Quick and Easy Crafts: Baby Blankets

Everyone needs a new blanket and especially a new baby. This project is great for the person who either has little to no time to make a homemade present or for someone who likes simple projects. (I am both!) Either way, this is a great way to make a homemade blanket for someone you love or as an adorable baby shower present.

The supplies needed for this craft are:

Soft fleece or pre-quilted panel of fabric
1 package of Satin Blanket Binding (4 ¾ yards)
Sewing machine
Quilt pins
Scissors

This project is very quick and easy and required little to no cutting, and just a smidge of sewing. No matter your skill level, this project will come out beautiful!

There are two major types of fabric you can use for this project: fleece and a pre-quilted panel. (See photos for examples.)

After you decide on your fabric, you will need to properly measure it and make sure you have purchased enough Satin Blanket Binding. The standard pack has 4 ¾ yards and comes in multiple colors. You can also get licensed styles, like Mickey Mouse Club House, Cars , Princess and even Winnie the Pooh. (See above photo for the Pooh blanket binding I used on the pink Eeyore blanket.) The licensed styles are twice the price verses the standard colors, so keep that in mind when you are shopping. If you are doing a single panel or just a yard of fabric, a single pack should be fine. Again, measure first.

Lay your fabric on a flat surface. Remove the blanket binding from the package and begin to line it up along the edge of the fabric. (It is easier if you start near a corner, but not 'on' a corner.) Once that is done, take your quilt pins and begin to pin the binding to the edge of the blanket. The binding is folded, so place the edge of the blanket all the way inside the fold. Pin in place. Repeat until the blanket is complete.

The corners are the toughest part of this project. The easiest way to tackle the corner is to carefully pin the fabric, as you did on the sides, but keep an eye on the slight ruffle or puffiness of the binding. That is normal and what you want to happen. Gently flatten the puffy section and fold it over the corner of the binding. Pin in place. It takes practice to get it just right. Take another look at the above photos to see the different ways of doing it.

When the entire blanket is pinned, it is time to sew it. Use the standard ¼ inch seam allowance from the edge of the binding to ensure you also catch the bottom of the blanket binding, too. Sew slowly to keep the edges clean and nice. Use your imagination with the seams. For the above purple trimmed blanket, I used the zig-zag stitch and it came out beautiful. When you reach the end of the binding, it is best to fold over the edge so it does not fray in the wash.

This is a great project for just about any occasion. Do not feel that you can only use it for baby blankets or young children. This project would make a great birthday present, and even Christmas present if you used red fabrics and green binding. Use your imagination and create your very own masterpiece!

Sources:

Personal Experience
www.joann.com