This is the perfect bib for the toddler or baby in your life. The bib has a crumb catching pocket and is fully reversible. Beautiful patchwork disguises stains and a snap closure prevents inopportune bib removal.

If you've got a sewing machine, you can put this together in an hour or two. It's the perfect gift for a wee one and oh sew useful ;)

This is being entered in the Etsy/Instructables Sew Useful contest. You can purchase this bib here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6331467 at Etsy.

Enjoy!
Melissa
http://underconstructionblog.typepad.com

Step 1: Gather Materials

Materials:
-Scraps of 4-8 different cotton (quilting) fabrics at least 3 by 10 inches each, enough to make a 10x15 inch piece and a 5x12 inch piece
-Piece of cotton fabric for backing (15x15 inches)
-Piece of light colored cotton flannel (15x15 inches)
-Coordinating thread
-Snap (with snap setting kit) OR iron on velcro

Tools:
-Scissors
-Pins
-Sewing machine
-Rotary cutter (optional)

Step 2: Make the Patchwork Front

There are multiple steps within this step; hopefully the photos will help make everything clear.

To make the patchwork piece for the front of the bib:

1. Choose 4-8 coordinating cotton fabrics and cut them into strips 3 inches wide and of random lengths (3-10 inches or so long)

2. Decide on a layout the strips. You need four rows as shown; be sure to stagger the seams for a random look. You want your patchwork piece to be at least 10 by 15 inches after it's sewn so it should be 4 strips wide and at least 15 inches long once your strips are joined.

3. Sew the pairs of strips end to end to make the four rows each at least 15 inches long (they can be longer)

4. Then sew the four strips together side to side and press the completed patchwork

To make the patchwork piece for the pocket (no photos of this, sorry):

Follow the same steps as above but use 4 strips of fabric to make a piece of patchwork at least 5 inches wide and 12 inches long.

With all patchwork sewing (including this bib) sew with the good sides of the fabric facing each other and using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 3: Create a Template for the Bib

Cut a piece of flannel into a 10 by 15 inch rectangle. Use a pen (water soluble pens are great) to draw on the bib shape as shown. The neck hole area should be approximately 3 inches across.

Fold in half so your bib is symmetric and cut out flannel pattern.

Step 4: Create Pocket

The pocket will be made from the smaller piece of patchwork you created (5x12 inches or so). Layer a scrap of flannel, a scrap of backing good side up and then your small patchwork good side down. Sew all three layers together along one of the 12 inch long sides (leave the other three sides open). Turn so flannel is sandwiched in between the layers of cotton. Topstitch along the joined edge using a coordinating thread.

Step 5: Prepare the Bib for Sewing

Back to the bib:
Layer your bib backing fabric good side up then your patchwork good side down topped with your cut out flannel template. Be sure your stripes of patchwork are perfectly vertical. Pin the layers together and cut out so the backing and patchwork are the same as the flannel template.

Lay your pocket piece under the bib and trim even with the bottom of the bib and following the curve of the side but make the pocket about 1/2 inch wider than the bib on both sides. (see photo to clarify). The pocket should be about 2-3 inches tall so you will trim off quite a bit from the bottom.

Un-pin the bottom part of the bib and layer the pocket in between the cotton layers of the bib. Pay attention to which side is up so the pocket matches or contrasts the bib as you wish. Re-pin the bottom lining up the edge of the pocket with the edge of the bib (the pocket will puff out a bit in the middle which is the goal).

Step 6: Stitch Bib Together

Now that the layers of the bib are pinned together, it's time to sew. Start on one side stitching around the edge with a 1/4 inch seam. Be sure to stop about 4 inches from where you started to leave a gap where the bib will be turned right side out.

Once layers are sewn, clip notches at the neck hole as shown in the photo so that neck will lay flat once turned.

Step 7: Turn Bib Right Side Out and Top Stitch

Turn the bib right side out through the hole.

Make sure all the edges are flat and pin the hole closed.

Using a coordinating thread, stitch around the edge of the bib a bit less than 1/4 inch from the edge (perhaps even closer to the edge at the hole area to make sure it is sewn closed completely).

At the bottom, be sure to sew around the bib (not the pocket) so you will be sewing inside the pocket. This is awkward but will allow the bib to be reversible; you don't want to sew the pocket down on one side..

Step 8: Add Snap

Snap kits are great and you can add a snap with just a hammer. If you don't want to use a snap, iron on velcro is an easy option. Velcro is more adjustable the but snaps make it hard for the toddler to rip off the bib mid meal :)

Step 9: All Done!

Congrats on your new bib. This pattern is so simple I'm sure you can think of many ways to modify it. A few ideas I've had:
Leave off the pocket
Make the bib smaller to fit a baby rather than a toddler
Make the backing flannel and leave out the facing so the bib is lighter weight
Try a different patchwork pattern on the front or just use a beautiful fabric
Embroider on the bib
The options are almost endless--enjoy.