Homemade Baby Burp Cloths (2024)

Here is an easy guide to making your own burp cloths! They are super simple and perfect for beginners. Find more easy homemade baby gifts here to make!

Homemade Baby Burp Cloths (1)

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Have you ever been to a baby shower where the mama-to-be received totally adorable gifts and you thought “Why didn’t I think todo that?” or “I can definitely make those and not pay $20 for a set of 3!” I am here to tell you, YOU CAN DO IT!

Baby burp cloths are a fun shower gift for an expectant mama and super easy to make! Pair a small stack of these with a coordinating baby blanket and you have a thoughtful gift that any mom will appreciate. Bonus points if you coordinate with the nursery theme or the daddy-to-be’s favorite movie. << personal story 😉

Sure you can pick up a cute handmade set from Etsy, but if you have some time to run to the store and get to sewing, I recommend de-stressing by sewing up a batch of these burp cloths.

If you have the fabric pre-washed (for when the sewing time hits), you can make these during nap time and not worry about having to keep any eye on the kids while you’re focusing on sewing.

Supplies Needed to Make Baby Burp Cloths

Chooseyour Fabric

Start with the best part, choosing adorable snuggle flannel for the project! Really, you can use any flannel from the fabric store.

I usually purchase snuggle flannel. It’s so soft for new faces and the designs are absolutely adorable. For this tutorial pick out two coordinating fabrics and purchase 3/4 of a yard of each.

If you would like more burp cloths, purchase a yard of fabric. Once I buy fabric, I always wash it right away. That way when I have some unexpected free time to sew they will already be pre-washed and ready to go!

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Other Posts I Think You’ll Enjoy:

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Making a Hooded Towel
  • 17 Easy Homemade Baby Gifts
  • The 11 Things You Need To Know Before Sewing Minky Fabric

Cut the Fabric

Match up right sides facing one another so the “wrong” side of the fabric is facing you.Cut the burp cloths to your preferred size. For efficiency sake, I try to cut 4 rectangular pieces in width across the 42″.

You can choose to make them as long as you would like. Generally, my pieces are 10″ by 13.”

Once you master these, you may prefer to cut a pattern out of thick cardstock and use a kidney bean shaped item or continue on sewing rectangles. It’s your project, choose what shape you like the best!

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Sign up for access to a free baby blanket measuring guide! It’s available to all of my email subscribers at the bottom of this post!

Prior to cutting, pin your fabric in each rectangle. I find that pinning once across the tops and bottoms keeps the fabric in place so that you can cut and stack quickly.

  • Related: How to Applique a Baby T-Shirt
  • Related:A Beginner’s Guide to Making Hooded Towels
  • Related:11 Things to Know Before You Sew with Minky Fabric

Sew your Burp Cloths

With a rectangle in hand, sew a straight stitch around the outer edge of the fabric, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance and room to turn the fabric out.

Trim any excess fabric in the corners. This allows the cloths to lay flat nicer.

Since these are usually used heavily, I fold the small opening in and topstitch a straight stitch over the opening in a coordinating thread.

Some sewers prefer to catch the opening when the sewing the top stitch, but I’ve had incidents where I didn’t catch the opening fully and it came undone later. Or perhaps, we are just REALLY hard on our burp cloths. 🙂

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Finish off your Burp Cloths

Once the burp cloth has been closed, it is important to press the item. Yes, please iron the burp cloth. Everything that you will ever sew will just look that much nicer pressed.

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Once pressed, finish off your burp cloth with a decorative stitch across the perimeter. When I have several to make, I choose the zig zag stitch.

However my machine, the Brother SE400Homemade Baby Burp Cloths (9) has several decorative stitches. Check out your manual, have a little fun! Go wildand choose a contrasting thread to show off the stitch.

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These can be made in less than an hour and go well with a homemade flannel baby blanket. See my baby blanket tutorial here.

Hopefully, you’ll find that these are the perfect project for new sewers and those who need a simple gift for a mama-to-be. Find two adorable pieces of fabric and get to sewing! You’ll have them completed in almost no time and be satisfied with your craftiness.

GET YOUR FREE BABY BLANKET SIZING GUIDE HERE!

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Homemade Baby Burp Cloths (12)

Homemade Baby Burp Cloths (2024)

FAQs

What is the best fabric for homemade burp cloths? ›

Organic Cotton – By far the most popular. Organic cotton is a favourite to use as it is all-natural. It is low maintenance and comfortable. And is absorbent which is ideal for burping pads.

What can I use instead of burp cloths? ›

Many parents use cloth diapers as burp rags because they're so versatile. They won't tear or stretch out of shape, and they provide the perfect absorbency for any messes your baby might make. Their softness, absorbency, and durability make them the best choice for burp rags.

What is the best burp cloth DIY? ›

Gerber cloth diapers in a pack of 10 are hands down the best burp rags out there.” “Get Gerber Cloth Diapers makes very absorbent burp clothes and much cheaper than traditional ones.”

Can you make your own burp cloths? ›

Now when I say these are the easiest and best burp rags you will ever sew, I really mean it. Two rectangles of fabric sewn together, flipped right-side out, and then topstitched. I am not kidding, they are that easy. So now that you're not scared of this sewing, let's dive right in!

How many layers of flannel do I need for a burp cloth? ›

I only use two flannels no batting when making burp cloths. I have seen some in LQS that use just two layers of flannel. They feel really soft and I bet they are absorbent. I have been making burp clothes using flannel on one side and a prefolded diaper on the other.

Do you use batting in burp cloths? ›

Purchase ⅓ yard of flannel for each of your homemade baby burp cloths. I also used Cotton Batting for padding. The cotton flannel and batting are both washable and absorbent. Note: You could choose to get a fleece iron on interfacing instead of the batting if you prefer.

What is the best material for baby burp cloths? ›

So what is the best fabric for burp cloths? Cotton chenille is the best fabric for absorbent burp cloths I've found, and combined with a terry cloth layer for absorbency is far superior to any other combination.

Can I use washcloths as burp cloths? ›

100% Cotton - Muslin cotton

Viviland baby washcloths can be used as a bath towel, burp cloth, face cloths, or even a reusable baby wipe. When a baby around you is about to be born, you can give the new mom and new dad as a great shower gift.

Why are burp cloths thicker in the middle? ›

Some burp cloths are designed to be thicker in the middle to catch and absorb the bulk of spit-up or vomit, keeping it away from your clothes.

What is the difference between a burp cloth and a muslin? ›

Muslin Cloth v's Burping Cloths

Use – These are used during feeding to wipe away small amounts of milk. While spit-up pads protect you and your clothes when burping a newborn. Size – Muslin cloths are square in shape and measure 25cm x 25cm. They are smaller in size than spit-up rags.

How long should a burp cloth be? ›

What is the standard size of a baby burp cloth? Most burp cloths are around 15 -22” in length and 10 - 15” in width. They are this long so that they offer as much coverage as possible and also drape over the shoulder without falling off.

What size are homemade burp cloths? ›

First up, you're going to cut out two pieces (a front and back) of your fabric out into a rectangle. You can make these whatever size you want, but for these I cut them out 10 inches x 20 inches, which is a great size for a burp cloth.

When did you stop using burp cloths? ›

How Long Do Babies Need Burp Cloths? Babies usually need burp cloths for as long as they're fed by bottle or breast. It's different for every child, but they get most of their sustenance from milk until about 12 months of age.

What is the most absorbent material for burp cloths? ›

So what is the best fabric for burp cloths? Cotton chenille is the best fabric for absorbent burp cloths I've found, and combined with a terry cloth layer for absorbency is far superior to any other combination.

What is most absorbent fabric? ›

The most common absorbent fibre used is cotton, but other fabrics have recently been designed that are more absorbent, such as modal, micro-modal, Tencel®, and other viscose-based fibres. All of these are made from the same base material – plant cellulose – which loves water.

Does Minky fabric work for burp cloths? ›

These burp cloths are ridiculously easy to make–seriously, if you can sew in a straight line, you can make these. They are so much softer and cuter than cloth diapers, and they make perfect baby shower gifts. Whip up several, and grab them whenever you need a quick gift.

Can you use minky fabric for burp cloths? ›

I have used this method to sew burp clothes for all of my own kids and they are always a great baby shower gift too! If you are new to sewing, this tutorial is for you! If sewing with the minky fabric makes you a little nervous you can always use chenille because it doesn't slip around as much as the minky fabric can.

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