Handmade Baby Blankets

A homemade blanket makes a great baby shower, birthday, or hristmas gift. All you need are a few yards of fabric and a few basic sewing tools to create a custom baby blanket that will be treasured by the recipient for years to come. Read on to learn how to sew a blanket.

Things You'll Need:

Printed fabric
Coordinating solid-colored fabric
Quilter's batting
Thread
Needle
Pins
Scissors
Ruler
Self-healing cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Sewing machine
Iron
Ironing board

Step

1 - Determine the size of your blanket. A baby blanket, for example, tends to be smaller in size than a throw blanket for a college dorm room.

2 - Pre-wash and dry your fabric in warm or hot water to shrink it before you start sewing. This ensures that the final product stays the size you planned it to be and doesn't shrink the first time the recipient washes it.

3 - Prep the fabric by trimming off any loose threads that may have unraveled during the wash cycle then ironing the fabric to remove wrinkles.

4 - Measure and cut your fabric and batting to size (be sure to add 1/2 inch to all sides to account for seam allowances) using the ruler, rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat.

5 - Lay the printed fabric on your work surface right side up. Place the solid colored fabric on top of the printed fabric, lining up all the edges. Place the batting on top of the fabric layers then pin all three layers together.

6 - Stitch all three layers together using your sewing machine, making sure to leave a small opening on one edge.

7 - Turn the fabric layers right side out then pin the opening closed.

8 - Slip stitch the opening closed.

9 - Top stitch close to the edge of the blanket to create a finished look.

Baby blanket should be soft and warm for the little one so that the baby can be comfortable and feel snug in it. It should of course be attractive and brightly colored. Baby blankets should be easily washable. Micro fleece is a perfect answer to make a perfect cozy baby blanket for your baby and makes baby fleece blanket is a perfect craft for your newborn or as gift to baby shower parties. You can
use appliqués in any baby cartoon shapes like stars, ducks and even alphabets.

Things You Will Need

Appliqué Template
Micro Fleece Fabric in Contrasting Colors
Straight Pins
Tailor's Chalk
Thin Cardboard

Method:

Trace an appliqué design on a thin cardboard and cut it out. Simple and solid designs work better.

Trace the design on the fabric using tailor's chalk and cardboard pattern and cut out appliqués leaving about ¼ inch of extra cloth from the outline for seam allowance and border.

Stitch the micro-fleece fabric together to form the blanket.

Pin the appliqué to the fabric for the blanket.
Attach the appliqué using over lock stitch, zigzag stitch or straight stitch along its entire perimeter.

Put the two pieces of fabric for the fabric in such a way that appliquéd sides face each other.
Pin the sides together and sew leaving a ¼ inch seam around the entire perimeter.

Leave about 4-inch opening on one side and turn the blanket right side out from it.

Do not iron the blanket as the fleece may melt, so just press the edges flat with your fingers.
Stitch the opening shut.

Create a 2-inch flange border from the edge using zigzag or over lock stitch.

It's probably true that you can never have too many baby blankets as a new mom. However, there comes a time and place where you just can't keep all the baby blankets you bought and received as gifts. If you are giving a baby blanket gift make sure yours will still be around as the baby gets older.

Here are some great ways to give a unique baby blanket gift.

Keepsake Kit and a Blanket
A unique baby blanket gift, that will stand the test of time is to add a keepsake with the baby blanket. You can use a baby footprint kit, or a handprint kit, or tins for their first lost tooth or clip of hair from their first haircut. This is made even more special if you have the baby blanket personalized with the baby's name.

Baby Blanket Cake
Diaper cakes are all the rage, cloth diapers are gaining steam and they make a cute cake when all rolled up. You can do the same thing using baby blankets. This can also be a relatively inexpensive gift. You can find fleece baby blankets at most dollar type stores. You will also need some rattles and other baby toys.

Just roll the blankets up into tight rolls. Then place them in a circle on something solid. Do this for two or three tiers. You can tie them in place with pretty ribbon. Then add some rattles, baby toys tied to the "cake". It makes an adorable and useful baby blanket gift. To keep this gift in a reasonable price range you can get soft fleece blankets really cheap at a dollar store.

Handmade Baby Blankets
A handmade baby blanket gift speaks to the heart of any new mother. Knowing someone spent the time, thought and effort to make a hand made gift in this day and age means a lot. You can crochet, quilt, embroider a baby blanket to make it unique and special. In fact, you can make a baby blanket that requires no sewing at all, and will be just as special because you put yourself into the gift.

Embroidered Baby Blankets

Embroidered baby blankets will work whether you know how to embroider or not. You simply purchase a lovely baby blanket. This is key to this gift, make sure you get a really nice blanket. You then simply embroider (or hire someone to do it for you) the baby's name, date of birth, height and weight on the blanket. This will be a keepsake a new mom will cherish forever. She will also save that blanket for her child when they have their first.

As you can see, baby blankets can be used in a variety of ways making wonderful gifts for any new mom. It's especially nice since they are so useful, and you can get them in any color fabric and in any price range.