4-Ply Burp Cloths

What you need is very simple: One package of prefolded cloth diapers, fabric and coordinating ribbon, and thread. The only sewing supplies you need are a sewing machine, a hem gauge, straight pins, scissors and pinking shears.


 
Walmart sells two types of cloth diapers. Trust me, you want to buy prefolded diapers. Here's what the label looks like.


This is what the diaper looks like. I tossed the diapers,fabrics and ribbon into my washer and washed them on the hottest setting before I started working on them. (If you have a lingerie bag, put the ribbon in that to help avoid it getting tangled.) You want to preshrink everything. After everything was dry, I ironed it all very smooth to
make it easier to work with.



Here's a tip. Lightweight cotton fabric will ravel like crazy in the washer and dryer. Use pinking shears to trim the ends of the fabric to prevent this. It may still ravel a little, but not nearly as much.



After they are washed and dried, the diapers measure about 17 inches long. You're going to sew a seven inch wide strip of fabric down the center of the diaper. To allow for a one-half inch hem around all four sides of the strips, cut the fabric eight inches wide and eighteen inches long.

For each burp cloth, cut two lengths of ribbon the same length as the fabric strip.



Lay the fabric strip down the exact center of the diaper with the pressed hems facing down. Lay the ribbon down the sides, lining it up with the edges of the fabric. Pin the sides in place. Then fold the ends under so they meet the edges of the diaper and pin those in place, too. Everything's all pinned in place now and you're ready to sew your seams.


Sewing through all three layers, sew the side seams first.



Sew down both sides of the ribbon, making your seam as close to the edge of the ribbon as you can. It helps to sew very slowly. After you've sewn the sides sew across the ends, again, as close to the edge as you can.

That's it - you've just made a cute, cute burp cloth!


This is what the finished burp cloth looks like. Because you washed everything in hot water before you started, this is pretty much what it will continue to look like as it's used and washed over and over again.


 
They're very sweet. And they're fun to make!