Thursday, 6 November 2025

Adapted Series - Free Waterproof Bandana Bibs Tutorial

 Adapted Series - Free Waterproof Bandana Bibs Tutorial

One of our most popular products at our old Adaptivewear Business Picklefish NZ was the Waterproof Older Kids Bandana Bibs. They are a quick easy sew and so functional yet fun.

I wanted to share how these were made and offer our pattern for FREE so you too can make your kids and adults a functional bib with personality.

Perfect for those who are a bit dribbly or spilly.

You'll enjoy a quick easy sew and be making these in no time.
So heres our Free Waterproof Bandana Bib Tutorial...especially for you!

What you will need:


  • Our free multi-size Bandana Bib Pattern (Download link below)
  • Scissors
  • Weights or pins
  • Cotton Flannelette, Cotton Woven, towelling or Microfleece fabric for the outer
  • Cotton Flannel, Bamboo fleece, Toweling for the inner soaker layer
  • PUL or TPU Towelling for the backing (you can buy it here at OTY Fabric NZ)
  • Sewing Machine, Thread and Needles suitable for sewing different weights of fabric 90/14 Universal is recommended
  • Snaps or Velcro to create the closures

How to Cut your Bandana Bib:

Download our FREE Pattern here: DOWNLOAD

First cut 1 x Outer Bib piece from your flannel (print piece)



Then cut one inner soaker layer from your flannel (plain piece)

Then you will need one waterproof layer cut from your TPU Towelling.




Sew Your Bandana Bib:

Lay your TPU Towelling face up and place the Outer Layer print side down (wrong side up) on top aligning the outer edges, do the same with your inner plain soaker layer.


Pin or clip around all the edges of your Bandana Bib sandwiching the layers together.


Stitch around the layers with a 1cm seam allowance and straight stitch leaving an 8cm opening on one of the longer angled sides of the bib as shown.



Trim the seam allowance to the stitching leaving the opening un-trimmed.(see photo)


Turn right side out through opening making sure the tpu towelling layer and print layer are showing as you turn.


Tuck through hole, push bib ends first using your fingers to push edges out as much as possible.


Turn bib right side out and tuck the opening edges inside the bib. Press.


Smooth bandana flat tuck in raw edges of opening and press.
Pin opening closed.


Topstitch outer edges of the Bandana Bib with a straight stitch closing the opening as you go. (NB. You can pop a label into the opening if you like as you topstitch).



An optional way to stitch the bib is to sandwich the waterproof layer between the two flannel outer layers so it's reversible.


If doing the reversible sandwiched style lay the two flannel pieces right side together and lay the TPU layer right side down behind the print layer. Pin and stitch all layers as per steps above. Turn right side out with both flannel sides showing right side as you turn.


Finishing your Bandana Bib:

Snap closure version:




Add your KAM Snap socket to one side (usually the left) with the socket side facing you. Add two sockets so you can adjust as needed. You can use a snap press or snap pliers or hammer the snap in place depending on which type of snaps you have purchased.


Apply the Stud side to the right side with the stud side facing away from you (see photo).
Use awl to push a hole in the bandana Bib end.


For stud end push the cap facing away from you on the right side of the bib and add stud to the back.


Add to socket snaps to the left side with the sockets facing towards you and about 3-4cm apart.


Velcro closure version:

Cut a 3cm rectangle of Hook and Loop Velcro and attach the loop side to one corner facing towards you and the Hook side to the corner that faces away from you. Use a straight stitch to stitch around the outer edges of the velcro to keep it in place.

You're completed bibs. The left is the reversible sandwiched waterproof style and right is the tpu towelling waterproof outer layer style.
And you are done!
Thanks for following another one of our easy Adapted Sewing Series Tutorials. More to come in the future.

Vivien







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