Burp Cloths for a Baby Boy

My burp cloths have a reputation. As requested, these are for my daughter's husband's brother-in-law's daughter. It is her first baby. Each burp cloth takes two fat quarters of flannel. The next photos show three pairs of burp cloths folded in half. The feature fabric is on the left; for these... video games, animals, and circles. When the fabric allows, I make them in pairs of two fabrics as complements of each other. Unfolded, each burp cloth measures approximately 20" x 13", double thickness along the long edges and triple thickness in the middle.

Before mailing them off, I wash them two or three times with a couple of fresh Shout® Color Catchers and a capful of Synthrapol® . Color Catchers absorb and trap loose dyes in the wash water, preventing them from staining other clothes. Synthrapol is a special detergent that suspends dye particles so that they do not reattach to the fabric. When those Color Catchers come out in their initial white state, I am sure no more errant dye is on those burp clothes to mess up baby's laundry to the dismay of the new parents. Those dark grays have bled all the dye they are going to.

I have been making these burp cloths since 2012, when my first grandchild was born. Instructions are in my blog post dated 6/18/2014. Adding these six, my running grand total for these absorbent little gems now sits at 288. Since each burp cloth takes two fat quarters of flannel, or ½ yard per burp cloth, my running grand total for yardage consumed is now 144 yards of flannel! 

Burp Cloths for a Baby Girl

Some close friends of ours from our college days just became grandparents and they are thrilled. I made up my classic burp cloths for their baby granddaughter. Each burp cloth takes two fat quarters of flannel. The next photos show a three pair of burp cloths folded in thirds and followed by a close up of the feature fabric: in this case, ladybugs, clowns, and circles. Unfolded, each burp cloth measures approximately 20" x 13", double thickness along the long edges and triple thickness in the middle. When the fabric allows, I make them in pairs of two fabrics as complements of each other. 

Before mailing them off, I wash them two or three times with a couple of fresh Shout® Color Catchers and a capful of Synthrapol® . Color Catchers absorb and trap loose dyes in the wash water, preventing them from staining other clothes. Synthrapol is a special detergent that suspends dye particles so that they do not reattach to the fabric. When those Color Catchers come out in their initial white state, I am sure no more errant dye is on those burp clothes to mess up baby's laundry to the dismay of the new parents. (That orange, which could have been disastrous, is now safe.)

I have been making these burp cloths since 2012, when my first grandchild was born. Instructions are in my blog post dated 6/18/2014. Adding these six, my running grand total for these absorbent little gems now sits at 282. Since each burp cloth takes two fat quarters of flannel, or ½ yard per burp cloth, my running grand total for yardage consumed is 141 yards of flannel! 

Make it Merry Month One

I have been hesitant to participate in any Block of the Month quilt programs because of my fear of getting hopelessly behind. But this Make it Merry wreath quilt really caught my eye and the Fat Quarter Shop program ran for only 6 months, not twelve. I decided to chance it. With the first installment I got the instructions for the entire quilt, so I could see where I was going. Setting up a binder of all the instructions in plastic sleeves made me feel very organized and well prepared. This aspect also appealed to me. Yes, I could have gotten the entire yardage of quilt fabric at once as a kit. I would have guiltily stored it in my closet, next to my other kits, overwhelmed and finding the act of opening the package too daunting. The Block of the Month format avoids this trauma. In Month One the assignment was to make eight blocks and I enjoyed every minute of it. 

Interesting enough the eight blocks from Month One are not at the very center of the quilt. Can you find the location of those eight blocks?

These are my eight Block #1's and this is my binder.

Month Two is to arrive at my box the day after tomorrow and I am excited to watch for it and make it. I already know there will be two designs: four Block #2's and four Block #3's. See? Knowledge is power!