Making a Bib from a Too Small Shirt

I try not to be too sentimental about baby clothes. They grow so quickly! Pete and I were both sad over saying goodbye to this little t-shirt. So, I turned it into a drool bib.

This is a sewing tutorial for people who are beginning sew'ers, and who don't mind a little hand stitching (although, you can use your machine). All you need is a small onesie/shirt, some extra fabric (I used a piece of her too numerous flannel receiving blankets), pinking sheers (for that shabby-on-purpose look), embroidery floss, tapestry needle (or embroidery needle; anything big and strong), sewing thread and needle. If you are super lucky and the shirt still fits over their head, then you don't have to cut open the neck hole at all. Otherwise, add snaps or Velcro to close the bib.

Begin by finding a bib that is close to the size of the shirt that you want to re-use.

Lay the top bib over the shirt.

Pin top bib to shirt, paying special attention to the neck.

Start cutting up the side seam.

Finish when both sides are detached.

Open shirt up inside up.

Lay down extra fabric along one piece. Trim to fit.

Sandwich the inner fabric by folding the back over the front piece.


Center the top bib over the front design.

Pin through the top bib, through the three fabric layers.

Cut with pinking shears around the bottom and sides of the top bib.

Unpin the bottom and sides of top bib.

Flip to the back.

Start pinning all the way around the back, through all three layers, but don't go through the top bib.
Place one last pin on the top of the back piece, in between the two neck pieces of the top bib.


Start cutting the back around the top bib but above the top back pin.


The back should now be separate from the neck piece.


If the neck still fits over baby's head, go ahead and leave it as is. Un-pin the top bib.

Or, cut the shirt neck in the back if it is too small for baby's neck.

Line up fabric with back neck (I re-used a piece from the bottom that had a hem in it). Pin the two pieces of fabric together, so that neck piece is extended to desired length.

Trim any excess fabric from the back neck.


Choose a color of embroidery thread that will complement your design. Cut about 24 inches of thread and separate into two halves (three strands, or two if you're going to double up on the needle).

Pull the needle + thread through all three layers of fabric. Tie a knot on the back. Pull the needle through again and start embroidering on the front side.

Continue all the way around the bottom of the bib, from pin to pin. (I used a pattern called the "Rosette" from the Reader's Digest Needlepoint book.)

Then use the smaller needle and thread to sew together anywhere that you currently have a pin holding together fabric. Use small, close stitches.

Finally, take out any pins remaining. Connect the two neck pieces on the back with either snaps or Velcro.

Place on baby. Let the spitting up begin!