Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog “Life Sew Good”.

I love making baby gifts!  However, I am a bit of a procrastinator, so on Friday night before my friend’s baby shower, I needed a quick project.  I settled on some practical flannel burp cloths.  Here’s how to make them!

What You’ll need:

½ yd. flannel  (or two 1/3 yd. pieces of coordinating flannel)
Scissors —preferably 1 pair for cutting your paper and a another pair for cutting fabric
Ruler
Paper—tracing paper, newsprint, or a paper bag works well
Pen
Pins
Sewing macine
Thread

Make sure you pre-wash your flannel.  Technically you would only need ¼ yd, but after the fabric shrinks, you will need a bit more.

First, we’ll make a pattern.  If you are making more than one burp cloth, making a good pattern will be key to uniformity!

1. Fold your paper in half length-wise and then in half the other way (in quarters)

2. I want my finished product to be 8″ across the top & the bottom, curving in the middle to 5″, and a total length of 14″. We will divide our total desired measurements in ½, then add ½” seam allowance.  So .  . .  Measure 3” in from the top corner fold in and make a mark.  Measure 7 ½” inches down from top fold and make a mark.  At 7 ½” from the top, (where you just made a mark) measure 4 ½” in from the center fold.  Using ruler, draw a straight line from the center fold in 4 ½”. Draw a curved line from the bottom line (4 ½”) to the top mark at 3″.  See example.

3. Cut paper pattern along your 2 lines.  Unfold.  You can use the full pattern now OR you can cut it in half and cut the fabric on the fold.  It’s up to you!  Both sides should be symmetrical, so if you cut it in half, you’ll have 2 patterns.  I’m going to use ½ the paper pattern and cut 2 pieces of fabric on the fold.

4. Cut your fabric.  You need 2 identical pieces.

5. Pin RIGHT sides together, leaving a 2” flipping hole on one of the center sides.

6. Starting on the side, sew ½” all the way around, except the 2” flipping hole.  Make sure to back tack your first and last stitches.

7. Clip corners and make small cuts on curved center.

8. Flip right sides out.  Iron, making sure to line up edges where you turned your fabric.

9. Top stitch ¼” all the way around, making sure to close your flipping hole.

10. Viola!  You’re done! Repeat to make more.

Finally, if you want a boutique look, packaging is everything.  Fold 3 burp cloths then roll them together and tie with a ribbon.

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