Embroidered Terry/Cuddle Burp Cloth Tutorial

Hi, everyone!  Today I'm guest posting at My Cuddle Corner, the new blog for Shannon Fabrics, and sharing my tutorial on how to make these soft embroidered terry cloth/Cuddle burp cloths.

You may remember my tutorial post from a few days ago for the matching Simple Baby Wash Cloth.  If you missed it, look it up HERE or just click the picture below.

The embroidered font I used on the burp cloth is the Arizona Monogram Set from Embroitque. I've used it a few times on other projects, and I'm so pleased with how well it stitches out.

Make both projects along with a matching bib for a quick, personalized baby shower gift that the recipient will love!  I'll have a blog post on how I put together the bib in the coming days, but in the mean time, please head over to My Cuddle Corner for my Burp Cloth Tutorial and for other great Cuddle projects!

Disclaimer:  Shannon Fabrics provided me with the terry cloth and Cuddle fabrics, but all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Hope you enjoy these tutorials!  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Have fun sewing!

Patriotic Hopscotch Top

Now that Memorial Day is over, it's time to gear up for the 4th of July.  I've got the perfect top for your little girl to wear to celebrate our nation's independence--the Patriotic Hopscotch Top!

To make this adorable and festive top, I used the Hopscotch Top/Tunic/Dress Pattern from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and the Happy 4th of July embroidery design from Embroitque.

Disclosure:  I am an affiliate of Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and was provided both the pattern and embroidery design for free, but all opinions in this post are 100% my own.

I've been wanting to try out the Hopscotch Top Pattern for a while now.  It has such a classic, simple style with a fit that is ideal for active little girls.  Now, the pattern designer provides instructions on how to add a center decorative placket down the front bodice, but when I saw this design, I thought the front bodice was just the perfect pallet for an applique or embroidery design.

So, in order to make the Patriotic Hopscotch Top, I embroidered this Happy 4th of July design to the bodice.  To make it easy to center, I first traced the pattern bodice piece onto my white fabric and marked the center.  Next, I hooped my fabric and then stitched out this design.

I'm finding that I really enjoy basic embroidery designs so much better than applique designs, and Embroitque has lots of really cute designs.  All the stopping and starting and removing the hoop from the machine to trim fabrics is a little stressful and time consuming in my opinion.  With this embroidery design, I just had to switch out the thread colors and trim a few threads.  The entire design took maybe 20 to 25 minutes to stitch out!

Next, I decided the bodice needed a little pop of color, so I trimmed the waist, the neckline, and the back button placket with red piping.  This added a little time to the construction of the top, but it was well worth it.

For the rest of the top, I stuck with the original pattern design.  The bodice is fully lined and those little flutter sleeves just add the perfect touch of femininity and sweetness to the piece.

The Hopscotch Pattern offers pattern lengths for three styles--Top, Tunic, and Dress--and comes in sizes 3 mo. to 8 years, so I know I will be getting lots and lots of use out of this design!

Plus, as I mentioned earlier, you can do so many things with this pattern to make it all your own. Add the center placket (as provided in the pattern) but maybe add some ric rac or other trim down the center of it to jazz it up even more.  Sew a ruffle strip down the center of the bodice or maybe leave off the the flutter sleeves.  And finally, I can just see this as an adorable dress with a monogrammed bodice!  Can't you?

I made Ella a size 5T based on her actual measurements compared to the pattern sizing chart.  The fit of the top is perfect and comfortable on her.  She squealed when I showed it to her the first time and insisted on wearing it right away.  Always a very good sign when that happens!

So by now you know I am a big fan of Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop patterns, and it's not just because I am an affiliate.  I am an affiliate because I like her patterns so much, and I've made quite a few with plans to make lots more.

If you are also a fan of Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop or would like to try out one of her designs, then today you can pick up the Lazy Days Romper Pattern for just $4 for Thrifty Thursday!

Happy sewing!  Have a great day!

Baby Gift Bundle

Just last week, I blogged about the adorable Ruffle Bum Romper and Mary Jane Shoes I made as a baby gift for a relative.  A day or two later, my close friend, Melissa, called me up and ordered a custom Baby Gift Bundle that includes the exact same thing plus a few extras for her soon-to-be great niece!  She needed them in time for a baby shower this coming weekend, so I worked on them on and off for two days until they were done and dropped them in the mail yesterday.  Whew!

Note:  I am an affiliate for Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop, but all opinions provided in this post are 100% my own.

First up was another Ruffle Bum Romper by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop.  This one is a size 3 month and is even smaller than the last one.  It is so sweet!  I embroidered the baby's first initial to the bodice using the Adam's Accent Monogram by Embroitique.  Both the pattern and the embroidery design are quickly becoming my favorites!

For the straps and ruffles, I used Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi collection.  The red is Triflora in Lipstick and the pink is Curated Bloom June.  The teal polka dot fabric is quilting cotton from Joann's.

Like I mentioned in my previous post about the Ruffle Bum Romper, I did add interfacing to the buttonhole and snap areas for a little extra reinforcement.  I also did a better job at attaching the snaps this go around!

This romper also got a matching pair of little Mary Jane Shoes.  I used the Little Shoes pattern again, but this time, instead of making a strap with a velcro closure, I made a strap with elastic that is sewn in place on both sides of the shoe.  Thanks to Melissa for giving me the idea.

The third item is this precious, teeny tiny sun hat.  Again, I used a Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop pattern, the 4-in-1 Sun Hat which includes sizes for a newborn up to a 10-year-old child.  I also monogrammed the same initial H on it.  This particular hat is a 3 month size.

Oh, and the hat is reversible, too!  The pattern shows you how to make these finished slits in the brim so that you can pull the straps through to either side of the hat.  How cool is that?!

The fourth part of the Baby Gift Bundle is this embroidered baby bib.  The embroidery design is Bows Embroidery Alphabet Monogram Set from Embroitique.  I found the free pattern on Gingercake.

I used cotton batting in between the top layer of quilting cotton and the bottom layer of pink minky fabric. Instead of using snaps for the closure, I sewed on velcro.

The fifth and final item of the Baby Gift Bundle is a this burp cloth or changing pad.  It's roughly 10" wide by 18" long and also has a layer of cotton batting in between the quilting cotton and minky fabric.  I used my round magnetic pin holder as a guide for filleting the edges of the burp cloth.

I'm really happy with how the Bows Embroidery Alphabet Monogram Set stitched out on both these items.  I'll definitely use this design again.

And there you have it!  Another personalized sweet baby gift!