Tutorial: How To Make A Baby Burp Cloth

I get requests nearly daily for tutorials.  And one of the largest draws to my blog is this tutorial I did forever ago.  Cracks me up.  While I have explained many times the two reasons I will not be giving tutorials of most of the things I make, I do also understand how nice it is for people to share their knowledge.  I've learned so much from blogs over the years and know that it's only right to share a little now and then, too.

Of course, if sewing your own is not up your ally, you can find all sorts of cute burp cloths and baby treats here, too.

But without further ado, the much requested baby burp cloth tutorial...


STEP 1:  Buy fabric and burp cloths.

STEP 2:  Wash and dry fabric and burp cloths.  This is a must, so don't try to cheat or regret will find you later.

STEP 3:  Measure fabric to desired size, plus an inch on the long side and two inches on the short side.  So for my burp cloths, I cut a piece that measures about 5" wide x 20" long.  You want to allow yourself the extra fabric on the long ends because the fabrics tend to stretch and shift and wiggle a bit.  It's a heck of a lot easier to cut off a little excess than it is to magically make more fabric appear.

STEP 4:  Iron fabric piece that you just cut. 

STEP 5:  Lay burp cloth out on flat surface.  Measure or eyeball where the center is. The thinck padding down the middle is not always (or ever) fully centered.

STEP 6:  Place the piece of fabric in center of burp cloth.  Pin in place.

STEP 7:  Start sewing down one of the long sides first- starting a few inches from the top.  This again is to allow the fabrics to wiggle and stretch and not be lumpy and bumpy at the end of the project.

STEP 8:  Stop sewing when you are a few inches from the end of that first long side.  Notice that the fabric is hanging over the burp cloth. 

STEP 9:  Fold end of fabric under.  If it's super long at this point, trim it a bit and then fold under.  This short end will be visible on the final project.

STEP 10:  Continue down the second long side, second short side, and finishing back where you started at the top of the first long side.  It should look similar to this with the short sides neatly finished and the long sides with raw edges.

A close up of both the raw endges (long sides) and finished, folded ends (short sides).

Step 12:  Cut two pieces of coordinating ribbon to line long sides of burp cloth.  Cut them the same length that you cut the fabric- so mine are 20" long.

STEP 13:  Pin ribbon to sides of fabric.

STEP 14:  Start sewing ribbon in the same general place that you started sewing the fabric- a few inches down one side.  Sew all the way around the ribbon, just as you did with the fabric.  So when you get to the short end, fold it under at the desired length and continue sewing.  Do this to both pieces of ribbon.

 
STEP 15:  Cut the threads, fold it up and put a bow on it.  You just sewed your very first baby burpee cloth!