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 ¾″ 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.
Mauri
Thanks 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
Amy- Thank you so much for the tutorial. I will be making some of these for my new grand daughter!
angela
Thanks! 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
Thanks 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.
Fantastic idea! I just need to find someone to make them for…
Rebecca Batts
Any church nursery or daycare center or hospital nursery would be happy to receive a set of these, I’m sure!
Kimberly
Fab! Now, if I only had another baby underfoot…
Patty
What a nice gift idea. Love your hi-tech tools! :^)
Kate
Oh, so brilliant!
Laurie, the girls and Scott
You are such a fancy girl! I will be making these soon. Thanks for the tutorial.
amylouwho
I'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
I 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
I 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
You 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
So cute Amy. And I love the method. I think I need to make a few as gifts.
Vicki
adorable! I've done the same thing, just without the template. 🙂
Anonymous
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
luvinthemommyhood
Love this Amy! I added this to the link luv roundup today. https://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/01/link-luv-roundup.html
jaybird
that was super easy!
natalie. beyond the reef
Thanks for this – great ideas all around. I'm headed out to buy a bag of those diaper thing-ies now!
Cindy
Way 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
Love the idea for the template. I am confused when you say "tuck rick-rack under before you sew". What does that do?
Heidi
Love 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
Oh 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
So 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
So 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
Joanna, 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
Thanks, Amy! I got your response to my question (not sure why my email didn't show for you, am new to all this)
MaryJo
Hi – 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
So 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: https://seaschell.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-baby-projects.html<br />Thanks for a great tutorial!
Shirley
I made a set of these ahead of having a baby last year and they've been AWESOME. (Blogged about it here: https://karnos.blogspot.com/2011/01/burp-cloths.html). Thanks for the tutorial on this!
jacey
I made them and posted them on my blog 🙂 So easy and such a great idea!! Thanks for this 🙂 <br />beyoutifuldarling.blogspot.com
Kristan
Great tutorial! It seriously took me like 5 minutes to whip one of these out. About to make a few more. Thanks!
Lauren Lanker
Gave 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 />https://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/03/27/burp-cloth-tutorial-for-the-beginner-sewist/<br /><br />Lauren
jocelyn
Hi 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
Hmm. 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
k thanks Amy i will look again.<br />
jocelyn
k thanks Amy i will look again.<br />
Patria Jase
Great 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="https://bellylaughs.ca/" rel="nofollow">Baby cloth diapers</a>
Savvy
Thanks, Amy!! This one may be 'older', but there's a NEW baby James next door!! The perfect 'little something special'!!
Margo Yang
Great idea for baby gifts, thanks.
Rahul Surkund
Thanks for this – great ideas all around.
Brenda
Saw 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!
Amy Smart
That’s so great!
Ellen Merritt
Thanks Amy! I cant wait to make some.
Rich H
Thanks for the tutorial — the sewing is simple enough this great-uncle can probably handle making these for his new grandnephew. 😀
Amy Smart
Congratulations! Enjoy that grandnephew!
Debbie
Hi, after washing the diapers I came upon a lot of lint. How did you deal with it. Thanks
Amy Smart
Do 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. 🙁
Jackie Zimmerman
Ok, 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
The flannel absorbs okay once it is washed and is so nice and soft against baby’s cheek.
cris
Would you need a special type of needle due to thickness of diaper and material?
Amy
That’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
What kind of fabric did you use?
Amy
I used 100% quilting cottons as the accent pieces.
karla
Thanks!
Margot
I 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
I understand about the center panel of the diaper, but what do I do with the 2 thinner panels on the sides?
Amy
I just cover the center panel. So it’s like a stripe down the center.
Nancy Ediger
I 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
Awesome!!
T McDonlad
Wheres some good places to order cute fabric for girls to make burp cloths?
Amy
Hi 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
Do you only put the cute fabric on one side of the cloth diaper?
Amy
I do. But you could definitely do both sides if you like!
Tara
Hello! 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
Congratulations! You could definitely try it. My only hesitation is wondering if it would hold up to a lot of washings.
Teresa McDonlad
Wheres some good places to get or order cute prints for girls for the burp cloths? Thank you!
Kathy Holley
Thanks for keeping your posts up Amy. Going to make these, might embellish if I feel energetic! Simple and colorful. Lovely!
Carole
I really like the idea of using diapers for burp cloths. But I must be a literal person, because I am not sure the size of the finished product. Do you recommend to sew the two sides of the white diaper behind the decorative middle? Thank you.
Amy
You can if you want, but I don’t. I just sew the decorative part to the middle section. The finished stack has the sides folded behind the middle for stackability. But when in use I prefer the sides open for maximum area for coverage. 🙂