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Baby Burp Cloth

Free project instructions to make an embroidered burp cloth.

Making a special gift for a new baby is a wonderful way to express our love with our talents and time. And, turning a cloth diaper into a colorful burp cloth is fast, and fun!

In this tutorial I'll show you two methods of making a burp cloth. One method shows how to embroider directly on the diaper; a second shows how to affix embroidered cotton for a neater back side.

Supplies Needed:

**Cloth diaper (I used pre-folded Gerber diapers)

**1/3 yard cotton fabric (I used broadcloth and flannel)

**Medium weight cutaway stabilizer

**Temporary spray adhesive

**Air-erase pen

**Small piece of cotton fabric (optional -- for adding embroidered fabric piece)

Stabilizer & Hooping:

Cloth diapers are thick, and thick fabric tends to wiggle back and forth as the hoop moves. That can cause misalignment if using tear-away or water-soluble stabilizer, and if the diaper isn't hooped. I recommend using cutaway stabilizer, and hooping the diaper with the stabilizer while embroidering. For more details, please see the Fabrics 101: Embroidering Cloth Diapers article here.

Designs Used:
For this tutorial I used the medium size of the Lollygagging Ladybug Stack. Visit the Children and Nursery department for more fun and baby-friendly designs!

First, I'll plan where the design will be placed. Lay the diaper flat. Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size. If you're not familiar with using or making templates, these handy instructions will give more information.

I positioned the template so that the bottom edge of the design is 3 1/2" up from the bottom edge of the diaper.

I centered the design horizontally. To do this, measure the width of the diaper and divide by two. Place the center point of the template over the center point of the diaper.

Using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, poke a hole in the center of the template and mark the fabric. Then, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points. These marks will be used to hoop the diaper straight.

Remove the template and draw lines connecting the marks.

Spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the diaper on top.

Hoop the diaper and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric.

Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

To add the trim, first measure the width of the diaper and add one inch (mine is 13 3/4" wide, so, 13 3/4" wide plus 1" equals 14 3/4"). This is the trim fabric width. Cut two pieces of cotton fabric to the width measurement (mine is 14 3/4") by 6" high.

Fold the fabric together lengthwise (long edges aligned) with the right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along both short ends; do not sew along the open long edge.

Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams with an iron. Also, turn the fabric of the open edge in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Next, insert the top and bottom edges of the diaper into the trim fabric pieces. Pin the trim in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the inner folded edges of the trim. Sew another 1/4" seam in from the first seam (doing this insures that the back edge of the trim is sewn in place).

Because cutaway stabilizer will bring the best results, it'll show on the back of the burp cloth. Here's an alternate method, an applique option, for a neater-looking back:

Applique Option

Embroider the design onto a cotton fabric, then applique that fabric to the diaper. Here's how it's done!

Cut a piece of cotton fabric a bit larger than your hoop. Spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive, and smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together and embroider the design in the center of the fabric.

When the design has finished, trim away the stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Then, draw a shape around the design. I drew a rectangle around the design about 1" out from the outer edges.

Cut out the shape. Position the embroidered fabric piece onto the diaper where you want it and pin it in place.

I placed the fabric in the center of the diaper to allow room for the top and bottom fabric trim. You can spray the backside of the fabric with a quick shot of temporary adhesive to help hold it in place.

Zigzag stitch around the entire outer edges of the fabric.

You can also fold the edges of the fabric under by 1/4 inch, press, and then stitch the fabric to the diaper.

Next, I added the fabric trim to the top and bottom edges of the burp cloth as shown above.

Burp cloths are an essential item for any parents, and the ability to add a favorite design is what makes these so unique. They'll brighten any baby's day!

Click here for a printable version (PDF) of these project instructions.