So maybe you've made your cute little onesie tie shirt and now you want a nice little accessory to go along with it. In the last post I mentioned a home made burp cloth so I thought I would show you how to make one. In case you are wondering what a burp cloth is, it is just a multi-purpose cloth that new moms drape over their shoulder when holding and burping their babies. Babies often spit up when they are being burped so it is always nice to have something to protect your clothes but they can also be used for so many other things, too! People who I have given them to love them because they are so soft and thick (and of course, made with love!). They look great coordinated with other fabrics (like the onesie tie).
I start with these cloth diapers. I bought these at Target in a package of 10. They measure 14 x 20 inches each. You will also need some cotton fabric (add about 1/2 inch extra to the length and width (so 14.5 x 20.5 of fabric). I start by ironing both the cloth and the fabric piece. (If you want to do things by the book, you may want to consider pre-washing both the cloth and fabric to pre-shrink. I skipped right over this part in my enthusiasm to get started and it hasn't been a problem but I just thought it was worth mentioning.) Once you iron them, put the cloth diaper and the "wrong side" of the fabric together. (The wrong side of the fabric is the one that is more blurred and not as sharp.) The reason you want the wrong side facing the cloth diaper is that after you sew it, you will be turning it inside out.
Center the diaper cloth on top of the fabric. *Note the wrong side of the cotton fabric is facing the cloth diaper. Now sew as close to the edge of the cotton diaper as you can around the perimeter but leave a 3.5-4 inch opening at the the end. This opening will allow you to turn it inside out.
Sew around the perimeter of the diaper cloth, close to the edge. When you are finished, trim any excess fabric around the edges being careful not to cut any of the lines you just sewed.
This is the 3.5-4 inch opening for turning it inside out.
Once the edges are trimmed, now turn it inside out through the opening. I like to use a chopstick in the corners to make them more defined.
You can use a chopstick to gently push out the corners.
At this point, I like to iron the cloth flat and I tuck under the edges of the opening and iron them. Once it is nice and flat, sew around the entire perimeter of the cloth very close to the edge.
Once you have finished sewing around the perimeter, now finish it off by sewing the lines in the cloth (otherwise known as "stitch in the ditch"). When you are done, trim the strings, iron and fold.
Now tie a pretty ribbon around it and you have yourself a really nice little homemade gift that will be appreciated and used!!! I have received great feedback from the people that I have given these to. They are really soft and thick and last forever. When you grow out of the need for burp cloths they still hold up as dust cloths, drying mats for dishes, or other household chores! My sister still uses hers and it has been over five years so they stand the test of time. It is a really easy and practical gift. Make up a big batch and always have a great baby gift at the ready!
Warmly,
Pam