Hello friends! Cassie here.
Last month I shared some favorite baby items to give and receive, and I promised a tutorial for one of my go-to handmade baby gifts. These burp cloths are simple, practical, and much more absorbent and long-lasting than many store-bought options. Below I’ll walk you through my preferred method for making soft, durable burp cloths that make lovely gifts.
What makes these stand out is the backing fabric. I’ve tried flannel and terry cloth, but chenille is my favorite. It’s soft, highly absorbent, and the textured lines make cutting quick and easy while giving a finished look that’s nicer than most alternatives.
Materials
- Chenille fabric — I like white or a neutral so it pairs with many front fabrics
- Front fabric of your choice — choose coordinating prints if you plan to gift a set
- Pins
- Scissors
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread (white works well if you make multiple at once)
Step One
Cut your front fabric and the chenille to the same size. I prefer a generous burp cloth, so I cut about 10″ x 18″. Finished dimensions will be roughly an inch smaller after sewing. Cutting several sets at once saves time if you want to make multiples for gifts.
Step Two
Place the two fabric pieces right sides together and pin around the edges. Leave a 3–4 inch opening on one of the short sides; you will use this opening to turn the cloth right side out later.
Step Three
Sew around the perimeter starting just after the gap, using a 1/4″–1/2″ seam allowance. Chenille can shift while sewing, so focus on keeping a straight seam rather than perfect precision.
Step Four
Trim the corners and any excess seam allowance to reduce bulk and create neater corners once turned.
Step Five
Turn the burp cloth right side out through the gap. Press the seams flat with an iron, folding in the edges of the opening so they align with the rest of the seam.
Step Six
Pin the opening closed so the edge matches the rest of the cloth and is ready for topstitching.
Step Seven
Topstitch around the entire cloth about 1/8″–1/4″ from the edge, sewing the gap closed as you sew. This gives the burp cloth a clean, finished edge and reinforces the layers.
That’s it—simple, effective, and quick once you get the rhythm. Making a coordinated set of three to five cloths is a thoughtful, practical baby gift. I often group fabrics with a similar color palette or theme; the set shown here uses several fabrics featuring foxes and complementary tones.
I’ve made dozens of these and get faster with each batch. They’re a great way to use fabric scraps and create a useful, handmade gift.
I also enjoy sourcing unique prints from independent fabric designers. Buying a fat quarter can be enough for two burp cloths, which makes specialty fabric affordable for this small project.
I look forward to sharing more next month!
Cassie
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Catch up with Cassie’s posts in the regular archives for more ideas and inspiration.