Tutorial to sew flannel fabric to cloth diapers for custom baby burp cloths. These make great handmade baby shower gifts and are easy enough for beginners to make.
If you haven’t checked out part 1 yet be sure to stop over and see how I dyed the cloth diapers and get the details about where I got them.
After a turn through the dryer the cloth diapers were all wrinkled up, so I ironed them. That will probably be the first and last time I iron cloth diapers. I just wanted to make sure that they was easy to sew the flannel on to.
I cut the flannel to be slightly bigger than the diapers. Then I put the right sides together and put a few pins in to hold the flannel and diaper in place.
I chose the side of the diaper without the seam to be the “right side”. I used double pins to make where my gap is going to be for turning it right side out. This reminds me to stop because sometimes I just get going and totally sew the whole thing closed because I don’t realize I’m on the final side.
Leaving a 3 inch gap I sewed around the edges leaving an 1/4″ seam. 1/4″ is right at the edge of my presser foot, so I lined the cloth diaper up with the edge of the foot. Be sure to backstitch when you start and stop to lock the stitches.
I trimmed down the extra flannel and threads. Then I clipped the corners, to remove the bulk.
Next I turned the burp cloth right side out. I pressed it to make sure it all looked even.
Be sure to press the edges of the opening under so that you will have a nice finished edge.
Then I topped stitched all the way around about 1/8″ being sure to close the opening. I started right above the opening and sewed it closed first.
Lastly I stitched along the seams of the cloth diaper to help keep the flannel in place.
That’s it. You’re done. Easy peasy. This is great for beginning seamstresses because it’s all straight lines. If you make some I would love to see them. Be sure to tag them with #ambersimmonsblog when you share them via social media.
Are you looking for more baby ideas? Check out my favorites.
How about a couple easy baby blankets?
Thanks Amber! I can’t wait to try it out. For my first round, I’m not planning on dyeing the diapers, but if the project is successful for me, I’m going to try dyeing them next time around. I love the fabrics you picked. Where did you find them?
Thank you. I found some at Joann’s and some at a local fabric store.
Love this idea! You could also use receiving blankets for the fabric backing. Match it to the baby’s room theme and give them as a gift.
That’s a great idea Kathy! You could also use fabric from the DIY carseat cover to match that as well.
I tried this and it was a complete fail 🙁 going to try again later tonight!
Oh no! What happened?
So, with it being a cloth diape, how does the flannel keep it from leaking?
The flannel doesn’t keep it from leaking. It just gives it a softer side and a pattern. Since you are using it as a burp cloth there is no need for it to be waterproof.
What length did the premed diapers end up being after you washed them? These are very cute.
I have made these burp cloths only I just put a 6” strip of flannel strip down the center of diaper and turn under all four edges a 1/2” and place the strip down the center of diaper and top stitch all the way around the flannel strip. That way it is absorbent down the large part of the diaper and cute too!
Amber, what’s the website to get the diapers??
Thank u, Jody
I’m new at sewing and choosing simple items to start out with…so these cloths are what I’m trying to learn.
Again thanks!!
So glad you like them. I bought mine from ClothDiapers.com. I ordered seconds.
There’s tutorials all over the web that these cloth diapers are fantastic burp cloths but when you go to the product website (Walmart, Amazon, Target), the reviews all say they’re thin junk! It’s like they changed the manufacturing and now they’re useless. Or maybe they’re manufactured differently in different places. Odd! I was so excited to find this tutorial and then equally as bummed. 😭
Yeah, there are a lot of bad diapers out there. That’s why I recommend some actaual cloth diapers that you would expect to use as an actual diaper.