burp cloths

Sewing burp cloths, easy right?....It's a piece of fabric sewn to a cloth. My first one I did just that, stitched the fabric right onto the cloth, and it turned out scraggly and sloppy. So after studying my 2 favorite burp cloths made for me by a very talented friend, I gave it another go and the finished product was much better. Today I share with you tips and basic instructions for fancying up a burp cloth. And while I know that this project is SO BASIC, I think it will be beneficial my fellow beginners.

Tips

*Buy the thickest cloth diapers you can find. All of them are very thin, but make sure you start with the thickest. Then, wash and dry them a good 2 or 3 or 4 times. The washing and drying process fluffs them up nicely and really makes for a sturdier, more substantial cloth.

*Also, wash and dry your fabric. Then iron.

*Use white thread so that on the back side of cloth the thread does not show since we will be sewing "outside the lines" of the burp cloth seems. If you know how to do a colored thread on your top stitch and white on the bottom, then more power to ya!

Okay, now it is time to really get started.

First, cut your fabric into a large rectangle. Make it bigger than the middle seems of the actual burp cloth. We are going to be folding the edges under so you need some room.

Like so...

Second, fold edges under and iron down.



Third, trim excess fabric.


Fourth, repeat the same process on the longer sides. Fold.


Iron.


Cut excess.


Fifth, lay fabric over cloth and pin in place.



*Note: Cloth diapers do not have perfectly straight seems. Therefore, your straight rectangular fabric may not line up perfectly. That's okay. It's a burp cloth!!!


Sixth, Once fabric is pinned in place, set sewing machine on the smallest, tightest setting.


Last, sew fabric in place as close to the edge as you can get, creating a nice, tailored, hemmed line fit for any newborn to spit up on.


Sadly, I forgot to take pictures of the finished product of this little giraffe one that I made for my cousin's new baby. But you can imagine its cuteness.

I think I experience way too much joy from this simple but satisfying project! Hope you do too.