30+ Ways To Make A Burp Cloth {Sew A Stack}

Here are dozens of creative ways you can make burp cloths for the sweet new baby you’re wishing to welcome. Most of the designs (if not all) can certainly be given as gifts for new moms. These are so simple to whip up yet so lovely to receive, great stuffer for baskets and homemade shower gifts.

If you like simple & easy, this list has you covered…looking for something a little more fancy? You’ll find that here too. As always, these are handpicked from around the net and I only add the best of the best…they have to be free too! Enjoy the collection!

First, here are a few tips:

• Pre-shrink all fabrics before beginning to sew…hot water & hot dryer. Both flannel and cottons are notorious for shrinking. Iron them well before starting.
• You can save time by using good quality diapers as the base (then embellish with cotton prints, rick rack, etc.).
• Select durable materials (including any trims) that will hold up well to frequent washing & drying.
• Consider using patterns & designs that will hide stains well.
• When gift giving, wrap them up in bundles of three with a wide ribbon tie or give individually, rolled and tied tight with pieces of tulle or lace.
• Embellishment/Edging Ideas: Grosgrain Ribbon, wide RicRac, Fabric Bias, Zig-zag finish, Serged finishing, clipped & frayed edges.
• Ensure all thread tails are clipped close so there’s no chance of anything winding around baby’s little fingers.
• Backing ideas: Minky, Chenille, Terry Cloth (a large white bath towel on sale will do the trick!), Flannel, Pre-Made Diapers.
• If using plain white for the backing, use white bobbin thread regardless of the thread color for printed side so stitches are not noticeable.

Tutorials

Ergonomic – Large: Wow, this one’s nice & large! Pattern pieces are available free to download (6 parts, print 100%).

Quilted Patchwork: 18 3.5″ squares are pieced together for the front, backed with a 9.5″ x 18.5″ piece of chenille (or choice fabric).

Contoured: Quite a nice generous size, pattern pieces are available free to download. Also offers a tutorial for square minis on this page.

Crochet Edge: Here’s how to directly crochet a sweet edging onto a basic flannel burp cloth using a sharp crochet hook.

Ruffles & Appliques: Shows you how to make a gathered ruffle and appliques using heat n bond. Also see this project for ruffle placement ideas.

With Appliques: A nice way to customize or personalize your project using Heat N Bond Ultrahold and fusible interfacing.

Beginner’s Level Project: These are made with prefold premium 6-ply cloth diapers with absorbent padding & pretty cotton fat quarters (each FQ will make 3).

Trendy Frayed Edges: Made with two layers of flannel (optional applique).

Ric Rac: Embellished with decorative squares and ric rac.

Easiest Ever: Made with diapers, cute material and embellished with ribbon or ric rac.

Cute & Easy: A piece of colorful print is sewn down the middle of regular diapers.

Covered: These are nice ‘n thick.

Appliqued: Cute idea! Use the word “burp” or anything else you like.

Stripes: Here’s a project with polar fleece, flannel and strips of cotton material (great stashbuster).

Gift Set: Backed with lovely soft white chenille. Includes a quick tutorial for making a decorative band to package a bundle together for gift-giving.

Bucket O’ Burpees: Cute idea to stuff them into a plastic bucket for gift giving (free printable label included). Similar to this one found here.

With Loops: Features a little twist: a couple of handy loops to keep track of toys or binkies on the go.

Basket o’ Burpies: Two variations, one has a strip down one side, the other version has the back fully covered with fabric.

Easy Peasy: Made with flannel and cotton.

Contoured: Templates are available to download.

Chenille or Minky: These are luxurious using pieces of chenille, minky and flannel. Lined with batting.

With Manners Message: Personalized with cute messages such as “Pardon Me” or “Excuse Me”, tutorial via pdf download which includes the applique stencils.

Minky “Rags”: So sweet, so easy! Minky is used for the backing, simple rectangle shapes stitched together then flipped inside out & topstitched.

Double Thick: There are four layers in the center panel, tutorial via pdf.

Necktie: How nice would these be for a baby boy! Made with pre-folded diapers, material of your choice and Heat ‘n Bond.

Three Different Designs: Pattern pieces are free to download for Rectangle, Two-Sided Contoured and One Sided Contoured.

Double-Gauze: Sweet & light, these are made with a double layer of cotton gauze then trimmed with an adorable pom-pom edging.

Simply Trimmed: How’s this for easy! Trim premium diapers with a charming, bright ribbon. That’s it!

10 Minute Project: Includes a template download for the rounded edge.

Generous Size: This design features an angled edge to keep it less bulky in the baby’s bag.

Three Variations: Features rounded corners, both sides printed flannel. Clipped & frayed edges, Serged finishing, sewn-in rick rack.

Scrappy Border: Assorted lengths of printed fabric are first sewn together then attached along the edges of cloth diapers as a binding.