Fronds Sew Along Week 2: Burp Cloths
Welcome to Week 2 of the Fronds sew along! Last week, we told you all about the Fronds Quilt Pattern, and this week, the SQ Team is back with lots of tips for making the Fronds Burp Cloths! These adorable burp cloths use a modified version of the Fronds template to create their unique shape. They go together so quickly, and there are numerous options for adding special touches to the design. So let’s get to it!
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Fronds Sew Along Schedule and Discounts
As a reminder, the Fronds sew along will have a different structure than previous Suzy Quilts sew alongs. While Suzy is on maternity leave with her new baby, the SQ team will lead this sew along! For long-time SQ fans, this won’t be too new — both Laura and Sarah have led sew alongs for SQ patterns before.
This sew along will also follow the Fronds Pattern Baby Bundle structure instead of focusing only on tips for making the quilt. That means that you can participate if you’re making any (or all) of the Fronds projects!
For the Fronds sew along, we will offer prizes both on Instagram AND in the Suzy Quilts Patterns Facebook group! Instructions for how to enter each giveaway are included at the bottom of this post.
- Week 1, April 12: Quilt tips led by Sarah Holst
Instagram Sponsor: Crimson Tate - Ruby + Bee FQ solids bundle (Cordial colorway)
Facebook Sponsor: Sewing Arts - $75 gift card - Week 2, April 19: Burp cloth tips by Jessica Schunke
Instagram Sponsor: Aurifil - Suzy Quilts Evolve thread collection
Facebook Sponsor: Aurifil - Suzy Quilts Evolve thread collection - Week 3, April 26: Petal ball tips by Laura Hopper
Instagram Sponsor: Trace Creek Quilting - Free throw quilt edge-to-edge longarm quilting
Facebook Sponsor: Thai Charm Quilting & More - Free throw quilt edge-to-edge longarm quilting
On top of all of those incredible prizes, Fronds sew-along participants can get deep discounts from some of our favorite longarmers to help you get your quilt finished! Get 25% off edge-to-edge longarm quilting on Fronds quilts from Trace Creek Quilting, Thai Charm Quilting & More, Jenn B Quilts, and Favorite Day Quilting through the end of June. You must mention this deal when filling out their info forms.
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My Fronds Burp Cloth Supplies
Tip #1: Pick the right fabric.
For our burp cloths, we couldn’t resist the allure of double gauze. Its softness and absorbency really make it a wonderful choice, but if you’ve got fat quarters on hand you’re excited to use up, quilting cotton, flannel, and wovens will all work, too.
Double gauze can be a bit tricky to find sometimes, but it’s worth searching it out. For our burp cloths, we used 100% cotton crinkle double gauze from the 123sewingDIY Etsy store in the following colors (top to bottom in the photo above): Dusty Pink, Mauve, Toast, Peach DK, Off White (used for the lining), Blue Spa, Green D, and Green Foam.
I used a super sweet quilting cotton for a sample I made when I was testing the pattern, and it worked just fine. It’s a bit stiffer than the double gauze samples, but it’ll soften up with future washings.
In the pattern fabric requirements, we wanted to make the most efficient use of your fabric, so there’s not enough allowance for pre-washing. But don’t worry! You can definitely wash these after making them, and a small amount of shrinkage won’t hurt anything. If you happen to be using larger cuts of fabric, pre-washing beforehand will ensure your finished cloths stay just the same size.
Tip #2: Decide on a lining.
To add a lining or not? That is the next question. The answer depends on several factors: the fabric you’re using (specifically its thickness and how well it will absorb liquid) and whether you plan to quilt your burp cloths. Our final samples all use double gauze. For one of the samples, we left the lining out; for the others, we included another layer of double gauze for the lining.
In the photo above, the cloth on the right does not have a lining. There’s only a slight difference in thickness when you look at them, but you can definitely feel the difference in hand. I’d suggest using a lining to make sure you keep those shoulders clean and dry!
If you don’t have double gauze around, fear not! You have lots of options for the lining, and this is the perfect opportunity to upcycle those leftover flannel or fleece scraps from other projects. You could even use an old (clean!) towel.
If you’re planning to quilt the burp cloth, batting’s your best bet (I used batting for the lining of the quilting-cotton test sample a few photos back). Check out this post for how to use fusible batting tape to turn batting scraps into larger, usable pieces!
Tip #3: Don't bother using starch.
Double gauze can be quite stretchy, so you might be wondering why the pattern doesn’t tell you to starch your fabric before cutting. Well, it’s because, in this case, a little stretch doesn’t matter a bit! The gentle curves of the design hide any slight movement of the fabric, and since you cut your backing to size AFTER sewing the top of the burp cloth together, it’ll match your top perfectly regardless. So you can get sewing without delay!
This stretchiness is also why the pattern instructs you to cut your middle strip a bit big if you’re planning to embroider something on it. It may get a bit wonky while you’re stitching (although the stabilizer helps a lot with this!), and it’s nice to have a bit of room to cut it to size when you’re done.
Tip #4: Embrace embroidery!
The Fronds Burp Cloth Pattern includes full instructions for adding an embroidered word to the middle strip of the cloths, plus a whole page of suggested words in the font we used, sized just right for the strip. You can choose one of the suggested words, a different word, or a name, as we did on our “Emma” cloth.
We love using Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy stabilizer to make embroidery easy peasy! This water-soluble stabilizer is dissolved away after you stitch your design, leaving only your beautiful stitches behind. NOTE:
If you’re concerned about the color fastness of your fabric or thread, test a small swatch by soaking it in warm water to see if it bleeds. If it does, choose another option!
You’ll start by printing or tracing your chosen word onto the textured side of the stabilizer. Then, cut roughly around the word, peel off the paper backing, and place the stabilizer onto the right side of the piece of fabric you cut for the middle strip. The stabilizer’s sticky backing will stick firmly to the fabric, no ironing needed!
Then, you just stitch right on the marked lines! The video tutorial above walks you through the whole process, including how to stitch three embroidery-stitch options: backstitch, stem stitch, and chain stitch. In the samples, I used stem stitch for the “Baby” cloth and chain stitch for the “Emma” cloth.
When you’re done, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to soak the piece in water to dissolve the stabilizer. Gently squeeze out any excess water, then lay it on a towel to fully dry before trimming it to size and proceeding with the pattern.
Tip #5: Feel like quilting?
When it came to the double gauze burp cloths, we liked them just the way they were, without any additional quilting. But you can chart your own course if you like, and quilting is definitely an option!
In the quilting-cotton sample I made, I used a ruler and hera marker to mark out a diagonal crosshatch design on the top, then placed it on top of the batting and quilted the two layers. After quilting, I trimmed the excess batting and used the quilted top to cut out the backing and proceed with the pattern.
Tip #6: Plan your topstitching.
When it comes time to do the final topstitching step, take a few minutes to consider your options. You’ll have to topstitch around the outer perimeter, but you can also sew along the seams of the middle strip if you want to highlight it, as I did on the two cloths without embroidery above. To minimize your stitching, follow the stitching order below, which only requires you to sew over a previous stitch line in one small segment.
You can also decide whether to topstitch by hand or machine. Using a running stitch with a thicker hand-quilting thread, such as Suzy’s 8 wt. thread for Aurifil, perle cotton, or sashiko thread, can add a really nice final touch, especially if you also used embroidery in the middle strip.
Week 2 Sponsors & Prizes
Our week-two sponsor is Aurifil on both Instagram and Facebook! Two lucky winners will each receive a full Evolve 8 wt. thread set designed by Suzy. The thread is perfect for hand quilting and coordinates perfectly with Suzy’s three fabric lines!
Here’s how to win one of these great prizes!
How to Win on Instagram
- Post a pic to Instagram. The photo prompt for Instagram during the abbreviated sew along is the same each week: post a picture of the fabric you are using to make your Fronds pattern project (quilt, burp cloth, or petal ball) or any Fronds sew-along progress picture. Use #FrondsQuiltSA in the caption.
- You must have a public Instagram profile to participate.
- Each photo posted is an entry, and you can enter as many times as you want in a single week. Once the week is over, those posts do not count in the next week’s giveaway. Every week, we start fresh.
- For the week-two drawing, your photo must be posted between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The winner will be picked randomly from all qualifying posts and announced at approximately 3:00 p.m. Central on the 26th. Good luck!
How to Win on Facebook
- Post a pic in the Suzy Quilts Patterns Facebook group. The photo prompt for Facebook during the abbreviated sew along is the same each week: post a picture of the fabric you are using to make your Fronds pattern project (quilt, burp cloth, or petal ball) or any Fronds sew-along progress picture. IMPORTANT: We use hashtags less frequently on Facebook, but in order for us to see each post and randomly select a winner, be sure to use #FrondsQuiltSA in the caption of your picture.
- You must be a member of the Suzy Quilts Patterns Facebook group to participate. You do not need to have a public Facebook profile.
- Each photo posted is an entry, and you can enter as many times as you want in a single week. Once the week is over, those posts do not count in the next week’s giveaway. Every week, we start fresh.
- For the week-two drawing, your photo must be posted between Friday, April 19, and Friday, April 26. The winner will be picked randomly from all qualifying posts and announced at approximately 3:00 p.m. Central on the 26th. Good luck!
Suzy,
I have a couple of Great great nieces being born this year.
I will make them some.
Thank you
Nancy F
Congratulations!! That’s a wonderful idea!