Tutorial: Tipped burp cloth

I was "on-call" the day I was scheduled to have my labor induced, which means I just had to wait and wait (and wait!) for the hospital to let me know when to come in.  I can tell you, the call didn't come on the early side of the 24 hour window I was given!  There isn't much like nervously waiting to be told when you're going to have a baby, so like a good nesting mom, I sewed.  So, on the day I gave birth (technically the day before, since I delivered just after midnight), I made a bunch of these tipped burp cloths.  Easy, mindless and useful sewing.   Here's how to do it yourself.

Step 3: Fold and iron along edge.

Step 1: Get yourself some cotton cloth diapers and wash them in hot, hot water without fabric softener.  This removes the natural waterproofing of the cotton to make them more absorbant, and allows them to shrink to size.

Step 4: Line up short ends.

Step 2: Using a rotary cutter, make 2 strips of fabric that are 2 inches wide.  They should be slightly longer (about 1/2 inch) than the short side of your diaper.  Lay the right side of the fabric against the diaper along the short side, matching edges and leaving about 1/4 inch overhang on either end.  Pin and sew 1/4 inch seam allowance along long edge.

Step 5: Line up pressed edge with seam

Step 3: Iron fabric away from the diaper.  Then, fold and iron 1/4 inch along the long, unseamed side of the strip (see photo).  (NOTE: The blue zig-zag seam is how I tell my burp cloths apart from the diaper service's diapers--please disregard!)

Step 6: Zig-zag the pressed edge.

Step 4.  With right sides together, line up the short ends of your fabric strip and pin (see photo).  Sew close to the edge of the diaper, without actually sewing through the diaper.  Repeat on the other side.  Trim fabric close to the seam.

Done!

Step: 5 Turn the fabric right side out, push out corners and line up unseamed edge along the sewing line from the other side.  The goal here is to hide the seam (see photo).

Step 6:  Run a zig-zag stitch along the pressed edge.  Press and repeat all these steps on the other side of the diaper.

Step 7: Admire your work and/or go burp your baby!

One of the best parts of this project is that it uses up the scraps of fabric in your stash...and they make great gifts!