84: baby blanket gift set - part 1

I've decided to do this tutorial in two parts, because I have a feeling I'm going to get pretty wordy and I don't want it to be "the post that never ends."  So this first part is how to make the blanket and part 2 is how to make the bib, burp cloths, and onsie.

I think this makes a really great baby shower gift.  It's personal and homemade, but still elegant and doesn't take as long as a whole baby quilt.

There are, of course, a million different ways this could be done...I'll give you my reasoning as I go along and you can decide for yourself if you agree.

This gift set consists of:

1 large baby blanket (about 34" x 38")

1 reversible bib

2 burp cloths

1 embellished onsie

I chose the size of the blanket to maximize the use of the fabric and because I think it's a nice size since it's larger than many receiving blankets and can be used well into the preschool years.

Materials:

* 1 yard of quilters cotton for blanket front

* 1 yard of quilters cotton for blanket binding

(I'll warn you right now that I designed this project to minimize waste and it's just barely enough fabric.  If you don't like to live that close to the edge and like a little more wiggle room, you might consider getting 1 1/4 of the binding fabric or omitting that burp cloth)

* 1 yard of plush minkee dot fabric - 64" wide (this is enough for 2 blankets)

* 3/8 yard nice thick terry cloth (you can buy a towel on clearance or wherever and use this.  It shows on the burp cloths so it's nice to have pretty colors)

* 1.5" of velcro

* onsie in the size of your choice (I recommend 3-6 or 6-9 months)

* Coordinating thread

* Pattern for bib

Instructions:

1.  Prewash and all fabrics and press the cotton.

2.  Cut the minkee fabric in half widthwise (so you have two pieces that are about 32"x36").  A good idea is to use the dots as a line so you cut straight.  Also straighten the store cut edges the same way so your pieces are squared.   Set aside one half for your next blanket.

        

3.  Layout the minkee fabric and your blanket front fabric one top of each other, wrong sides together.  It's important to line up 3 edges as close as possible so all the leftover fabric is on one side (instead of centering them).  

4.  Pin frequently around all edges.  (It's important to pin a lot because the minkee might stretch as you sew)

5.  Trim the cotton fabric so it fits the minkee.  It's possible you may have to trim 3 sides a little (or even trim the minkee down) depending on how accurately they were cut in the store.  Leave them pinned together until the binding is sewn on.

6.  Next, using the pattern, from the binding fabric, cut out one bib piece.  Make sure to cut it close to the selvege edge, wasting as little fabric as possible.

7.  Cut out a rectangle 9" x 16 1/2" below the bib, also near the selvege (so the longer 16 1/2 runs along the selvege).  Cutting these first allows you to use every last little piece of the remaining fabric for the binding.  If you don't want it to be so close, you can omit the rectangle and make the gift set with just one burp cloth.

8.  Cut the remaining binding fabric into five 6 5/8" strips.  You should get one full length strip (42" long) and 4 shorter ones (about 33" long).

(I designed this blanket with a 1 1/2" double fold binding.  The reasons were that I like the look of the thick frame around the edge and it makes the blanket slightly bigger because it goes off the edge of the minkee etc.  I did it double fold since it was going to hang off the edge and I felt it needed some body.  You could use less fabric by making it skinnier or single fold.)

  

   

9.  Next, join the binding strips.  I do this on the diagonal.  Lay the ends of two strips together perpendicular and right sides together as shown.  Mark the diagonal across the top strip and sew on this line.  When you open you should have one long strip.  Trim the seam allowance and press them open.  Repeat with the other strips until you have one long strip.

  

10.  Press the binding in half down the entire length.  Fold in one short edge towards the wrong side about 1/2" and press.

(Normally, I would do this part of a binding on the diagonal as well, but actually there isn't enough fabric.  If you bought extra, you might want to do it that way.)

11.  Start sewing the binding on in the middle of one edge.  Open up the binding and pin the bottom raw edge of the binding along the raw edge of the blanket on top of the cotton side.  Sew through only this one layer of the binding for about 3".  Use a 1/4" seam.

12.  Close up the binding and begin sewing through both layers at about 2 1/2".  (This leaves a little flap of the top layer open to tuck the other end in when you get there.)   I don't really pin the binding as I sew along, so it can stretch a little as I go.

   

11.  Next up, your first corner.  This is the hard part, brace yourself.  :)  No really, its not that bad.  First mark 1/4" from the end of the edge you're sewing with a pin.  Sew up to that point and stitch a few stitches in place there (or backstitch).  Lift the needle and foot and pull the corner out from under the machine a little bit (I don't cut the thread, but you can).  Now measure 2 3/8" off the edge of the blanket and mark it on the binding (with a pin or marker).  (NOTE, you are measuring from the edge of the blanket, not 1/4" in where you stopped sewing.)

   

12. Fold the binding out to the right so it forms a 45 degree angle down towards the corner of the blanket, as shown.  Now fold it back down along the new edge, lining up the mark with the corner of the blanket.  The binding will hang off the end of blanket a little as shown.

13.  Turn the blanket and start sewing the new edge 1/4" down from the mark.  If you've done this right it should be exactly where you stopped sewing on the last side.

14.  Sew the sides and repeat the corner process for all 4 sides.

15.  As you near your starting point, trim the binding so it overlaps where you started by about 2 inches or so.  Tuck it into the little flap you made before so you don't see the unfinished edge anymore.  Continue to sew right over the flap through all the layers (the picture shows me holding back the edge so you can see), until you overlap your initial stitching.  Now the binding is secure all the way around.

16.  Next press the binding out so that the seam allowances go towards the binding.

17.  Now topstitch close to the edge of the little flap you made at the start.  This stitching goes across the thickness of the binding and it closes up the little flap.

18.  Fold over the binding and pin it in place, starting in the middle of one side.  How I pin is to stick a pin about 1/8" in on the edge of the binding and then through the seam.  This way you have just the right amount of overlap.  If you fold it over too much or too little you're going to have problems, especially with the corners.

(NOTE: I'm sewing the back of the binding by machine.  I usually do this even on my quilts, but I understand most people do this part by hand.  That's fine if you want, but really I don't know how it's going to hold up just sewn to the minkee.  I assume it should be fine, but no guaruntees. )

 
I usually just pin and sew one side and corner at a time.  This way I'm no holding a blanket with a million pins.  After I get around a corner, then I pin that next side.

   

19.  To pin the corner, keep pinning up the side and the biding will naturally make a 45 degree angle as shown.  Make sure that the little excess flap of fabric all goes up into that angled part...I've shown a little peek.  This is important because if it stays tucked under the first side, you'll still be able to make the corner, but your front and back miters won't be in the same exact place and when you go to stitch them it won't work.  This seemed funny to me at first because it makes one half of your corner thicker (more layers) than the other, but trust me, it's best.

20.  Now fold down the next side so you get a nice mitered corner.  Your angle should end in about 1/8" from the edge of the first side of binding.  If that doesn't make sense, don't worry too much, just try to make a nice pointed corner.  You'll probably have to play with it and adjust it a bit, because it's really easy to get a corner that's "cut off" or not pointed like this:

With a little fussing you should be able to get it fairly pointy.

21.  Now you're going to sew on the front side of your blanket (cotton side).  You will "stitch in the ditch" where the front is joined to the binding.  That just means sewing right along the seam so that you almost don't see it.  You've really got to take your time as you do this and every once in a while check that you are catching the back of the binding in this seam.  If you didn't pin well it's possible to run off the edge on the back and you'll have to go back and fix this.  When I am sewing this I am able to actually feel through the blanket and feel that the binding is overlaping the seam just the right amount.  If you press your fingers along the seam you'll feel a ridge where the binding ends on the back.  Just make sure that's in the right place.

22.  Stop sewing when you get all the way in the corner and turn the blanket.  Continue down the next side.  You'll want to check the corner as you go, because this is the easiest spot to accidentally go off the edge.  It might seem difficult at first and you may have to go back and fix some spots, but I promise it gets easier with practice and if you take your time, you'll be fine.

23.  Since I only pin one side at a time, after I get around a corner, I'll pause and pin the next side and corner.  You want to repeat this for all four sides of the blanket until the binding is secured all the way around.

24.  Now you're almost done!  On each corner you want to go back and sew down the miter.  Topstitch close to the diagonal on the side that is thicker (has more layers of fabric).  Now press the whole binding and your blanket is complete!

I hope that makes sense to you all, and remember, please send me pictures if you make one.

Next up, the bib, burp cloths, and onsies to finish the gift set.  

JT

Comments

[Amy @ parkcitygirl]

Great tutorial! I love seeing your process - of course I've made baby blankets, but I usually have folded the backing up and over. . . thanks for sharing :)

[whitney]

I usually sew on bindings by hand. But I would rather use the machine! But I had no idea how to make it look good. THANK YOU for this tutorial! I am so excited, I think I will go make a blanket just to make one, don't have any idea who I will give it to! Love the thick binding too!

[Fernanda]

Hello!
I'm from Brazil and I'm loving your blog. Your projects are amazing!
I'll try to do a blanked as yours to my baby and if it look good I'll send you a picture!
I didn't understand everything in english (my english isn't good enough...) but your pictures helped me a lot!
Maybe one day we could change ideas!!!
thanks
Fernanda
nandinharjjf@yahoo.com.br

[baby bows]

Thanks for posting about the baby blanket gift set. Well, I'm not making them for a gift, it's for my baby. Next year I'll make another one coz my sister is expecting. I know she'll love it. =)

[Jane Weston]

I just found your blog and it is wonderful...I love this tutorial with all the pictures...makes it so much easier to understand. I was just wondering if you could explain the math and reason for the extra bit of fabric as you turned the corner. Is it because it is larger than say binding on a quilt.

Thanks in advance

[GirlHouse]

I came across your blog while searching for a bib tutorial. I love that your bib is reversible. Can't wait to get started!!