Life With My Littles

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The Best (and Easiest) Burp Rags You Will Ever Sew

by 185 Comments

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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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.

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!

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.

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.

So now that you’re not scared of this sewing, let’s dive right in!

Here’s what you need:
1/3 yard minky fabric, prewashed
1/3 yard patterned fabric, prewashed
Thread to match

Step One

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.

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.

Step Two

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.

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.

Step Three

Flip the burp rag right-side out, and topstitch all the way around, including on the opening to close it.

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.

Step Four

Just kidding, there isn’t a step four. You are done! I told you that was insanely easy! And they work so well.

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.

The minky is super soft on baby’s face, and the cotton is breathable and you can pick any cute fabric you want!

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.

I love the set I made for baby girl and I can’t wait to use them!! These also make for great gifts!!

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.
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.

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 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.

Comments

        • Hi I’m having our first baby And have very excited to start making my own bibs and burp rags. Im using Terry cloth and I was wondering if should prewash the Terry cloth before sewing.

          Reply

          • I just finished making 7 of these cute burp rags, and they are the easiest to make. Super cute and very beginner friendly. I prewashed all the Terry cloth and they turned out beautifully. Next on my list to make is the easiest bibs tutorial. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

      • 1/3 yd is 12 inches so it would depend on the length on the fabric you selected if it’s 45inches I’d say 2 per piece. Hope that helps

        Reply

  8. How fun! It took me so long to pick fabrics for making Little J's burp rags, and luckily I just found a collection from Michael Miller for baby girl's!

    Reply

  9. These are super cute and look like a sewing project even I can do. Is the patterned fabric jersey our cotton? Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  13. Super cute! I plan to make a bunch of these for myself (due in March) one I know if it's a boy or a girl 🙂
    Just curious where you purchased the soft white fabric on the back?

    Reply

  17. really cute and nice clear directions. only comment is about using minkie for backing. It has NO absorbing quality, I use terry cloth. either by the yard or even cheap towels. Having raised 8 little ones, I know how important it is when you have spitting up or drooling baby to keep wiped up.

    Reply

  19. I disagree. I used minky burp cloths the entire time nursing my son and never had any problems. Maybe the minky I got is just better? I used fluffy minky and it works great.

    Reply

  21. I made several of these, super easy and I can use left over materials. My daughter in law loves them!!! I used towels bought at Walmart for the terry part.

    Reply

  24. Minky fabric is the fluffy fabric. Some have dots, some are fluffy, some have patterns. You can just do a quick search on Etsy to see tons of different kinds.

    Reply

  25. My daughter had horrible acid reflux for 8 months (her doctor was surprised she was even gaining weight with the amount she spit up) and I was given both minky and terry cloth burp rags and the minky worked 1000 times better than terry cloth plus it didn't chap her delicate skin with all the wiping. These are definitely the best and easiest burp rags ever!!!

    Reply

  27. Minky fabric is the fluffy fabric. Some have dots, some are fluffy, some have patterns. You can just do a quick search on Etsy to see tons of different kinds. It's called "Soft n fluffy" fabric at Jo-Ann.

    Reply

  31. I was just going to say the same thing. Minky isn't absorbent it just kind of mushes spit up around. I have used several different kinds and it doesn't matter the type of it, it all sucked. Soft yes, nice for pillows or blankets oh yes, burp rags, no.

    Reply

  32. Thank you for your feedback, Kim. I have used minky burp rags for a year with my son, and now I am using them again with my daughter. I never have any problems with it!

    Reply

  35. You need to leave a 1" opening so that you can flip it. You will sew that shut when you topstitch it. Look at the picture for step two and it will show the opening!

    Reply

  37. How many burp clothes will the 1/3 yard of minky make? I am making some for my sister and will use several different flannel prints for the tops and white minky for the bottoms. Just want to make sure I have enough minky for at least 6 burp cloths.

    Reply

  38. I'm not 100% sure. It depends on how wide your minky is. You need rectangles that are 10×18" long, and if you get 1/3 yard, that is 12". So if your minky is 45" wide, you can make two burp rags with it (and have 9" left at the end). I hope that makes sense!

    Reply

  41. Another thing you can use is fat quarters from Walmart. They are 97 cents each and it makes two tops from one fat quarter. Just cut it in half. I am using them and adding fleece to the back. So easy to make. My granddaughter loves them.

    Reply

  46. These are super cute, but I just read a pin that says you can't put minky fabric in the dryer. Did you hang dry all of yours or is this not true? Thanks

    Reply

  49. LOVE these! I don't have babies right now but I will most definitely be making these one day! Thanks so the great post.

    Reply

  51. Thanks! I might! I didn't make any more for Little A because I'm just using all of Little J's bibs that I made two years ago. But I still have the pattern!!

    Reply

  55. Well you can make 1 every 18", so it depends on the width of your fabric. If it is 45" fabric you can make two out of 1/3 yard, and if it is 60" fabric you can make three out of 1/3 yard. Hope that helps!

    Reply

  58. Minky fabric is available at all fabric stores. It is also called \”soft and comfy\” fabric. Just ask anyone who works at the store and they can help you find it!

    Reply

  59. It is the fluffy soft fabric that is used for baby blankets and changing pass a lot.It is also called \”soft and comfy\” fabric.Minky fabric is available at all fabric stores. Just ask anyone who works at the store and they can help you find it!

    Reply

  62. I make these for the girls at work for one of their shower gifts. I also use minkie on one side, but use flannel on the other side. I work at a pediatric hospital and we(the staff) have lots of babies each year. The year I started making these, we had 16 girls pregnant at one time. Anyway they have all reported back to me how much they LOVe LOVE the burp rags, that the minkie is absorbent and so is the flannel side. and that the kids love them when they are teething and just to cuddle up to. Thay are easy to make and everyone loves them.

    Reply

  63. I got the "white" fabric from Joanne's is the soft and cuddly, is what they call it. and it comes in many different colors.

    Reply

  64. I had one that I used flannel on the other side because I just loved the print. They really are great! And yes, my daughter likes to use them to chew on now that she is grabbing everything. They are just the best, aren't they?! Thanks for stopping by!

    Reply

  68. Where did you find that type of minkie? HAve never seen that one. Minkie dot and a furry looking one. But not with the lines in it.

    Reply

    • Thanks! Since they are just cotton, I just use regular detergent and wash and dry them like anything else!

      Reply

      • I would love to see your matching bibs, these would make great gifts as I am about to become a great aunt

        Reply

        • 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!

          Reply

  78. 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 🙂

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  79. 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!

    Reply

    • You’re welcome! I’m sure they will turn out amazing! It’s pretty much impossible to mess these up!

      Reply

  80. 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!!!

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  81. 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!

    Reply

    • 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!!!

      Reply

  82. 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?

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  83. 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?

    Reply

  85. 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 🙂

    Reply

  86. 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.

    Reply

  87. 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.

    Reply

  89. 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

    Reply

  90. 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!

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  91. Hi Chelsea. I love your blog and so happy to find your project on Pinterest. Just want to personally thank you and let you know that I featured this project on my blog in my sewing for babies post.

    Here it is, http://sewingmadesimple.net/sewing-projects-for-babies/

    Please let me know if I missed something or if you want to change and add information about your blog and project.

    Xoxo,
    Amber

    P.s. I’m a new fan. 🙂

    Reply

  95. Very, very nice! I just found this on Pinterest. Well, actually, Pinterest found me. 🙂 This was one of those, “Look what we found for you!” emails from Pinterest, and I love it. I make these as gifts for our missionary wives when they have babies, and there are 9 (count ’em!!) missionaries having babies very soon. Whew – I’d better get busy!! Thank you for sharing this.

    Reply

    • First of all, that’s WAY cool that I was in one of those emails haha! Second, I’m so glad I could help! It really is such an easy tutorial. I actually just got all of the burp rags that I made for my first son out for the baby we are about to have, and they are still in great shape! Happy sewing!

      Reply

  96. Love these! Just wondering if the minky fabric you used is sort of like a sherpa texture or chenille? There are so many minky, cuddle, etc, out there and I’m thinking some are more absorbent than others.

    Reply

  97. looking for your bib pattern…Each time I click on the picture it brings me back to your burb cloths (which I love)
    Can you provide a link for the bibs? Thanks!
    Dorinda

    Reply

  98. I made a total of 10 of these and they are adorable!! I wasn’t counting on getting two from each piece of fabric. I’m gonna be a new grandma in April and was looking for an easy project. I’m already making blankets and some other things. These will be SO useful for the new mommy. I also ironed the dot fabric. I thought that the dots would pop back after washing? Anyone else do this?

    Reply

  99. Pinning this and SO going to make these!
    I just finished some crib sheets; these will be a great second project!
    Now I’m going to dig through your blog to see what other creative things you’ve got going on…

    Reply

  100. These are great, going to make them and the bib you posted for a baby shower – how crucial is it that the fabric and minky are pre-washed??

    Reply

  102. Hello,
    Thanks for your posts. Great detail! I’m looking to make the bibs & burb cloths.

    One question – I’m having trouble finding the minky fabric. I looked at Joann’s (online) and they have a “soft and fluffy” that reviewers seem to be using for baby blankets. Also, they only have the dot version, not the squares that you used. It just looks different, and I’m not sure if that would be absorbent enough.

    I did another general google search for minky fabrics and found others that were polyester, which I wouldn’t think would be absorbent at all.

    Any tips for me? I’m not an experienced sewer so I don’t want to botch up a simple project.

    Thanks so much!
    -Lisa

    Reply

    • It depends on how wide your minky is. You need rectangles that are 10×18″ long, and if you get 1/3 yard, that is 12″. So if your minky is 45″ wide, you can make two burp rags with it (and have 9″ left at the end).

      Reply

  107. I’m a first time mom in a few months, and a first time sewer. These have been on my mind since I found your blog a few days ago! I’m really excited to try these out for my son. How many do you suggest I make?

    Reply

  108. Joann discontinued the soft n fluffy line of fabrics. Wondering what other types from joann that people have used that are soft AND absorbent?

    Reply

    • It really only takes a few minutes! If you do it assembly line style and cut everything out, then sew, it doesn’t take too long! And it’s simple, straight sewing so it’s not hard, either!

      Reply

  111. First off I love the burp rags! Very easy directions to follow and easy to make. My on only question is how do you keep the minky from shifting while sewing? I know that pinning is very important but I still have shifting no matter how many pins I put in and I aslo sew with it on the bottom.
    Thank you,
    Heather S.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Heather! I haven’t ever really had a problem with it sliding around since they are pretty small, but if it bothers you, you can try using some interfacing on the back of the minky and then sewing it together!

      Reply

  112. Have you ever made/used the burp rags that curve in in the middle? like an hour glass? I guess it’s for your shoulder so it doesn’t extend out so much. Do you prefer the rectangular shape better?
    Thank you

    Reply

  113. I also make burp “cloths” but I use cute flannel prints. They look to be similar in size but I curve all the corners for faster sewing – no stops to turn at corners. I include “quilters fleece interfacing” which give more body. After basic sewing, I turn them, close the opening, and top stitch 1/2 inch or so from the edge and add a small bow. I give them to friends, friends of friends, and mostly to charity. Fun way for me to spend my retired time and give of myself. Barb

    Reply

  115. I just did this today, my sister in law is having a baby and wanted to make her something and knitting a baby blanket takes forever, and I had plenty of material from other things I’ve been doing. These are amazing, I used terry cloth instead but I think I might use minky, I feel like that would have cut a lot easier than it was to do the terry cloth.

    I haven’t sewn in years but these are the easiest thing ever, the only issue I had was my sewing machine being problematic, otherwise so awesome and easy and I want to make more even though I have no one to give it to.

    Thank you so much for having this!

    Reply

  116. Your burp cloths look lovely and simple however I wonder why you need the cotton fabric and not just the Minky/towelling?

    Reply

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