#sewing: Soft & Cuddly Baby Blanket

September 28, 2014 Project:
In the past year, our Book Club has expanded to a Junior Book Club section with two sweetheart babies and we have one on the way (very soon). So naturally some of my #sewing projects of late have taken on a baby theme because so many of the popular baby finds are easy to replicate and so much more fun when it is made with love for your friend. 

Last week a baby shower was hosted for our Book Club lady and her little one on the way, so I decided to whip up a soft & cuddly baby blanket - pattern tested and approved by my niece since she has her own which she loves. (The Minky Dot fabric is so soft it feels like a puppy's ear! I want to make a blanket out of it for myself and wrap up in it!!!) 

The pattern I used for this blanket comes from the Greener Grass blog 

Materials Needed:
- 1.5 yards of light weight, soft fleecy-cotton fabric
- 1.5 yard of Minky Dot material
- Rotary Cutter and Mat
- Ruler
- Safety Pins
- Straight Pins
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Iron and Ironing Board

#step 1: Prepare Fabric
Cut a 45" x 45" square from your Fleece Fabric and from your Minky Dot Fabric
Note: i allowed for a few extra inches on either side because the Minky Dot fabric was a little trickier to cut since it is much closer to a 'silky' texture and slides around.

Minky Dot Fabric

Fleece Cotton & Minky Dot fabrics

Once you have your squares cut, create a rounded corner (on each corner) by simply tracing something with a round edge, like a bowl and cut. Repeat for corners of all fabric.

Next, lay your fabrics out with right sides facing together. Don't worry if your edges don't line up perfectly - you can trim them later and/or fold them into the blanket after sewing and turning it inside out.

Use the safety pins to secure the fabrics together, this will help keep the cotton fabric from slipping too much on the Minky Dot fabric while trying to sew.

#step 2: Ready to Sew
Place your straight pins along the outer edges of your blanket, about 6 inches apart. Leave a 10" inch opening on one side, this is where you will turn the blanket inside out.

Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew along the edge of the blanket. Once you have sewn all the way around, trim the rounded edges so that they lay flat - but be careful not to snip the stitches.

#step 3: Turn the blanket 'right-side out'
Pull your blanket right-side out through the 10" opening you left prior to sewing. Go around the edges of your blanket with your Iron to flatten the seams. Remember to iron only the fleece/cotton material - the Minky Dot fabric will not do well under the direct heat of your Iron.

Turn down the edges of your 10" opening, pin and sew to close.
Note: Option to stuff the blanket with cotton batting for a little more cushion. If you would like to do this, stuff the blanket before you close the 10" opening.

#step 4: Finishing Your Blanket
Place your straight pins around the exterior edges of your blanket again to sew a top-stitch to secure the blanket.

Et voila! You're done the blanket and ready to gift it to a little one with love!

Happy Sewing!
awaLL