfect for infants. The small bib is great for drooly teethers and the burp cloth is perfect for protecting a mother’s shoulder when burping her little one. And if you don’t have young children, you probably know someone how does, or is expecting!

What if you prefer a snapped or velcro bib, or maybe you need a larger size for your older children who are eating solids? In this case, go check out my new pattern, the Super Bib Pack!

The Super Bib Pack has more varieties of bibs, with or without a food-catching pocket, with wipeable, waterproof or double face options, plus templates for freezer paper stenciling or appliqueing words on the bibs! So many possibilities in just one simple (and inexpensive!) pattern package! There’s everything you could possibly need to keep your and your child clean during his first few years!

If you want to just get started sewing simple bibs, continue to read to find out how!

Preparing the free bib and burp cloth pattern

First, download the free bib and burp cloth pattern file. This pattern, as well as dozens of of FREE sewing patterns, craft templates and other creative downloads, is available to subscribers to the Cucicucicoo Newsletter. Click here to sign up for the Newsletter to receive all the best sewing and creative tutorials, as well as access to the exclusive members-only area!

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After downloading the pattern, print it out without scaling (100% scale) and check the size with the test square on the first page. Then trim the margins and join the four pages together as shown above. (If you are new to using PDF patterns, please read this post on how to print and assemble PDF patterns.)

You can sew the bib and burp cloth in two ways: turned and topstitched with just one bias strip used for the bib ties, or with all edges bound with bias tape. If turning and topstitching, you will need at least two layers of fabric, but you can sew a single layer of fabric is binding all edges with bias tape.

Cut the pattern pieces out on the cutting line if turning and topstitching. Cut them on the stitching line if bias binding the edges.

Bias Bound Bib and Burp Cloth

Let’s start with the completely bias bound version of these items. Cut the pattern out on the stitching line and cut at least one layer of fabric per item. I chose to sew mine with a single layer of terry cloth. If you choose to use more than one layer, put them together (wrong sides facing) and baste all around close to the edges.

You will need 132 cm (52″) of double fold bias tape for the bib and 116 cm (46″) for the burp cloth. I suggest using 9 mm (3/8″) wide double fold bias tape because it looks well-proportioned on these small items and it makes the ties thin enough to tie up easily. You can purchase it in a fabric store or read here to find out how to make your own bias tape!

I highly suggest you read my lesson on how to bind edges with double fold bias tape here before starting if this is a new technique for you.

Bias Bound Bib

1. Cut a 42 cm (17″) piece of bias tape and pin it to the front side of the bib along the bottom curve, right sides facing. (left) Then sew along the fold of the bias tape all the way around.

2. Fold the bias tape over to the back and pin in place. (center) Sew around the curve close to the inner edge of the bias tape.

3. Press the bias tape flat to help even it out.

4. Cut another piece of bias tape 90 cm (35″) long. Open up each cut end and fold it along the center fold so that the right sides are facing. Then sew 1 cm (3/8″) from the end. (on the left above)

5. Trim the fabric very close to the stitching from step 4 and flip the bias tape right side out again, folding it along the folds as normal. Use a pin to help keep it closed. (on the right above)

6. Find the centers of the bias tape and the bib by folding them in half and marking the fold with a pin (shown by the arrows above). You can also use the dot in the center of the bib pattern to mark the center.

7. Line up the the center of the bias tape with the center of the neckline and pin them together, right sides facing. (top)

8. Continue pinning the bias tape along the neckline curve. (bottom) Then sew along the fold of the bias tape ONLY along the neckline.

9. Fold the bias tape over to the back and pin in place along the neckline. (top) Then continue pinning the bias tape together beyond the neckline to keep it closed.

10. Sew down the entire strip of bias tape, from one end to the other, close to the inner edge of the bias tape. Press the bias tape and bib.

And your bib is done! See how nicely the necktie encloses the ends of the first strip of bias tape? Very professional looking!

Bias Bound Burp Cloth

1. Cut a 116 cm (46″) length of bias tape. Unfold the bias tape and start pinning it to the front side of one flat end of the burp cloth, right sides facing. When pinning the cut end, fold it over about 1 cm (3/8″) and pin in place. (top)

2. Continue pinning all around the burp cloth’s edges. When you get back to the beginning, overlap the folded end and trim the bias tape if necessary. (bottom)

The picture on the top shows the position of the overlapped ends of bias tape.

3. Sew along the fold of the bias tape all the way around. (top)

4. Fold the bias tape over to the back and pin in place. Make sure to fold over the overlapped bias tape ends evenly. (bottom) Sew around the burp cloth close to the inner edge of the bias tape.

5. Press the burp cloth and you’re done! The bias tape adds a nice decorative accent to a simple piece of fabric.

When the overlapped bias tape ends are folded over correctly, you can barely notice them.

That wasn’t hard, was it? Now you have a cute little bib and burp cloth set!

But what if you want to use as little bias tape as possible? Then try this super easy turned and topstitched version of this set!

Turned and Topstitched Bib and Burp Cloth

Cut the pattern out on the cutting line and cut at least two layers of fabric per item. I chose one layer of terry cloth and another layer of quilting cotton.

You will need 90 cm (35″) of double fold bias tape for the bib ties. I used 13 mm (1/2″) wide double bias tape for this bib, though I suggest using 9 mm (3/8″) wide double fold bias tape because it looks well-proportioned on these small items and it makes the ties thin enough to tie up easily.  You can purchase it in a fabric store or read here to find out how to make your own bias tape!

I highly suggest you read my lesson on how to bind edges with double fold bias tape here and how to turn and topstitch (and notch curves) here before starting if these are new techniques for you.

1. Put the two layers together, right sides facing, and pin the edges. Then sew all around the burp cloth, leaving a 5 cm (2″) opening along a flat edge. Sew ONLY along the bottom curve of the bib, NOT the neckline. Sew with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance. (The sections between the arrows in the picture above to the left are the parts to be left open.)

2. Notch the curves along the sewn edges, then flip the items right sides out. Press flat, then topstitch all around. When topstitching the bib neckline, do it close to the fabric edge, less than 1 cm (3/8″). (right)

The burp cloth is all done! Now let’s just add the ties to the bib.

3. Follow steps 4-10 as described above for the bias bound bib to add the necktie.

(Let me repeat it: Cut a piece of bias tape 90 cm (35″) long. Open up each cut end and fold it along the center fold so that the right sides are facing. Then sew 1 cm (3/8″) from the end. Trim the fabric very close to the stitching and flip the bias tape right side out again, folding it along the folds as normal. Use a pin to help keep it closed. Find the centers of the bias tape and the bib by folding them in half and marking the fold with a pin. You can also use the dot in the center of the bib pattern to mark the center. Line up the the center of the bias tape with the center of the neckline and pin them together, right sides facing. Continue pinning the bias tape along the neckline curve. Then sew along the fold of the bias tape ONLY along the neckline. Fold the bias tape over to the back and pin in place along the neckline. Then continue pinning the bias tape together beyond the neckline to keep it closed. Sew down the entire strip of bias tape, from one end to the other, close to the inner edge of the bias tape. Press the bias tape and bib.)

Ta da! This version is super quick and easy!

So now that you’ve seen how easy it is to sew up this free bib and burp cloth pattern, you have no excuses for not sewing up a quick gift for a new mother… or for yourself! (Actually, that’s what I did! These two sets were a gift for the new baby sister of my daughter’s friend!)

And don’t forget, if you want to sew some other styles of bibs, including the much loved wipeable (left) and waterproof (right) versions with the ever-so-handy pocket to catch all those soggy food bits, sew up some bibs from my Super Bib Pack! It’s a beginner-friendly pattern, and even my least experienced pattern testers made them up in a breeze!

Do you want all the new sewing techniques and cool modern sewing projects, in addition to the free bib and burp cloth pattern and tutorial? Then sign up for the Cucicucicoo Newsletter here for access to dozens of free printables!

And make sure you click here to save this tutorial on Pinterest!