This is so easy it’s going to knock your socks off.
Buy cloth diapers. I found these at Target. I always wash and dry them before I start sewing to pre-shrink.
Then measure the space that you are going to want covered by fabric.
I think I chose to make my cover 4″ x 17″.Now you will need a really high-tech tool called a cereal box.
Cut your rectangular template to your desired size.
Find a cute piece of fabric slightly larger than your template.
Cut it down to about 3/4″ bigger on every side.
Put the template shiny side up on the back side of your fabric.
Spray a little starch all around the edges.
Press all sides down over the edge of the template.
I love this method because I don’t have to use that little slidy-sewing ruler.
Much, much faster and with a nice crisp edge.
Carefully tuck the edges in slightly on the ends, so they won’t stick out when you sew them down.
Remove the template and save it. I’ve used mine over and over.
Pin the fabric right side up to the cloth diaper.
Carefully sew down the outside edges of your baby burp cloth.
If you want to embellish your baby burp cloth a little, now’s your chance.
(You could also tuck ric-rac or something under before you sew down your fabric.)
I like using grosgrain ribbon because it only requires straight lines and has a nice finished look.
Tuck the raw edges under and pin in place.
Sew all edges down, just like the fabric.
And that’s it! Your baby burp cloth is done!
Now you can make dozens of them and impress all your friends at baby showers with your amazing domestic skills. And remember, don’t stress too much about perfection. Their main purpose after all is to clean-up curdled baby barf. But that baby’s mother will thank you for giving her such a stylish accessory to protect her formerly spotless clothes.
You could also make a coordinating diaper clutch. Wouldn’t that be fancy?
77 Comments
Mauri
January 20, 2010 at 9:19 amThanks Amy, I'm going to be needing a lot of these. Now I know how to make my old burp rags look cute and cover up any unsightly stain. 🙂
Nedra
January 20, 2010 at 9:23 amAmy- Thank you so much for the tutorial. I will be making some of these for my new grand daughter!
angela
January 20, 2010 at 11:16 amThanks! That thing with the cereal box is fabulous! I HATE the sliding ruler thing. I can see using that idea for all kinds of things that need the edge turned – like pants and elastic pockets…
felicity.quilts
January 20, 2010 at 12:14 pmThanks so much! I'm tucking this one away for future reference – it's a great gift idea for those people who aren't "A-list" and thus won't be getting a quilt, but for whom I'd like to make a little something.
Katie B.
January 20, 2010 at 12:44 pmFantastic idea! I just need to find someone to make them for…
Rebecca Batts
January 18, 2019 at 3:30 pmAny church nursery or daycare center or hospital nursery would be happy to receive a set of these, I’m sure!
Kimberly
January 20, 2010 at 1:43 pmFab! Now, if I only had another baby underfoot…
Patty
January 20, 2010 at 3:02 pmWhat a nice gift idea. Love your hi-tech tools! :^)
Kate
January 20, 2010 at 3:58 pmOh, so brilliant!
Laurie, the girls and Scott
January 20, 2010 at 4:16 pmYou are such a fancy girl! I will be making these soon. Thanks for the tutorial.
amylouwho
January 20, 2010 at 5:54 pmI've always seen these and never sat down to figure out how to do it! Thanks – now I don't have hurt myself trying to figure it out! Great meeting you 'fer real' today!
Deb
January 20, 2010 at 6:24 pmI think my daughter will really like this tutorial…she's in the middle of making lots of diapers (for her hope chest!). Thank you so much!
Melissa
January 20, 2010 at 6:29 pmI know it sounds simple, but I've totally been doing it a MUCH harder way…<br />DUH! Why didn't I think of starch???
sharla@mylittlegems
January 20, 2010 at 7:46 pmYou are right it is the easiest. In fact I have tried every. burp. cloth. ever. made. …and this is exactly how I have been making them for a while now. 🙂 I love this kind and my baby does too!
Calli
January 21, 2010 at 12:58 amSo cute Amy. And I love the method. I think I need to make a few as gifts.
Vicki
January 21, 2010 at 1:27 pmadorable! I've done the same thing, just without the template. 🙂
Anonymous
January 21, 2010 at 2:19 pmThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
luvinthemommyhood
January 27, 2010 at 10:00 amLove this Amy! I added this to the link luv roundup today. http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/01/link-luv-roundup.html
jaybird
February 7, 2010 at 11:04 pmthat was super easy!
natalie. beyond the reef
March 7, 2010 at 12:16 pmThanks for this – great ideas all around. I'm headed out to buy a bag of those diaper thing-ies now!
Cindy
August 28, 2010 at 10:06 amWay too cute! I have a neice, nephew and Friend expecting within the next few months. I think I will make many little burp cloths!!
Chrissie
August 29, 2010 at 7:23 pmLove the idea for the template. I am confused when you say "tuck rick-rack under before you sew". What does that do?
Heidi
September 26, 2010 at 3:18 pmLove the tutorial! I've made these before without the template and it was very tedious. I also like that you just use the ribbon across it and not on both long sides. So easy.
Rachel
September 30, 2010 at 2:48 pmOh man, what an ah-ha moment! I've made a bunch of these much the same way but without the template, using the slidey ruler thing which I HATE! The template is genius to me:-) and now I'm not dreading making more for all the baby gifts coming up this spring–thank you for sharing!
Miss Sews-it-all
November 11, 2010 at 8:09 pmSo simple and so wonderful, I love this idea! Thanks for sharing! I'll also share a little tip with you – try checking out http://www.WeAllSew.com for all kinds of sewing projects, tutorials, tips and tricks, and even meet some new crafty friends. 🙂
Joanna
March 12, 2011 at 6:13 pmSo I didn't read carefully enough and bought the thinner Gerber cloth diapers (no padded center strip) to make these. Any suggestions on craft projects I can make with a dozen of them?
amy smart
March 15, 2011 at 9:24 pmJoanna, Rats! Sounds like something I would do too. I would just use them for the same purpose – sew on some decorative fabric – I think they will still work. I don't have an email address for you so I'm hoping you'll see this reply here. Good luck!
Joanna
March 17, 2011 at 8:19 pmThanks, Amy! I got your response to my question (not sure why my email didn't show for you, am new to all this)
MaryJo
April 5, 2011 at 11:50 amHi – I just came across this tutorial – searching for items for my new grandbaby that's due in September!! These are perfect – and I thought I was the only one who used a cereal box for templates! I love the idea!!
seaschell
June 1, 2011 at 5:01 pmSo cute! I made a set of six for my daughter (due in August). Can't wait to look cute while burping her! I posted here: http://seaschell.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-baby-projects.html<br />Thanks for a great tutorial!
Shirley
July 4, 2012 at 8:52 pmI made a set of these ahead of having a baby last year and they've been AWESOME. (Blogged about it here: http://karnos.blogspot.com/2011/01/burp-cloths.html). Thanks for the tutorial on this!
jacey
July 23, 2012 at 8:12 pmI made them and posted them on my blog 🙂 So easy and such a great idea!! Thanks for this 🙂 <br />beyoutifuldarling.blogspot.com
Kristan
August 27, 2012 at 11:38 amGreat tutorial! It seriously took me like 5 minutes to whip one of these out. About to make a few more. Thanks!
Lauren Lanker
March 27, 2013 at 7:07 pmGave you a shout out in my post tonight for your tip on creating a template out of a cereal box. Seriously, that genius, and made this project 100x easier than it would have been otherwise. Thanks! <br /><br />http://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/03/27/burp-cloth-tutorial-for-the-beginner-sewist/<br /><br />Lauren
jocelyn
September 30, 2013 at 11:22 pmHi Amy,<br />I love your ideas especialy this one for the burp pads and the nursing cover which i have made for my DIL. <br />But i have been unable to find 'cloth' diapers for these burp pads. <br />The fitted style cloth diapers are so popular i am afraid they don't sell the original anymore?<br />Any suggestions as to where i can find them.<br />jocelyn<br />
amy smart
October 1, 2013 at 8:36 amHmm. I haven't looked for them for a little while. I found them at Target. They were in the aisle with the infant clothing, onesies, etc. They were on a bottom shelf and packaged by Gerber.
jocelyn
November 18, 2013 at 4:45 pmk thanks Amy i will look again.<br />
jocelyn
November 18, 2013 at 4:45 pmk thanks Amy i will look again.<br />
Patria Jase
February 25, 2014 at 4:52 amGreat idea! Thanks for the nice tutorial. I always use cloth diapers for my little pie. Now after reading your post i will try to make it at home for my sweet baby. Thanks for nice post.<br /><a href="http://bellylaughs.ca/" rel="nofollow">Baby cloth diapers</a>
Savvy
October 14, 2014 at 9:22 amThanks, Amy!! This one may be 'older', but there's a NEW baby James next door!! The perfect 'little something special'!!
Margo Yang
October 15, 2014 at 10:22 amGreat idea for baby gifts, thanks.
Rahul Surkund
November 7, 2014 at 12:42 amThanks for this – great ideas all around.
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Brenda
April 10, 2015 at 12:31 pmSaw these cute burp clothes in a local childrens store where I live…..16.00 A PIECE! My niece said, Aunt Brenda you could make these! I had already planned on making some burp cloths with chenille and fabric, but no one had chenille in stock where I shopped. I had some cute fabric! After finding your tutorial I headed to Walmart for a package of diapers! Thank you, Thank you! So easy and so cute!
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April 10, 2015 at 10:34 pmThat’s so great!
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Ellen Merritt
September 15, 2015 at 8:15 pmThanks Amy! I cant wait to make some.
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Carol R
March 24, 2018 at 1:02 amI’m sorry but I don’t see your pictures
Rich H
March 19, 2016 at 9:55 amThanks for the tutorial — the sewing is simple enough this great-uncle can probably handle making these for his new grandnephew. 😀
Amy Smart
March 19, 2016 at 7:28 pmCongratulations! Enjoy that grandnephew!
Debbie
August 2, 2016 at 6:50 pmHi, after washing the diapers I came upon a lot of lint. How did you deal with it. Thanks
Amy Smart
August 4, 2016 at 11:39 amDo you mean a lot of lint on the diapers themselves? I didn’t have that problem with mine, so I’m not much help. I’m sure different brands of diapers wash differently. You could try a different brand of cloth diapers if the lint is bothering you, though I don’t blame you if you don’t want to buy more. I’d just remove it the best I could? Without seeing the lint, I’m not a lot of help. Sorry. 🙁
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Jackie Zimmerman
August 30, 2016 at 6:41 pmOk, so really dumb question here….I’m assuming fabric side up when on your shoulder…because that is cuter; but diaper side would soak up ‘spit’ better. ???
Margot
October 19, 2017 at 5:57 amThe flannel absorbs okay once it is washed and is so nice and soft against baby’s cheek.
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cris
August 1, 2017 at 6:24 pmWould you need a special type of needle due to thickness of diaper and material?
Amy
August 3, 2017 at 1:50 pmThat’s a really good question! I didn’t think about it too much when I made mine – just used the needle that was already in my machine, but I’m sure a needle made for sewing through thick layers would probably make a difference.
karla
February 18, 2018 at 9:22 amWhat kind of fabric did you use?
Amy
February 18, 2018 at 9:34 pmI used 100% quilting cottons as the accent pieces.
karla
February 19, 2018 at 3:46 pmThanks!
Margot
October 19, 2017 at 5:50 amI tie mine in bundles of three with a wide (1-1/2”?) grosgrain ribbon and have a couple of bundles stashed for quick gifts. Too cute!
kblsnanny
June 20, 2018 at 2:12 pmI understand about the center panel of the diaper, but what do I do with the 2 thinner panels on the sides?
Amy
June 20, 2018 at 4:39 pmI just cover the center panel. So it’s like a stripe down the center.
Nancy Ediger
August 22, 2018 at 2:48 pmI just finished making 20 of these for my daughter-in-love to give her best friend who is having twins. I like to use decorative stitches and different colors of thread so it adds a little more color.
Amy
August 25, 2018 at 1:15 pmAwesome!!
T McDonlad
March 9, 2019 at 8:49 pmWheres some good places to order cute fabric for girls to make burp cloths?
Amy
March 11, 2019 at 11:15 amHi Teresa!
If you’re looking online, there’s a bunch of great fabric websites. If you look on the right sidebar of my blog, there are a bunch of buttons under the word Sponsors. Many of them sell adorable fabric to make girls burp cloths.
Paula
November 20, 2018 at 10:45 pmDo you only put the cute fabric on one side of the cloth diaper?
Amy
November 21, 2018 at 11:35 amI do. But you could definitely do both sides if you like!
Tara
February 7, 2019 at 12:04 pmHello! I came upon your post and thinks it’s adorable, however.. I don’t see. Could I use the same technique with a bond adhesive? I want to make something for my niece who will be having the first great grandchild in our family… my first great niece!! Thank you
Tara
Amy
February 10, 2019 at 1:28 pmCongratulations! You could definitely try it. My only hesitation is wondering if it would hold up to a lot of washings.
Teresa McDonlad
March 9, 2019 at 8:45 pmWheres some good places to get or order cute prints for girls for the burp cloths? Thank you!