Tutorial & Free PDF Template | The Reversible Pullover Bib | by Miestaflet

Hi! I'm Annelies, I blog at Miestaflet and I’m so excited today to share a tutorial for a reversible pullover bib in the brand new Organic Solid Knits by Birch Fabrics. I could not believe how soft they are! And all those colors… Oh, how fun it is to play with the combinations.  These bibs don’t have any ties or velcro or snaps. Yet they have a soft neckband in rib knit to put the bib over the head of your baby or toddler. My youngest even prefers this type of bibs because she can put it on and off herself.

Supplies:

•  2 x ½ yard of Birch organic solid knit fabric in contrasting colors (the knits are extra wide, so you can actually make more bibs out of ½ yard. If you want to use a scrap, one color should be at least ½ yard wide and 35 “ long. Whenever you work with knits, always prewash your fabrics, as they will shrink a little.)
•  rib knit fabric, 1” x 10 “
•  coordinating thread
• sewing machine with a jersey needle (ballpoint tip)
• printable pattern - reversible pullover bib
• optional: a serger

Preparation:

(1) Place the pattern on the fold and cut out the bib from both knits. Be careful not to stretch the knit fabric when you cut. You can use fine pins or weights to keep your pattern in place. Make sure the fabric stretches in the right direction. Mark the notches (you can use your iron machine to mark them).  

(2) Cut a long strip, 1 ½ ” wide x 35 “ long from one of the knits.

(3) Cut the rib knit 2 “ wide x 10 “ long. 

Instructions:

Assembling the neckband

 (1) Fold the rib knit lengthwise, right sides together and sew or serge the short open sides using a seam allowance of 1/4 “ (If you don’t have a serger, you can use your regular sewing machine using a stretch stitch.). Give it a good press.

(2) Next you fold the long sides together. You will end up with a circle.  Divide that circle of ribbing in 4 equal parts. Here is an easy trick, not using a ruler or measuring tape: 

(3) Place it on your sewing table with the seam on the left side and put a pin on the right side.

(4) Then place those 2 pins on top of each other and put a pin on both sides. 

Assembling the bib

 (1) Pin the neckband on the neck opening of one of the knits, aligning the marks and the pins, right sides together. Align the seam of the ribbing with the middle of the neck opening at the back. It will look all wrinkly, but that gets solved later.

(2) Next you put your other knit on top of that, right sides together. Take your time, pinning all layers carefully together and sandwiching in the ribbing neckband.

(3) As you sew this seam, gently stretch out your ribbing. Be careful NOT to stretch the knit fabric. Sew or serge slowly making sure all layers stay together and do not shift.  Turn the bib right sides out and give it a good press.

Now it’s time to bind the bib with the knit strip:

(4) Align the long strip with the side of the bib in the same color, folding back the beginning of the strip ¼ “ at the start.

(5) Serge or sew, right sides together (1/4 “ seam allowance), leaving the first inch un-sewn. You need to stretch the strip as you sew, not too much though. It gets easier with practice.  If you are not sure about how much to stretch out the strip, you can also divide your strip in 4 equal parts (folding it half wise 2 times) and divide it equally around the bib (folding the bib 2 times in opposite directions and matching those points with the marks on the strip) (4).

(7) When you have serged or sewn almost all around the bib, put the end of the strip on top of the beginning and sew them together (the beginning of the strip will be folded back). Cut out a corner to reduce the bulk. Give it a good press.  Turn your bib to the other side, fold the strip in until it touches the outside of the bib (8) and pin it to the opposite side so it just covers the seam (9).

(10) On this side of the bib, the end of the strip will be folded over the beginning. Use a pin to keep it in place. Topstitch the strip 2mm to the right (with a regular sewing machine using a jersey needle and a slightly longer stitch length) 
(11). Give it a good press 
(12). Admire!

Just look at all those pretty colors!