Baby burp cloths with loops for toys or binkies

My friend Jolyn, the Queen of Handmade Burp Cloths, taught me years ago how to turn regular white burp cloths into posh fabric-covered burp cloth sets in less than an hour. Cute, huh? And oh so useful too – my #1 baby gift criteria. Recently it seems like everyone is having babies and I have to admit I feel a little bit of pressure to make them something handmade.

This time I’ve added a little twist: a couple of handy loops to keep track of toys or binkies on the go.

Just attach one or more plastic baby links to the loop and voila! A mini travel-blanket burp cloth to toss on your shoulder or in your baby bag, keeping shoulders spit-up free in style.

WANNA MAKE IT? Keep reading for my free baby burp cloth sewing pattern with loops for toys or binkies –>

 

Supplies:

• 3/4 yard of fabric (for 6 cloths; this varies a bit depending on the cloths you buy)
• White burp cloths (pack of 6 – these work great), ironed flat
• Plastic baby links
• Rotary fabric cutter, self-healing cutting mat and clear acrylic ruler
• Good fabric scissors
• Good iron (like Rowenta)
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Pins (I prefer glass head pins)
• Thread – your fabric color plus white thread (I use my thread spool set)

1. Cut your pieces

You can pre-wash your burp cloths and fabric if you want but usually I skip it and hope that they’ll shrink together. Iron the cloth flat. Measure your burp cloth. Add 2″ to the length measurement (assuming you’ll be folding over 1/2″) and add 1″ to the width measurement and cut.

For instance, mine was 20 long and I wanted the middle fabric strip to be 4.5 inches finished. So, I cut my fabric piece 22″ x 5.5″ (which is the size you should cut if you buy the white burp cloths that I recommend from Amazon.com).

Cut two loops 4″ long x 3″ wide.

2. Make your loops

Iron your square in half so it’s 1.5″ wide and 4″ long.

Fold each raw side into the middle and press again. You’ll have a little sandwich.

Sew at about 1/8″ around the edges. Repeat for the other loop and set aside.

3. Attach the fabric strip to the burp cloth

Take the long fabric piece. Turn one of the long sides under 1/2″ and iron flat. Repeat on the other side.

Lay the wrong side of your fabric piece onto the middle of the burp cloth, lining up one of the raw, short ends. Pin.

Now line up the other short side on the other side of the burp cloth and pin. You’ll have a bit of a hill in the middle like this.

Sew the short end, stitching at a 1/2″ seam. Repeat on the other short side.

Now turn the burp cloth “inside out” so that the wrong side of the fabric is touching the burp cloth.

Iron flat.

Fold one of the finished loops in half. Slip the raw, unfolded edge of the loop 1/2″ under the large fabric piece — about 4″ down from the top of the burp cloth. Pin. Repeat on the other side.

Switch your bobbin thread to white. Stitch around the large fabric piece to secure it to the burp cloth. I used a straight stitch close to the edge but you can use a zigzag stitch instead if you’d like.

3. Attach toys

Take a plastic baby link and slip it within the loop. Attach toys or binkies for safe keeping.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free pattern and step-by-step tutorial instructions for personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Like this free project? See more in our Baby & Kids category.