Crafty Aftermath: How to Make An Adult Bib Out of A Pillowcase

I work in an senior adult care center and our clients sometimes can make a little mess during meals. They all have very nice clothes and it is a shame when they get stains on them when it could be prevented with a simple cover bib. We use Adult Bibs and they love them. They love the different styles, colors, and prints to choose from each meal time. They even have their favorites! Unfortunately we are constantly having to wash them everyday and it wears them out pretty fast. I have a ton of pillowcases lying around in my scrap fabric and decided to use them up making some new ones for them!

First of all, I would like to point out that the King Size pillowcases work the best due to the length. Regular ones also work, but they will be shorter in length.

You will need:
1 Pillowcase (king size is preferred but regular will do)
Scissors
Thread
Sewing Machine
Velcro
Iron (not necessary but it makes it neater and easier)

1. Take your pillowcase and fold it in half lengthwise. Square it up and cut off the ends on each side. You want to end up with just a folded piece of material. Cut as little off as possible by cutting near the seams. You want as much length as you can get!

2. I pinned a pattern piece that I had sketched out myself onto taped pieces of paper. I don't have it available for download but it is fairly easy to make one. If you don't want to mess with a pattern piece, you can also sketch one onto the fabric itself with a fabric marker. Just be sure to line it up to the fold for the main piece of the bib. You can click and zoom into my picture to see the correct placement. Also, when cutting out the bib, be sure to cut enough around the pattern to give you seam allowance. I always cut at least 1/2 inch to give me plenty of seam allowance. Remember that a pillowcase folded in half will give you the front and back of the bib, so you only have to cut once.

3. Unfold what you just cut out and put right sides together.

4. Starting at the bottom and going down the side, sew all around the bib stopping at the opposite side from where you began. DO NOT sew the bottom hem!! You will need to be able to turn your fabric out the right way and need an opening.

I usually use pinking shears to cut out the neck area for smoother seams when it is turned correctly, but you could also use regular scissors to snip as close to the seam as possible. Turn the bib right side out and be sure to get the corners as pointed as you can by pushing them out with either a chop stick or your scissor tips. (be careful not to cut your corners!)

5. Iron your bib. Fold the bottom hem inwards to create a clean edged bottom and iron it in place. You can also pin it if you want, but the iron will get it to stay fairly easy for this part.

6. Sew the bottom hem as close to the edge as you can. I use my presser foot as a guide when sewing because I find it easier to keep a straight line this way. Keep sewing all around the bib until you get to where you started and be sure to back stitch a little bit so your hem will hold.

7. Grab your velcro and put one side of it on the neck strap. Flip the other neck strap over, line it up with the other and add your second piece. The velcro I used is durable and stays attached with just an iron and a few hours. I also stitch by hand the center or edges just in case. It is up to you and/or the velcro you use. You could even use snaps or buttons. Your preference.