Baby burp cloths with loops for toys or binkies
Baby & Kids, DIY Gift Ideas, Free Patterns, Sewing Projects, Under $10, Under 1 Hour
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
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
- 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)
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!
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.
December 16th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Hi Linda, here are some on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=plastic%20baby%20links&sprefix=plastic+baby+lin%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aplastic%20baby%20links
And at Target:
http://www.target.com/p/bright-starts-stroller-toys-lots-of-links/-/A-12200143#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=%20baby%20links
Hope that helps and I’d love to see a picture of your own burp cloth!
December 16th, 2012 at 3:14 am
where do i find plastic baby links
July 11th, 2012 at 8:24 am
I tried your “contact me” link and it didn’t work. Do you mind if I sell these at a local craft fair?
Abigail
July 11th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Great tutorial! So easy, I made 5 in 1 hr! I used ribbons for the loops since I had a ton. Thank you for posting!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Thanks for this tutorial! I’m a newbie at sewing and this is a perfect project for my present skills. Just made my first set for a baby shower coming up.
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:34 am
Magnífica ideia!!!
hugs
Maria Filomena
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:06 pm
I am a little confused-if you sew the short ends of the fabric to the diaper with a 1/2 inch seam allowance how is the bottom edge of the diaper even and straight across the bottom & top edges with your material? Do you fold the edges of the diaper up the 1/2 inch also? These are really cute!
March 18th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I bought cloths today and then found this have two people i want to make this for going to try it as soon as i wash them. thanks for posting it.
March 3rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I am definitely trying this one! Can’t wait to shop for some really cute fabrics to use! I’m sure my daughter-in-law will love it! Thanks for sharing!
October 25th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Such an adorable idea. I am definitely making them for all my pregnant friends! Thanks for sharing!!
October 14th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Love this idea of adding the loops. This will be a real hit at baby showers! Thanks so very much for sharing.
March 25th, 2011 at 7:19 am
With a 6 month old at home, I can never, NEVER find where our teething rings have disappeared to. I love this idea!
I hope you don’t mind, but I included this in my weekly round up of Fab Finds Friday on my blog (http://babeecrafts.blogspot.com/2011/03/fabulous-finds-friday-rainy-day-fun.html)
March 24th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
These are super cute. I have lots of pregnant friends right now, and I am just now learning to sew, but I think these are going on my must make list! Love ‘em:)
March 10th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
These are a great idea!
March 7th, 2011 at 7:04 am
you always have the most original projects! What a great twist on the basic burp cloth!!