How To Make Simple and Easy Receiving Blankets and Burp Cloths

If you thought the quilt was simple, this How To will for sure be a piece of devils food chocolate cake (excuse the pregnancy cravings!) This really is easy. I promise. It honestly took me longer to write this How To than it did to make the receiving blanket and two burp cloths!

So grab your purse and your coupons (never ever buy fabric at full price- there is always a sale or a coupon to be found!) And head to the store.

Receiving Blanket

what you need:

• 2 pieces of flannel*
• thread
• sewing machine
• pins

*When buying fabric for receiving blankets, keep things as simple as possible by checking the width of the bolt of fabric before you take it up to the cutting table. Most bolts of flannel will be about 44-45 inches wide. Ask them to cut the fabric to the width of the bolt. This will give you a perfect square to start with.

TIP: Be nice to the fabric cutter. If you are nice, make small talk, tell them that you need every square inch they will be more likely to take their time and cut the fabric straight. Nothing frustrates me more than having to go home and re-cut fabric because of a bad cut.

Pre-wash the fabric.

If you choose to have a coordinating set of receiving blanket and burp cloths, follow these next cutting steps:

Instead of having the fabric cut to make a perfect square, have the fabric cut to 9 inches larger (9 in= 1/4 yard) than the width of the bolt of fabric. In my case 53 inches.

Fold the corner over to make a triangle

The remaining fabric will be your 1/4 yard of fabric for the burp cloth

Repeat this for the other piece of flannel

Now, start sewing:

You got your pre-washed fabric, your machine is threaded now all you have to do is follow these simple steps:

Place the fabric right sides facing in

Pin if you feel like it. I don’t pin because flannel usually stays in place and pinning just slows me down.

With a 1/4 inch seam allowance sew around three edges completely with a straight stitch.

On the fourth side sew a little over 3/4 of the way leaving an opening large enough to turn the blanket right side out. I left about 6 inches open.

Fold in the raw edge and pin in place.

Sew along the edge of all four sides. I used a zig zag stitch for visual interest.

And that is it!

You are done. You made a Receiving Blanket!

Burp Cloths:

What you need:

• 2 pieces of 1/4 yard flannel
• 1 piece of 1/4 yard flannel for lining (any cheap flannel with do)
• thread
• pins
• sewing machine

Again, pre-wash your fabric.

Cut all the flannel in half so you have (depending on the width of the bolt) 6 pieces of 22 in by 9 in fabric.

Layer the fabric right sides in and place the lining flannel on top.

Sew three sides together with a straight stitch

Turn right side out

Fold in the raw edge and pin

Sew around the edges (again, yes you have to do this.)

sew an X through the burp cloth

repeat with the remaining fabric

And there you go. You now have two burp cloths and a receiving blanket!

Amy @ Mom Spark

For 16 years, I have been the creator & full-time blogger of Mom Spark. I’ve also created content for numerous outlets such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, & Huff Post.