Tutorial | Contoured Burp Cloths | Cloud9 Fabrics (2024)

Thanks for the excellent tutorial and pattern! I can’t wait to make these! 😀

Thank you for sharing the tutorial. I have made a few already for gifts.

Very cute to have it contoured, can’t wait to complete these and a few bibs as a nice set for a baby shower gift!

I like this shape! I was planning on making burp cloths soon, they won’t be exactly like this but I’ll be using the shape!

thank you for the pattern yours are adorable.. now I am off to make some for mothers to be.

great instructions!!! Thank you so much!

Thanks so much for this pattern – I have my first grandbaby due the end of October and I have made 5 of these out of flannel with fleece in the middle – so soft. Not sure how you made 4 in an hour – each one took me about an hour but love the pattern. Thanks again.

Thank you soooo much! I was looking for ideas for a precious new baby about to arrive and this is perfect.

what is the purpose of notching?? i made four of these already and just realized i forgot to notch 🙁

Just made these today and they are lovely. Just wanted to comment that I actually got 3 clothes out of an 18″ by 21″ fat quarter.

very nice!

Anon (Oct 25th) – they’re about 17″x8″.

feeling a little dumb, here… but, when I turned mine inside out, all of the stitches were hidden inside the burp cloth. so, the burp cloth doesn’t look like the ones you have pictured (where you can see the stitches). …what did I do wrong?

I’ve been making burp cloths for over 10 years, using a figure 8 pattern. Your pattern covers more area from little spit-ups. I use batting to make it softer, thanks again for the pattern. God Bless

Anon (Nov 7th) When you turn it inside out, press it flat, tuck in the opening so that the side is nice and even then topstitch 1/16th all the way around.

Great pattern!! I just made 5 in a little over an hour for my new grandson. As another poster mentioned it covers more area than the figure eight pattern. Thanks for sharing the pattern.

Ooh! I love, love, love these fabrics. So cute for burp cloths, but I would also love to use them for so many other cute baby things.

Great pattern. I made some similar in a rounded oval shape. I was worried that when they were washed they would bubble out and need pressing. So, with my “new” brother sewing machine I monogrammed my grands name in a crisscross pattern to keep the front and back together. very cute but they haven’t been washed yet. Thanks for the pattern, I’ll be sewing soon again. We’ll have many burp pads. lol

Did anyone pre-wash the flannel first, or did you wait until after it was sewn to wash the burp cloth? I seem to remember that flannel might shrink a lot after washed….anyone have experience with making these either way?

Ashley M – I would pre-wash the flannel, yes. Actually for this item I would pre-wash all fabrics because of the different rates of shrinkage between the two fabrications. Plus, it’s nice when the recipient gets something “all ready to go”!

Thank you so much! What a cute pattern! I paln to make a dozen for a co-worker..Thank you for sharing!

I’m going to make these and add snaps to hopefully turn them into burpy bibs. (so they can be used for either burp cloths or bibs) thanks for the pattern.

thanks for this pattern, I made some and love the contour, I’ve made other styles but this is my new favorite, my daughter will love getting these at her baby shower!

Can you use terry instead of fleece, and cotton on the other? I am new at this and wanted to see who has tried it out. Thanks!

Thanks for the pattern, these are beautiful! I added one more layer of flannel for extra absorbancy and it turned out great.

I made these last week, with 4 different flannel fabrics (1 yard of each) and 1 1/2 yards of white flannel for filler. I mixed and matched the fabrics to make them all reversible and came out with 16 fully finished burp cloths 🙂 they were so easy to put together, the flannel kind of sticks to itself so i never even pinned anything before sewing. I would recommend not forgetting to clip the curves, as it makes it lay flatter when you turn it right side out. all the fabric was half off at joann’s so for $20 I got 16 custom designer burp cloths for my little angel due next month. I love the fact that the flannel kind of clings to your shirt too, keeps it from sliding off. and they are soooooo soft 🙂 its an easy beginner project, i highly recommend doing them in all flannel 🙂

this is a sweet pattern, a little different than what I have made before and I like it better! Thank you for sharing it with us!

This might be a dumb question but im not a seamstress! What is the spacer for? Is it to lengthen the printed pattern?

Thank you so much for a terrific and simple pattern! I like that the cloths have a contour in them. I am looking for items to make for my friend’s first grandson and I will definitely be including several of these, since they’re so quick!

I have a showering October with dragon theme, tough to find. Now I can personalize my gift for sure

Made these today as a shower gift. I used cottonprint and cloth diapers in place of the flannel. They are awesome! Thanks!

I’ve been making a lot of these lately and I ended up adding an extra layer of quilt batting for more absorbency. They’re awesome! And I’m waiting from a friend how well they work since she’s expecting her little one any day now. 😉

Wow, I’m a novice seamstress, and this was very easy for me to figure out! I look forward to making these for friends in the future! Thanks!

I used flannel and fleece and they turned out so good. Thank you for the pattern

I made a bunch for my sister and she loves these. She even asked me to make her more of this style.

Thank you for this pattern, I’m making some for a baby shower. I love how nicely they lay on the shoulder.

Hello! I am a brand new sewer and I need a little guidance on the spacer…anyone information??

Anonymous
I was looking for a pattern for these as I had seen them quite a few years ago. Now that I’m expecting my first grandchild next month and my niece just had a baby boy, I will definitely be making a few of these! Thanks!

Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. Now I don’t have to worry about giving the same gift as someone else at the baby showers.

Thanks for your generosity in sharing your pattern and tutorial! These are very nice!

Looks like something I can do. Thanks they are so cute.

Wondering if those that added the batting noticed a difference in the absorbency? I’ve cut out front/back in flannel and was thinking of adding some batting to help. Comments? Thanks, Wenonah

I think the pattern needs to be rotated before you print. This makes the pattern go the long way down the paper and you get a much bigger burp cloth. Which is why you have to add the spacer b/c the paper is not big enough then. I have made both sizes and bigger is better!

I didn’t add any batting and the fabrics feel a bit “loose”…..

These were a beautiful gift! I added a layer of fleece I had laying around to make them more absorbent (my boys threw up a lot!) I felt like they were really substantial and fancy!

Make sure your printer is set to “landscape.” For some, the automatic setting will be “portrait,” and that makes for a much smaller burp cloth. It will still work, but your clothes don’t get quite the same coverage.

Thanks Anonymous August 4th…for your tip to change the printer setting to Landscape! Perfect size!

Gracias por compartir, me encanto y se lo voy a hacer a una amiga que espera su primer bebe

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thanks so much for sharing this pattern! These cloths are so fast and easy to make. Made a dozen as part of a baby shower gift. Wonderful!

Just a suggestion, but I have used receiving blankets for the fabric. We got so many of them & can only use them so long, so I was able to get 2 burp cloths out of one receiving blanket.

Oh my goodness, I had some this shape that my Mom made for me. They were my favorite. My littlest is now 3 so no need for burp cloths, but they are still my favorite

This is a great pattern. I a m not a great sewer but I have made more than a dozen for a friend of mine and am making more for my friends who are having babies. Thanks for sharing such an easy and great pattern design!

Thank you, thank you for putting this out here, for us to use. I have made so many, for gifts. When making mine, I add an extra layer & use batting for some thickness. Then sew two long lines & two short ones, so it is somewhat like the diapers are done. Thank you so much !!!!!

Totally awesome, I can hardly wait to get some made. I work all year crocheting booties, beanies, and mittens for newborns, and little afghans for the older ones that come in ill for lil snuggies while they are sick for charity at the local hospital and get to be Ms. Santa Clause for a day, no name for I want no fame, and I can add this to the bag. Thank you so very much for sharing such an awesome pattern. May God bless you always!!!!

Made a few of these and received many compliments on them. One Mom I shared some with said she would prefer these over the store bought ones.

Thank you for posting. I was looking to make some baby items for a nonprofit organization that helps homeless pregnant women. I will be able to make up quite a few of these much needed items! Thanks for sharing!

I have my fat quarters and flannel all set to start cutting out but I don’t have a printer. I think i can draw it freehand. My quarters are 18×21. Not sure which fold to lay the pattern on. What are the actual dimensions of the bib? Width at top and bottom, width at center on fold line and length?

Thanks for the great pattern! So easy to print! You’re the best!

Hi,
if you want to see my contoured burp cloth, you can do it in my blog: http://veroszakka.blogspot.de/2014/07/baby-set.html .
I wrote there that I used your tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing.
Regards Vero

Thank you for sharing this wonderful tutorial and your pattern!
I made 8 last night and have 8 more tops (have to get more flannel). I spent $15 at the fabric store and I’ll get 16 cloths.
I just wanted to point out that I sewed some with the flannel up (towards the machine foot) and the last few I put the flannel down (and had the cotton against the machine foot). I found that it was easier to sew with the flannel down. Rounding the corners was cleaner, less bunching, and it made for a prettier finished product. Same with the topstitch, after notching and turning. I humbly suggest sewing with flannel down.
Also, when deciding which way to orient your printed/patterned fabric, which side do right-handed burpers burp their babies? Left? I oriented my one-way patterned fabric so that it would look correct on the left shoulder. In your picture it looks like the pink birds and sweet elephants are oriented for the left shoulder.
Thanks again and God bless!

this tutorial is so useful. cant wait to have a try on it now!

These were easy to make and I think that I could probably make 3 or 4 an hour. Cutting out the fabric takes the longest part. I used flannel and fleece, I think. I also used contrasting thread for the top stitching. Thanks for the instructions!

Thank you for your idee and tuto !

This was my first successful sewing project! I am so excited to have made my first burp cloth for baby #1! Yes, it took an hour, but that included setting up the new sewing machine and sewing super slowly. It will be much quicker next time.

Was the other fabric used cotton?

I have used this pattern for 3 years and it is definitely a go to for baby gifts. Often instead of sewing and turning inside out I just serge the edges. I also if ten use a middle layer of plain white flannel for extra absorbency.

I am VERY new to sewing. How do I print the whole pattern? Am I suppose to print and then tape it together?

Great tutorial 🙂 Burp cloths are something you just can’t do without.

I am also very new to sewing, and a little confused on the 1″ spacer. Please clarify after taping the 1″spacer to the straight line on the top portion of the pattern where do I line up the bottom portion of the pattern to the spacer in order to connect the 2 together? Do I tape it to the bottom edge of the spacer?

I have seen these many times and never made them thinking they are so simple and left them for others to gift. Well my beautiful, wonderful, well you get the picture, daughter n law is wanting to learn to sew and is so fearful. She is left handed and everything is a challenge for her. I have been showing her the tutorial on quilting with Jenny Doan (a lefty and I love her) that has gotten me to quilt. I learned from Jenny, that, I am a learner from watching, not from following all the books I have bought on quilting. As I taught myself to sew, as well, over 41 plus years ago. I enjoy the simple things in life, like making purses,sewing my clothes including m. clothes, baby clothes, gifting baby crib fitted sheets, kitchen items, stuffed animals, Ginny Lind Rocking Chair Cushions, clothes for kids in daycare, homemade Christmas and birthday gifts,church secret sister gifts, curtains in my new home, the popular pillow cases and recently the MUG RUGS! Thank you so much for the super easy pattern for the burp cloth, it will be of great pleasure to use in teaching a new beginner to sew. Also the burp clothes that my daughter n law will be making will be for her niece and my great grant son due in June. Baby show in May. Thank you for Tutorial

I volunteer at a baby pantry for needy expectant mothers. A group of us made burp cloths to put in the bottle kits given out at the pantry. Much more cost effective, and nicer than purchased burp cloths. Thanks for the pattern.

I am expecting a grandchild any day now and my daughter wants homemade items for the baby. I came across your pattern for burp cloths and thought I would give them a try. I must say your pattern is excellent – the sizing is perfect. Thank you for sharing your pattern. I am definitely going to make a few more.

I have checked several patterns and yours is the best!! One question: In a test using a piece of flannel, it seems water just rolls off of it – even after pre-washing. Is terry cloth better?? Or what am I doing wrong. Thank you so much for your great pattern.

thanks for sharing this I have a granddaughter coming in January and a great niece coming in March so I will be busy making these…can’t wait to get started…

What a lovely burp cloths. I will try your tutorial and will buy fabrics at http://www.fabric-world.com
Thanks for sharing!

Since I ‘found’ this pattern early this year I have made dozens of these burp cloths for new babies. At our annual Christmas Eve family dinner my niece mentioned to me how much she loved this design over her other burp cloths. Made my day.

Love the easy pattern! I just made two using cuddly fabric for the front and a thick towel for the backing! Now, I’m going to try flannel and cuddly fabric. Thanks!

This is my favorite pattern that I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing this simple tutorial!

How do they wash after they are used? Do the 2 layers separate?

Just wondering how the 2 fabrics wash and dry after seen together? Do they separate?

Thanks for such a great, quick, and easy tutorial! I’ve already made one for a friend and have cut a BUNCH more out for other friends. Everyone I know with a baby is getting burp cloths this year! I made one with high contrasting colors for a baby who has astigmatism. Check it out here if you’re interested http://theothercat.com/the-crafts/diy/all-the-baby-things/. Also gave you a shout out on my little crafty blog! Thanks again!

If I make burp cloths from your “Contoured Burp Cloth” pattern, may I sell them and if so must I put your credit on the label?

Thank you for this pattern! Our church sewing group is making them for a local program that works with women who have high risk pregnancies. One of their big pushes in the community this year is breast feeding, so these are perfect. They are easy enough for all levels of sewist in our group and the new mothers love them! Thank you so much!

Where did you get your Cloud 9 name on the ribbon you tied with? So cute.

When you add the spacer, it will essentially look like a half a pattern. After adding spacer, it says “place this edge along fold of fabric” so you will be cutting out a mirror image basically. So when you unfold it, you will have the shape shown here. Hope that helps!

I didn’t see the the seem allowance what is it? And is the pattern supposed to be printed on landscape? Because when I print it it’s rather short even when the spacer is added.

I love this patten have not made it yet but a friend is having twins soon so I am definitely going to make them for her

I just used your pattern and it worked like a charm. Thank you for the tutorial.

Awesome! Very clever. I am looking forward to making some for my new granddaughter!

I just made twelve of these! I was only able to get 3 pieces out of 1/2 a yard because I made the middle section a little longer, so I ended up needing 4 yards total, but for $14 on sale, it wasn’t bad! They turned out wonderfully. After cutting out the fabric, I was able to make all 12 in about 4 hours, with breaks. I made them out of flannel on both sides.

I used the 100% sizing and landscape layout. When I cut out the burp cloth, it measures 15 3/4 x 10 before any sewing. Someone on here said their finished size was 17 x 8. What is the finished size suppose to be.

I have made too many of these to count! Thank you for you pattern. They are always well received.

Thank you for this pattern! It was a big surprise for me,when i found it.
I will sew it for a little boy.

This is my go to pattern for burp c!oths. Thanks!

I just made these. Very easy tutorial. I increased the template size and they came out 10″x17″. For the record, I never wash my flannel. It doesn’t shrink that much and my items are not misshapen . They wash up fine. I do wash cotton fabric prior to sewing but have not seen shrinkage with the flannel.

Make sure you flip the pattern over for the back side of the burp cloth, unless your one side is a plain fabric.

I can’t seem to make my printer print the correct size. Tried everything. Any suggestions?

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Just made these burp cloths for my first grandchild! I assembled the pattern and then cut it out of cardboard so I can use over and over! I used flannel on one side and terry on the other and they turned out great and are super absorbent. Thank you

Great tutorial! I am excited to make this with my own fabric that matches my nursery theme!