If you sew and someone in your life is having a baby, you already know the pressure. You want to make something, but you also don't want to commit to a three-week project. This is the one I keep coming back to: a matching bib and burp cloth set. It is fast, it is genuinely useful, and it looks so much more put together than it has any right to for how little time it takes.

I've made a few of these now in different fabrics and they've all gone over really well. The matching set factor is what does it. Two coordinating pieces in a cute print just feel like a real gift. (That first photo also includes matching bloomers, which I added because I had extra fabric. More on that at the end.)

Why Terry Cloth

For the burp cloth, I use a cotton print on one side and terry cloth on the other. Terry is absorbent, soft, and really practical for baby cleanup. It's also what gives the burp cloth that nice weight and thickness that makes it actually functional instead of just decorative.

You can use white terry to keep it classic, but I've been reaching for colored terry lately because it looks so good when it peeks out from the edges and corners. A pink terry under a floral print, a teal print backed in white terry. It's a small detail that makes it feel more intentional.

Flannel is another option I've heard works well, though I haven't personally tried it. The main thing you want is something with a little weight and absorbency to it. A thin quilting cotton on both sides isn't really going to cut it for actual baby cleanup, so if you don't have terry on hand, flannel would be my next suggestion.

What You Need

Materials

  • About 1/2 yard of cotton print fabric for the bib and one side of the burp cloth
  • About 1/2 yard of terry cloth for the back of the burp cloth and the bib lining (colored terry is really cute if you can find it)
  • Velcro for the bib closure
  • Thread to match or coordinate
  • A bib pattern (more on this below)

The Pattern

For the bib shape, I'd point you to Tamara's Joy, which has a free bib pattern and tutorial. You can also just search "free baby bib sewing pattern" and find plenty of options. Bib shapes are pretty simple, so if you have one at home already, you can absolutely trace around it and make your own pattern. The shape is not complicated.

For the burp cloth, I skip the pattern entirely. It's just a rectangle. I cut mine to about 10 by 17 inches, but honestly, you can adjust that based on what feels right to you or what your fabric scraps allow.

Velcro Instead of Snaps

A lot of bib tutorials use snaps for the closure. I tried velcro instead because I'm just not experienced with snaps and didn't want to invest in a snap setter for one project. Velcro works great. It's easy to sew on, it holds well, and babies aren't known for trying to work around it. If you're already comfortable with snaps, go for it. But if you're not, velcro is a perfectly good option and I'd recommend it.

Behind the scenes: bib and burp cloth pieces cut out in teal surfing dogs fabric on a cutting mat

Get Creative With the Fabric

This is where it gets fun. Half a yard of a cute print goes a long way when you're making something this small. I've done a teal surfing dogs print, a colorful sea turtle print on blue backed with pink terry, and a pink floral backed with pink terry. They all came together quickly and look adorable as a set.

A finished bib and burp cloth set in a colorful sea turtle print on teal, with pink terry on the reverse A finished bib and burp cloth set in a pink floral print with pink terry on the reverse

You can also take it up a notch and do a quilted bib. I made this University of Michigan set for a future Wolverine using patchwork blocks of the Michigan print, yellow cotton, and blue gingham. The bib came out adorable. I will say I was not paying attention to the direction of the fabric on the bib and it ended up completely sideways, so learn from me on that one.

A quilted University of Michigan bib in patchwork blocks with a matching Michigan print burp cloth

If you're shopping for fabric, novelty prints work really well for baby gifts. Bold colors, fun characters, anything with animals. The smaller scale of the project means even a really busy print reads beautifully. And since you only need half a yard, it's a low-commitment way to use a fabric you love.

This is also a great stash-busting project. If you've been holding onto a fat quarter or a small piece of something cute, this is probably the project for it.

If You Have Extra Fabric: Add Bloomers

With the surfing dogs set, I had enough fabric left over to add a pair of matching bloomers. I used the Bloomers PDF pattern by Sewing Patterns by Di on Etsy, and they came together really quickly. It was completely a last-minute decision and it turned the set into something that felt really complete. If your fabric allows for it, it's worth throwing in.

Great for Gifting

I've been making these as baby shower gifts and they've been a hit every time. They're quick enough that you can pull one together even if you found out about the shower last week. They look handmade in the best way. And new parents actually use them, which is the whole point.

If you make a set, tag me on Instagram @DesignsbyERB. I'd love to see what fabrics you picked.