The Best Burp Cloths — Made by Rae (2024)

Warning: Lots of blahdeeblahdeeblah in this post. Anti-readers should go elsewhere. BUT! There's a tutorial at the end of it all if you can make it that far!

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When my sewing career started up again post-college with the purchase of a cheap Singer online (which is now completely worthless, a discussion for another time, another post), I began making baby gifts for friends. That seemed to be the time when everyone around me was beginning to procreate. I myself had just begun to date my high school boyfriend for the second-time-around (who later became Mr Rae) and was nowhere near thinking about procreation or marriage at that point. Nevertheless I found baby gifts to be the perfect sewing project as I started to relearn the sewing skills that had been abandoned in my youth. One of the first things I made was a burp cloth for a friend's baby which later received rave reviews both for its attractiveness and functionality. Later when I had my own children I made loads of these and found them to be one of the most useful items those first few months. I reached for them before the birdseye diapers because they were cuter, and before the commercial multipack ones because well those are just plain worthless. I've seen many types of handmade burp cloths, but I like the way these really show off the fabric you choose.

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Last weekend my sister-in-law had a shower for her soon-to-be-expected baby boy, so I put together a stack on the suggestion of my other sister-in-law who had also found them invaluable. Just a couple of hours of sewing and I had a handmade, adorable gift. This is a great beginner project especially if you need to make a baby boy gift which can be harder to come up with at the drop of a hat (and by the way bibs are almost as easy and just as useful too!)

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The front sides of the four burp cloths shown above are made with super-soft single layer gauze that I ordered from Spoonflower (a digital fabric print-on-demand website). One of the things I love about Spoonflower is that you can have your fabric printed on many different kinds of fabric. This particular set of designs is from a limited edition collection designed by Heather Ross exclusively for Spoonflower called Macaroni Love Story which is no longer available, but you can order her current Spoonflower collection here which is equally cute. Otherwise, just look around for a few minutes and you'll be sure to find a design by someone that suits you!

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Now a note about this "gauze." It's actually not called "gauze" by the Spoonflower folks, it's called "voile," and I must freely admit to you that I was downright miffed last winter when it arrived on my doorstep bearing almost no resemblance whatsoever to the material called "voile" that has become popular of late (first by Anna Maria Horner and now by many other fabric designers), meaning I wasn't going to be able to use it for its original intended purpose.In fact I still feel it is a wee bit deceptive to call it "voile" considering the other voiles on the market, although I'm sure it technically qualifies as a voile by weight. If I were running things over at Spoonflower (which, obviously, I am not) I would call this a "single layer gauze" so that is what I am calling it in this post*.Regardless of what you want to call it (and whether or not you think it's worth getting grumpy about, ummmm), it absolutely makes the BEST material for burp clothes. One fat quarter would make two burp clothes, but a full yard would make four (EIGHT! Thanks Susan for that correction. I used to teach math...wow, how did that happen?) at a better price. If you ordered a full yard and hemmed it you'd have a perfect summer baby blanket very similar to the other gauzy muslin ones that seem to be popping up all over the place lately. And if the price tag seems high to you, think about this: you are paying for the ability to print a specific design (including your own) on demand. That's been unheard of until very recently.*Please don't get me wrong: I think Spoonflower is great. Stephen and the gang have been nothing but wonderful since the start and my attempts with other fabric-on-demand websites have proven that they really have a good thing going on here. I would love to talk more about designing fabric prints and ordering digital fabric on demand, but again that's another post, for another time.

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Another material that is more readily available that is great for this project is regular quilting cotton. You might think it wouldn't be absorbant enough, but you'd be wrong. It's a little heavier but works just as well, and how many great boy prints are out there right now that would be fantastic here? You can go as crazy as you want, because it's just a burp cloth, right? The back side of this burp cloth is knit jersey, which I usually cut from an old t-shirt. I also use chenille or minky for the back, but if you're not quite ready to sew with knits, flannel or terry cloth would work just fine. I think you'll find though that sewing with knit fabric is really easy for this project.

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cutting knit from t-shirts for this is so easy!just place the top rectangle right over the t-shirt and cut!

While I know that many of you could probably figure out how to put two rectangles of fabric together to make a burp cloth, just in case it helps you to have a picture step-by-step I've put together quick tutorial!

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Voila! Burp cloths! So easy.If you're just joining us, this post is part of the Celebrate the SUMMER Boy series. You can go here to see all of the posts in on place.

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And just in case you've missed what Dana has been up to this week:First up on Monday was this fantastic tutorial on upcycling thrifted men's trunks into kids trunks. Wow, don't these look great?

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And yesterday she talked about fabric selection in a FANTASTIC post about choosing fabric for boys!

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And today? Racer Shorts!!!

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The Best Burp Cloths — Made by Rae (2024)

FAQs

What kind of burp cloths are best? ›

Absorbency
ProductAbsorbency Rating
Green Sprouts Muslin5
Comfy Cubs Muslin3
Milkbarn Organic3
Gerber Flannel Burp Cloth2
5 more rows
6 days ago

What is the best fabric to make a burp cloth? ›

Choose a cotton fabric to use. Cut your cotton fabric into strips about 2 1/2 inches wide, and 2 inches longer than the width of your cloth diaper. You will need 2 strips for each burp cloth. Iron your strips of fabric in half lengthwise, then fold each long side in 1/4 inch and iron again.

What is the best size for a burp cloth? ›

What is the standard size of a baby burp cloth? Most burp cloths are around 15 -22” in length and 10 - 15” in width. They are this long so that they offer as much coverage as possible and also drape over the shoulder without falling off.

How many burp cloths should you have? ›

If you are wondering, 'how many burp cloths do I need?' It depends on how often your young one spits up, the number of feedings(which are unnumbered as they are still breastfeeding), and how often you want to do the laundry. But anywhere between eight to 14 burp cloths is a good number to have for a single baby.

Do burp cloths need batting? ›

Use Batting

She adds, “If you want a more absorbent burp cloth, you can add batting in the middle.” Gardner's tutorial, “How to Sew Easy Burp Cloths,” is a breeze with bright, clear photos to guide you.

How long do burp cloths last? ›

You should change them once they are wet or covered in spit-up. Our handmade burp cloths are designed so you can use one side, and then flip around to use the other. Meaning you could use them a minimum of two times. But if your baby doesn't spit up a lot you may be able to use them up to 10 times before washing.

What is the difference between a burp cloth and a muslin? ›

Cheeky cotton burp cloths are double layer, so thicker than standard muslin cloths and primarily used over the shoulder for burping after feedings. As they are generously sized, they also make great soft bibs, so are truly multi functional. You can even use these folder as a cloth diaper insert or booster!

What do people use for burp cloths? ›

The best material for burp cloths is absorbent and soft. Cotton, terrycloth, and fleece are all good options.

What can I use instead of burp cloths? ›

If you're looking for a burp cloth that will last through even the most explosive feedings, look no further than cloth diapers; they're a great alternative to regular burp cloths.

How many layers of flannel for a burp cloth? ›

Folding the Flannel Burp Cloth

In order to create the look of the prefolded diaper, I fold the flannel so that the center has 4 layers of flannel and the sides have two layers of flannel.

How often should I wash burp cloths? ›

They will need to be washed regularly. But how often will depend on how many burping pads you buy. Ideally, they should be washed daily. But no later than every second day.

Where should I store burp cloths? ›

An Example of an Organized Dresser

The top left drawer can be for burp rags. The middle drawer should be for miscellaneous items such as nail clippers, pacifiers and similar things. The middle left drawer should be for onesies both short and long-sleeved.

What material makes the best burp cloths? ›

Muslin – This is an eco-friendly material that is soft and gentle on the baby's skin. Ideal for wiping away drool and spit-up. They are quick to dry but not as absorbent as cotton and flannel. Chenille – Another versatile fabric is Chenille.

Should I pre wash burp cloths? ›

Pre-washing doesn't mean you have to wash and dry every single onesie, burp cloth, and towel before the baby is born. Just make sure to wash baby clothes or linen before you use them. Tip: Pre-wash baby clothes in phases, starting with items marked in sizes newborn through 0-3 months.

When to stop using burp cloths? ›

Babies usually need burp cloths for as long as they're fed by bottle or breast. It's different for every child, but they get most of their sustenance from milk until about 12 months of age. While many children continue drinking milk after their first birthday, they may not still need to be burped each time.

What to look for in baby burp cloths? ›

Things to consider before buying burp cloths
  • Choose a type of cloth that is absorbent and soft.
  • Choose a size that is large enough to cover the baby's chest and stomach.
  • Choose a design that you like.
  • Consider the price and whether the cloths can be washed and dried in a machine.

Are silicone or cloth bibs better? ›

Comfortable and Safe

Additionally, silicone bibs don't contain any harmful chemicals that can leach into your baby's food, making them a safer choice overall. In conclusion, silicone bibs offer several advantages over cloth bibs. They are easy to clean, durable, long-lasting, comfortable, and safe for your little one.

What is the difference between a burp cloth and a muslin cloth? ›

Muslin burp cloths are lightweight, breathable, soft, and durable. They are gentle on a baby's delicate skin and absorbent, making them ideal for daily use and quick cleanups. Cotton burp cloths are a bit heavier, but usually softer, more comfortable and absorbent. They also hold up well after multiple washings.

Is microfiber good for burp cloths? ›

It depends on how you plan to use them. Microfiber is super absorbent, to the extent that it can dry out the skin and sometimes cause problems if left directly on a baby's skin, but for quick wipe ups, skin contact is just fine.

References

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