Crafty nesting - Chenille Burp cloths

A long time ago I made a Chenille baby blanket for a friends precious new baby using this tutorial from Aesthetic Nest blog. I loved making it and thinking about the lovely baby going to be born, I also found it super exciting when it came back from the washing and drying process all fluffed up:) Craftishly nerdy I know:)

Nesting really got me when I was pregnant... I wanted to make everything nice for my new baby... I even wanted to make pretty burp cloths.. despite the comments of "Why do you want to make something pretty for cleaning up and catching spew?", good question... but my crafty side said why should it have to ugly?:) So of I went to the fabric store - I had lots of beautiful bits of fabric for backing but I needed something super vomit absorbent! Towelling? No... New towel made into burp cloth sized piece? No, too pregnant to brave the shops.... Chenille? No, could make my own... Make my own? I have heaps of left over flannel! :) And some lovely vintage fabric made into bias tape that I bought here at My Poppet, check it out, I think Cinti's mum makes it, many types, super cute:) I could never decide how to use it best and this is the perfect opportunity!  I didn't take any pictures of the process because I was super pregnant and super forgetful when I made these! I think I made them the day before I had Poppy...

So without prewashing any of the fabrics I cut the flannel pieces into 10x15 inch rectangles and layered 5 pieces in alternating colours. I cut my backing fabric a little bit bigger all the way around.

I drew one line on a 45 degree angle and started sewing straight lines, lining up the edge of the presser foot with the last line of sewing.

On finishing the sewing (it takes a little time) I used my chenille tool to rip the flannel layers, although you could just as easily use scissors on something this size. I then cut around the backing to the edge of the flannel and where it had moved around I cut back the flannel too so all the layers were level around the edge.
I also traced around a round bowl in the corners to make them round:)

I then attached bias binding all the way around the edge.

My part was done!! I then send my cloths off to my mother in law who washes them in her top load washing machine with a tennis ball or two, then she pops them in the dryer for extra fluffing:) It doesn't work as well in a front loader.

Now Poppy and I use them regularly. I must say we do still use some unattractive towelly type burp cloths because these chenille ones are a little stiff for some purposes,but they are super good for under the head in bed which means less sheet washing with regular bed vomits!