This is the easiest tutorial for a burp rag you could make! Only three steps, and they are the best DIY burp rags!! Great for easy baby gifts, too.
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When I was pregnant with Little J, I decided I wanted to make my own burp rag and bib sets. So I made a bunch of sets with all these cute boy fabrics I found and I LOVED them. The burp rags I made were incredibly easy, I packed them in his hospital bag when he was born, and I used them the entire time I nursed (eight months).
The best part was that they lasted that long, and I’m sure they would last even longer if I wanted to keep using them, but I definitely wanted to make new girl burp rags. Hence, this tutorial!
Note: I used the first set of burp rags I made with my second son four years later, and they still held up great!
Now when I say these are the easiest and best burp rags you will ever sew, I really mean it. Two rectangles of fabric sewn together, flipped right-side out, and then topstitched. I am not kidding, they are that easy.
So now that you’re not scared of this sewing, let’s dive right in!
The Best (and Easiest) Burp Rags You Will Ever Sew
This is the easiest tutorial for a burp rag you could make! Only three steps, and they are the best DIY burp rags!! Great for easy baby gifts, and they last through multiple babies!
Materials
- 1/3 yard minky fabric, prewashed
- 1/3 yard patterned fabric, prewashed
- thread to match
Tools
- Cutting Mat
- Rotary Cutter
- Ruler
- Sewing Machine
Instructions
- Cut a rectangle 10×18″ out of both the minky fabric and the patterned fabric. I used my cutting mat and rotary cutter and it made it so easy.
- Sew the two rectangles together, right-sides together, with a 1/2″ seam, leaving a 1″ opening in the middle of one of the edges.
- Flip the burp rag right-side out, and topstitch all the way around, including on the opening to close it.
- Just kidding, there isn’t a step four. You are done! I told you that was insanely easy! And they work so well.
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The minky is super soft on baby’s face, and the cotton is breathable and you can pick any cute fabric you want!
I love the set I made for baby girl and I can’t wait to use them!! These also make for great gifts!!
Good luck and happy sewing! And if you want to try out sewing something else for baby, you can use my tutorial for a standard car seat cover or a quilted car seat cover! Or check out my best and easiest bib tutorial!
This post was originally published on September 4th, 2014.
Stephanie says
These are so cute!! What’s the best way to wash & dry these?
Chelsea Johnson says
Thanks! Since they are just cotton, I just use regular detergent and wash and dry them like anything else!
Anita says
I would love to see your matching bibs, these would make great gifts as I am about to become a great aunt
Chelsea Johnson says
Congratulations! And yes, they do make great gifts! You are not the first one to ask for the bibs, so maybe I will get that post together!
Linda says
Thank you for your tutorial. Where can you purchase Michael Miller fabric?
Chelsea Johnson says
Of course! I got mine off of Etsy. Lots of people sell it on there.
Ruth says
Thank you so much for this, you make it very simple! I was wondering about the prewash, did you sew the edges first? I would like to use flannel and every site recommends prewash. I don’t want to loose yardage when I wash but I plan to make dozens of these and really don’t want to sew all the fabric twice. Help please 🙂
Chelsea Johnson says
The reason you prewash fabric is because the first time you wash it, it will shrink a little. So regardless of what fabric you use, you should prewash it. If you don’t wash it before sewing, the first time you wash the finished product it will shrink in weird places and make your finished product look kind of weird. I never sew the edges before prewashing. I guess you could, but I think it’s sort of a waste since you’ll be cutting those edges off when you make your pattern anyway. Hope that helps!
Loree says
I’m going to Jo-Ann on Friday to get the supplies to make some of these for my niece’s first baby. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU for sharing this quick and easy tutorial!
Chelsea Johnson says
You’re welcome! I’m sure they will turn out amazing! It’s pretty much impossible to mess these up!
melissa says
Hi there! These are super cute! I am debating (and think you have won me over) on making these vs adding a center fabric panel to cloth diapers. I need to make a bunch for new babies that will be born this year from our MOPS group. If I have 45″ wide fabric how many will I be able to get out of a yard? How about 60″? Thank you thank you!!!
Chelsea Johnson says
You can get 2 burp rags out of 1/3 yd. of 45″ fabric, and 3 out of 1/3 yd. of 60″ fabric. Good luck! These are certainly the easiest!
Vanessa says
Just finished making my 11st gender neutral one!!! After more than 12 years since I last sewed…not too shabby…thanks for the simplicity of it. Started with scrap cotton fabrics at hobby lobby, bought kinky fabric, and VOILA! Next stop…ETSY for similar fabric as you used via Micheal Miller Collection. Thanks a million!
Chelsea Johnson says
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you were able to follow along! They really are so easy, and they work great! I hope you enjoy them!!!
Betsy says
These are absolutely amazing! I’m totally making these for my little girl coming soon. How many do you get out of 1/3 yard of fabric?
Chelsea Johnson says
You can get 2 burp rags out of 1/3 yd. of 45″ fabric, and 3 out of 1/3 yd. of 60″ fabric. Good luck!
Melanie says
I have made many blankets with minky fabric and have tons left over. I was just curious if the dotted minky is as absorbent as the kind you use in the tutorial?
Chelsea Johnson says
It’s not as thick and fluffy, so I don’t think it would work as well.
Melissa says
What a great idea! I really love the fabric that you used…and what a great baby shower gift. If you’re interested, we’d love to share this project with our readers! Check out http://www.diyideacenter.com for more info. 🙂 Thanks again for sharing this awesome project!
Chelsea Johnson says
Thanks, Melissa! I’ll check it out!
Jenny says
Love these; going to make some! Just wondering, do you put your baby against the fabric or minky side of the cloth? ie, which side does baby puke on? Hehe 🙂
Chelsea Johnson says
I put my babies against the minky side 🙂
Nikki says
Very cute! I love minky… tip for those who buy minky dimple dot fabric like I did: DO NOT IRON! Haha. I may have been asleep that day, but no more dots on the one piece I used to make a bib. 😀
Great, easy tutorial and I love the fabrics you chose.
Chelsea Johnson says
Thanks, Nikki! And great tip!
Rebecca says
I really want to make these but cant find that minky fabric anywhere all that hobby lobby has is the dotted find and its more silky than soft. I also looked on the joann website and couldn’t find it.I want the kind just like yours.
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m not sure what exactly it’s called, but I got mine at Joann. Sorry!!
Vicki Alessi says
I can’t find the fabric either!!! Are you sure you bought it at JoAnn’s? The minky I found is slick and not fluffy at all. It is not absorbent. The ladies who work there can’t find any fabric like this either. I have showed your picutres to them. Is it found where they have the minky dot?
Thanks!
Vicki Alessi says
If you purchase more fabric (the soft fluffy minky) could you tell us exactly what the bolt says? That would help us alot!
Thanks!
And thanks for your tutorial.
Vicki
Chelsea Johnson says
It’s called soft and comfy. I was there last week and bought some!
Chelsea Johnson says
It’s called soft and comfy. I was there last week and bought some!
Tonya says
How do they wash after being made? Do the 2 layers pull apart?
Chelsea Johnson says
Not at all! They stick together great! I used these for over a year and had no problems.
Helen Hearn says
These look great! Could you please tell me if the ‘minky’ is the same as ‘plush’/”cuddle soft’. I haven’t come across ‘minky’ over here in the UK
Thanks in advance Helen
Chelsea Johnson says
I think it is the same, but since I’m in the US I can’t be 100% sure. If it’s extra soft and fluffy then I would say yes!
Lucy says
I’m new to sewing and understand leaving the top open to close off after you turn it right side out, but I can’t figure out what and where the one inch opening goes & what its purpose is? Thanks!
Chelsea Johnson says
It doesn’t really matter where it goes since the burp rag is a rectangle. It’s purpose is that you have to have an opening so you can turn it right side out, because if you don’t and you sew it all the way around, you won’t be able to flip it right side out.