Baby Bib with Knit Neck Ribbing

You'll need:

⅓ - ½ yard of two coordinating pieces of 100% flannel

3" x 12" piece of knit ribbing for neck opening

This amount of yardage will be enough for two bibs.

1. With wrong sides of both flannel pieces together, iron fabric so it lies flat.  Trace the pattern onto the fabric.

2.  Cut out the neck opening.

3.  Cut the knit ribbing into a 3" x 12" piece.  A rotary cutter makes this easy.

4.  Fold ribbing in half and stitch ¼" seam.

5.  Finger press seam open, then fold over keeping seam inside and cut edges even.  Mark with pins into fourths.

6.  Mark neck opening in fourths on wrong side of flannel piece that will be on the outside of bib.  Place inside piece of flannel right side up on flat surface, then ribbing, then outside piece of flannel right side down over ribbing making sure that all cut edges are even and marked fourths on ribbing match marked fourths on flannel.  This creates a sandwich with inside piece of flannel at bottom, then ribbing, then outside piece of flannel on top.  I usually place the seam in the ribbing at the center back of the neck opening.

7.  Being careful to stretch ribbing fully between quarter pin markings, stitch ¼" seam, catching all layers together and making sure all layers lie flat with no puckers.  If using a serger, be careful not to sew over pins or you will be replacing a knife.  This is the trickiest part of making the bib so sew slowly and carefully.

8.  Now turn fabric so right sides of both fabrics are showing with wrong sides inside bib.  Press.

9.  Add decorative edging on outside edges of fabric to secure both layers together.  My serger does a ⅜" wide seam and I use Pearl Crown thread in both loopers with regular thread in the needle. Pearl Crown thread is made by YLI and is available here in the Cotton Shop. I like Pearl Crown because it is quite heavy and has a sheen that gives it a decorative look.

10.  The trick to starting and ending in a straight line on a serger is to cut a notch in the fabric the width that your serger will stitch, then place your fabric under the needle with the edge touching the blade.  This way your stitching will be straight down the marked line and will end up on the line as well.  Simply stitch a few stitches over where you started and stitch off to the side.   Unravel the few stitches that are off to the side and take the loose thread ends, tie a double knot, then thread all three threads into a large-eyed needle and work them into the inside.  Put a bit of Fray Check on the area with the knot.

11.  If you've done everything right, then your ribbing seam will end up on the inside so the bib will be reversible.  Here's the back side.