October 4, 2009

fabric strip burp cloth tutorial

Updated 2/16/12:
I am currently hosting an "i spy" fabric charm swap!  For more information, please see this post.

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Sew, Mama, Sew! is having a Scrap Buster Contest! I put my other sewing projects on hold this weekend to make a project for the contest and attempt to write my first tutorial. If ANYTHING about this tutorial is confusing, hard to follow, or just plain wrong, please let me know! So, here goes. . .

Fabric Strip Burp Cloth



Materials Needed:
polar fleece scrap (approximately 10" x 22")
flannel scrap (approxiately 10" x 22")
various strips of similar weight cotton fabrics that coordinate with fleece fabric
sewing machine
thread
pins
rotary cutter, mat, and ruler (or scissors)

1) Gather materials. I used a fun, multicolored piece of fleece to give me lots of fabric options for the front--maybe too many fabric options.


2) Place flannel fabric on cutting mat and cut a piece 10" wide by 22" long. Since my piece was a scrap, it is only about 9-3/4" wide.

3) I like rounded corners on my burp cloths, so I use a coffee mug to round the corners. Place the mug at the corner of the fabric and trace with a pen. Cut on the line. Repeat for the other three corners.


4) To make a contoured burp cloth, find the center of each long edge (11" on this cloth). Go in 1" and make a mark. I use a small dinner plate and a pen to trace the curve.


Cut on this line, and repeat on the other side.


5) Place the flannel piece on top of the fleece fabric. Using the flannel piece as a guide, cut the back piece of the burp cloth out of the fleece fabric.

6) Using your scrap cotton, cut strips of fabric at least 10-1/2" long. The width can vary, but you will lose 1/2" in width due to seam allowances, so don't make them too skinny. If you have some pieces that are slightly shorter than 10-1/2" you can use them at the contoured part of the burp cloth. Press all the fabric strips using an iron.
7) Place your first strip (green in the picture) right side up at one end of the flannel burp cloth piece.

8) Place a second fabric strip (stripe in the picture) on top of the first strip right sides together with raw edges even. Pin in place. Stitch together with 1/4" seam allowance, back stitching at the beginning and end of the seam.

9) Fold the second fabric strip over and press.


10) Continue adding strips to the flannel fabric by repeating steps 7, 8, & 9.


When you get the contoured part of the burp cloth, you can use some of your shorter strips.

11) After you have covered the flannel with strips of fabric, turn the piece over so the flannel is facing up. Trim the fabric strips.


12) Place your flannel and fabric strip top piece on the fleece piece, right sides together. Pin the two pieces together.

13) Stitch the pieces together using a 1/4" seam allowance, removing pins as you sew. Be sure to leave an opening on one of the short ends for turning.
14) Using the opening, turn the burp cloth right side out. Finger press the edges.


15) At the opening, fold the raw edges in and pin. This will be stitched closed when you topstitch the burp cloth.

16) Top stitch close to the edge. I use the inside edge of my presser foot as a guide.

17) Admire your work!



16 comments:

  1. This is a fabulous way to use up those strips!

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  2. hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....

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  3. Thank you so much for posting this excellent tutorial. I am definitely going to be making some of these!! My standard new baby gift is a burp cloth or two!

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  4. This was a great tutorial! I can't wait to use up some scraps with this great idea. I made my first tutorial for this contest too. :)

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  5. Cute, cute, cute! Nice job!! :) I am bookmarking for later!

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  6. Very nice! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  7. Great Idea! Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Great tutorial! Do you suppose I could use a piece of cotton batting instead of the flannel?

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  9. great project! I've made bibs the same way but with old towels in the middle. I like the shape of the cloth. I'll have to make some to give away.

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  10. Thanks for all the nice comments! In response to Ruthie's question, you can definitely use cotton batting instead of flannel, but it will make the burp cloth thicker.

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  11. Love this - I linked to it on my roundup of favorite scrap buster projects. Thanks for sharing - and I love your method of stitching the scraps together and to the flannel at the same time. Quick and easy!

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  12. Thanks for sharing. Just trying to figure out what I want mine to look like. Great scrap buster project!

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  13. Love this idea. Have used this method for other projects but hadn't thought of using it for burb clothes.
    ~Kimberlee
    www.TheSpunkyDiva.com

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  14. very good guide for a diy fabric strip burp cloth.kid clothes

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  15. I have used cotton batting in making these, but it does stretch.

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  16. I have used cotton batting for these, but it does stretch some.

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