Softest Ever Baby Blanket Tutorial

by Lupine.

Bolt is full of inspiring flannel these days. I am writing this post in order to hold back from running down the street to get some of that Anna Maria Horner "Folksy" darling house print stuff. Super lovely for anything from jammies to blankets to a quilt backing. 

Last week I wrapped up these napkins, and decided to use the very same technique to make a large single layer flannel baby blanket. I had loads of blankest this size for my little ones, and still use them often. They fit in the crib, can swaddle tightly, and get softer over time. Plus, they are a great way to show off a large scale print or play around with your favorite flannel.

You will need:

1 1/4 yards of main flannel (enough to make a square)

1/4 yard of flannel for binding

Rotary cutter, mat, and ruller (sure you could use scissors, but the rotary system is perfect for this).

Clover bias tape maker size 25mm.

Thread to match binding

Iron, Pins, Machine, 

1. Wash flannel for main blanket and binding. Flannel shrinks more than other fabric, so don't skip this step.

2. Cut your main fabric to square. I do this by folding it into a triangle corner to corner and trimming off any remaining yardage. Also, trim off the selvedges edge where the printing shows and any remaining loose threads.

3. Cut binding. To use the clover bias tape maker you don't have to cut it on the bias, only if you intend to go around curves.  If you are just going to bind a square, simply cut strips of your binding fabric 1 3/4 inches on the straight of grain. You will need 5 strips cut selvedge to selvedge. 

Above: Joining strips on the diagonal.

4. Join strips into one continuous strip. Place two strips together at a right angle, overlapping 1/4 inch. Sew from corner to corner and open. Trim seam allowance and press open to reduce bulk.

5. Send this super long binding strip through the bias tape maker. Flannel is a little difficult to start, it is pretty thick, but once it is going, use your iron to press as you go and pin when you need to for stability.

6. Press again. All that binding needs to be folded in half once more.

7. Pin around the blanket, mitering the corners as you get to them. You can adjust as you sew, but pinning helps to keep the binding even on the front and back of the blanket.

8. Begin sewing leaving a 6" tail of binding in the middle of one side. Use a scant 1/8 inch from the edge of the binding, being sure to catch the bottom as you sew. When you come to a corner, sew to the end, remove from the machine, fold your corner over, and place back under you machine to begin sewing the mitered corner down. Repeat for all sides/corners.

9. After you have gone around your last corner, sew until you have about 6" to where you started sewing the first stitches and your original tail is hanging off. Stop sewing and remove the entire blanket from the machine.

10. Lay the blanket and binding as flat as you can along that edge. Trim one tail to within the un-sewn section of binding, and lay the other tail over it. Overlap by 1/2" and trim again. Now, lift those loose binding sections off the blanket and pin, right sides together. Sew with a 1/4" seam along the bindings short edge.

Above: Binding about to be joined, use pins and (below) sew with 1/4" seam.

11. Press that seam open and repress the binding to its original shape. Fold it around the blankets last little unfinished section and sew down in the same manner as above. It should fit perfectly to finish your blanket.

12. Trim all loose threads, fold up neatly and give to small tiny sweet baby just in time for winters chill.