Two Simple and Fabulous Baby Blanket Tutorials

For those times when you want to do something a bit more personal and special for a friend than pulling an item from her baby registry, I've created two baby blanket tutorials that I think you'll find you love!  They are quick to put together and easy enough for the beginner/intermediate sewing enthusiast.

The first one (The Stitch-Turn-and-TopStitch Blanket) is a simple, classy little blanket that only requires you finish it with top-stitching.  The second one (the Quilt-less Blanket) teaches you to make and use bias tape to trim the blanket.  Look for this one at my Etsy Shop! (sorry folks ~ no longer available; this sold out within hours of listing it!)

For my projects, I've used a a super soft Heather Ross cotton and some bubble velour (aka. Minky). The Minky was really easy to work with!

The 'Stitch-Turn-and-TopStitch' Blanket

Materials Needed:

• Desired size of quilter's quality cotton fabric (a 36" square is always a great size for a baby blanket).
• Minky fabric in same size as your cotton print.
• **Use a 1/2" seam allowance.

 

1) With fabrics right sides together, pin edges together and stitch all sides, leaving a six inch opening along the center of one side for turning.  I like to trim seam allowances with pinking shears, but regular scissors will be fine.  Just don't trim near the area you've left open for turning (see above).  

 

2) After turning right side out, press seams.  Fold, press and pin the opening you used to turn the fabric. 

3) Top stitch around the edges of the entire blanket using a 1/8" seam.  This will ensure you catch the opening you pinned.  That's it!  Press one last time, fold and gift! Voila!

The 'Quilt-less Baby Blanket'

Materials needed:

• Quilter's quality cotton fabric and Minky fabric, cut to desired size for your blanket.
• Approx. 1/3 yd. of coordinating cotton fabric for trim.

 1) Create bias tape trim:  Cut strips of your trim fabric in 4" widths.  You will need to piece strips together (see above illustration for piecing technique) until you have enough length to fit around the perimeter of the blanket plus 10 inches.

 

2) Press and iron the strip in half lengthwise (wrong sides together).  Open fold and press each long edge toward the center crease.  You will end up with a big pile of bias tape like I did, above! :)  It's a bit of a pain, but so much cuter than the kind you purchase in packages.  Oh, I guess you could just do that, too, if you'd like to save some time or if you don't want to tackle making your own.

 

3) Lay your blanket fabric pieces flat on a table, with wrong sides together, matching raw edges.  Fit the bias tape around the edges of the blanket 'sandwich', pinning as you go so it doesn't slide off.  When you come to the corners, make the turn by folding in a triangle wedge of the trim until it makes a nice mitered corner on both sides.  I had to pin it in several areas to hold it in place.  It's worth taking the time to do this nicely ~ it will make the result more professional looking.

4) Stitch the trim on using an 1/8th inch top stitch (that's 1/8th inch from the left edge of the trim).  This will catch the trim on both the top and bottom of the blanket.  Trim loose threads and press one last time.  You are finished.  Enjoy!

  
Fabric by Heather Ross ~ Lightning Bugs and other Mysteries Collections (sadly out of print now.)  It's always been one of my favorites and this was the last of my stash...remember THIS handbag??  I think I've made worthy projects with them. :)

 

This project has been shared over at Iron Violet Designs , Tatertots and Jello, Craft Envy, Under the Table and Dreaming, It's a Crafty Life, 

Kuzak's Closet 

  Petite Hermine

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