“How Much Fabric” reference cards

Gwen from After the Dress (and now Gwyn Hug) is now offering her popular “How Much Fabric” reference tables printed on plastic wallet cards. If you’ve ever found fabulous fabric while out shopping and then thought, “I’d love to make a shirt from this. I wonder how much I’d need?”, then these cards are what you need.

Her tables show the average amount of fabric needed to make different types of clothing and help take the guesswork out of buying fabric. In order to come up with these averages, she researched the yardage requirements on over 2000 patterns.

There is a separate card showing the average yardage for a different type of garment: skirts, pants, tops, dresses, and jackets. Within each table, the yardage requirements are broken down by:

–Garment size
–Type of cut (minimum, average, and maximum), along with line drawings showing examples of styles that fit these categories.
–Fabric width (45″ and 60″)

There is an additional “safety margin” table on each card showing “for several different amounts of add-on to the average, what percentage of the patterns that were used to build the table can be made with that new amount of fabric.”

The credit card size means that they fit easily in your wallet so you’ll have them with you when you need them.

You can purchase the whole set of “How Much Fabric” reference cards from GwynHug. Just $14.95 buys you the set of 5 cards.

[photo from After the Dress]

Technorati Tags: sewing, supplies, review, How Much Fabric, shopping, yardage, estimate

Baby bibs are one of those sewing projects that never go out of style — not because they’re trendy, but because they’re endlessly useful. This Baby Bib Sewing Pattern (Mix & Match) stood out because it understands real-life baby mess and real-life sewing time. Instead of a single bib shape, this pattern gives you options, which is exactly what you want when you’re sewing items that will be used (and washed) on repeat.

It’s the kind of pattern you bookmark knowing you’ll come back to it again and again — for baby showers, new arrivals, last-minute gifts, or simply to restock your own stash of practical baby basics.

Quick Pattern Overview

Pattern type: Baby bibs
Skill level: Beginner
Format: PDF sewing pattern
Sizing range: Baby / infant
Designed for: Everyday use, feeding time, gifting
Where to find it: Etsy (PDF sewing pattern)

Skill Level – What You Really Need to Know

This is a genuinely beginner-friendly sewing pattern. If you can sew curved seams and manage simple topstitching, you’ll be absolutely fine. There are no complicated closures or tricky techniques hiding in this design.

Because bibs are small and quick to sew, this pattern is especially forgiving. It’s ideal if you’re new to sewing for babies or want a low-pressure project that still feels satisfying to finish.

Fabric & Material Suggestions

Fabric choice matters with bibs more than almost anything else — they need to be soft, absorbent, and able to survive constant washing.

Best fabrics: Cotton, cotton flannel, terry toweling, muslin
For backing: Absorbent toweling or flannel
For trims: Bias binding or soft woven cotton
Fabrics to avoid: Anything stiff, scratchy, or non-breathable

This pattern works beautifully for using up fabric scraps, making it both budget-friendly and sustainable.

Fit, Sizing & Wearability Notes

These bibs are designed with baby comfort in mind. The shapes are practical, offering good coverage without being bulky or restrictive around the neck.

The mix-and-match element is especially helpful here — different bib shapes suit different stages, from milk feeds to messier solids. That flexibility makes this pattern far more useful than a single-style bib.

Before You Start Sewing This Pattern

Pre-wash fabrics to avoid shrinkage
Use soft thread suitable for baby items
Clip curves carefully for smooth edges
Press seams well for a neat finish
Check PDF print scale before cutting

These small steps help ensure a professional-looking result, even for beginners.

Customisation & Styling Ideas

This pattern is perfect for personalisation, which makes it ideal for gifts.

You could:

Mix prints and solids
Add simple embroidery or initials
Use contrast binding
Create themed sets
Sew coordinating burp cloths

Because the pattern is quick to sew, it’s easy to make multiple bibs in one sitting.

Who This Pattern Is Best For

This pattern is a great choice if you:

Sew for babies or new parents
Want a fast, practical project
Enjoy beginner-friendly sewing
Like patterns that use fabric scraps

You may want to skip this if:

You’re looking for a garment project
You dislike repetitive sewing
You prefer complex construction

Why We’re Sharing This Pattern

We love sharing patterns like this because they highlight the everyday usefulness of handmade sewing. Baby bibs might seem simple, but a well-designed pattern makes all the difference — especially one that offers flexibility and variety.

This mix-and-match bib pattern is practical, thoughtful, and genuinely useful, which is exactly what we look for in a Sewing Pattern Saturday feature.

About Sewing Pattern Saturday

Sewing Pattern Saturday is a regular series here on CraftGossip where we highlight sewing patterns by independent designers, with a strong focus on Etsy sellers and small businesses. It’s our way of supporting talented pattern makers while helping sewists find patterns they’ll actually use and enjoy sewing.

Find the Pattern Here

You can find the Baby Bib Sewing Pattern (Mix & Match) PDF on Etsy

Have you read?