Another Rag Quilt

This little number was a baby gift. I always try to make something as a gift, and this particular day, I was feeling the need to make a rag quilt!

The fabric was all scraps of flannel I had.

I kind of like the random mismatched squares.

Some Girly Burpies

After my burpie post, I made these girly burpies. Had to share!

Baby Tag Toy

I made one of these toys for my baby before he was born. I don't remember where I got the original idea, but he loves his. He chews on the ribbon tags all the time. I take it in the grocery store where it is a toy and an emergency burp cloth if needed.

Here is a pink one I made.

I don't have a finished picture of the red one I am going to show you in the step by step directions and I don't have pictures of this pink one being made.

Use your imaginations!

Cut the shape you want (A square, circle, whatever) out of two pieces of fabric.

I like to use a plain cotton and something soft. The pink one has minky, this red one has fleece.

Truth be told, I have never bought anything to make these before. I just use what I have.

Cut some cute coordinating lengths of ribbon at about 4 inches.

I have three of each kind of ribbon cut here, but I didn't use them all.

Fold the ribbon lengths in half and pin them in between the two pieces of fabric.

Make sure to put them with the folded end facing in.

You can adjust the length of them in your end product now by allowing more of the un-folded ends to be sticking out at this point.

It is up to you!

After you have all sides situated with ribbon, sew around the fabric shape.

Be sure to leave a small section open!!! Just stop about 2 inches before you get back to where you started.

It is also a good idea to sew around twice. I don't always do this, but it is a good idea for extra durability.

Next, trim off the corners of your square at a diagonal. If you did a circle, clip in from the edge of the fabric to the seem (avoiding clipping it!!!) about ever inch all the way around.

These steps help the finished product turn correctly. After trimming, turn the whole project right side out! I like to stick a pen or my scissors in to poke out the corners.

When the whole thing is turned out correctly, hand stitch that little 2 inch section you used to turn your toy closed.

Baby Burpies

I started making these when I was pregnant with my son.

I am now making them all the time for baby gifts.

They are really cute, inexpensive to make, and very useful!

I buy the Gerber cloth diapers. The pre-fold 3-ply.

(I have a pack of 12. It cost about $10.00)

Always wash them before you start sewing.

They shrink A LOT in the first wash.

I fold the diapers in thirds. (This is a new step for me. In the past I just put a strip of flannel or ribbon on these open. I am liking these folded ones better these days, though.)

Then, I cut a piece of flannel about 4-5 inches wide and about 2 inches longer than the diaper.

I fold over the two long edges and iron flat. Ironing makes the sewing much easier!

After ironing the edges, I place the flannel centered onto the diaper on the side with the folds.

I fold down the top (short) end and sew around the big flannel rectangle. I follow a pre-determined line. Sometimes there is a stitch line showing from the diaper. If not, I can pin the flannel onto the diaper straight and centered and trust my pins.

Also, when I sew the burpies, I like to use a coordinating colored fabrics and thread.

I make my burpies in a set of three. Usually, a solid, a print and a stripe.

This set has a navy blue solid in it, so I used a lime green thread for contrast.

Sometimes I use a straight stitch, but I really like the way the zigzag looks!

This set of burpies was my first with an applique.

I cut a square out of double sided fusible interfacing. Following the instructions, I heat set the interfacing to the back of my striped fabric.

Then, I drew a simple car shape. (You can do this!!! I am not an artist at all!)

I cut out the shape, removed the paper backing and then heat pressed the car to the solid colored burpie. I then sewed around the car to secure it.

**The best way to do an applique would be to put it onto the flannel panel you wish for it to be on before sewing that panel to the diaper. With this set, I didn't do that! The applique was an afterthought. So, I had the shape of the car stitched all the way through the flannel AND the diaper. Had I sewn on the applique before putting the flannel onto the diaper, you wouldn't have seen my stitches on the diaper at all.**

Here are my three finished burpies!

I rolled them up and tied them together with ribbon for a finishing touch.