Baby blanket

I think sewing can seem very daunting and complex, which puts a lot of people off. There’s also that sense that unless you are an expert you can’t make anything of worth.

Today, I want to show you a really simple sewing project for those of us who have only recently begun sewing and yet you will end up with something really lovely and very professional looking. If you’re anything like me, everyone around you is popping out a baby at the moment (although, we’re popping out a puppy instead!) so I wanted to make something that could be a gift for a new baby. This baby blanket requires no complicated techniques and does not take more than a couple of hours.

You will need:

– Two pieces of cotton 110cm x 140cm (or change dimensions to suit – I made one a lot smaller for a friend’s child to use for their dollies and teddies). I have used Liberty’s Dorothy and Woolf prints from the Bloomsbury Collection.

Wadding 110cm x 140cm

– Pattern paper

– Pins/fabric scissors/sewing machine/matching thread for top-stitching

Tutorial:

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial

1. Make a template with your pattern paper 110cm x 140cm. Use this to cut out two pieces of fabric and one piece of wadding, all the same size.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial

2. Pin the fabric and wadding together: The fabric should be on top, right sides together, and the wadding at the bottom.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

3. Sew the three pieces together leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance. Begin sewing in the middle of one side of the blanket and leave a 20cm hole so the blanket can be turned inside out.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

4. When you have sewn all four sides, and left a 20cm hole, go round the sides of the blanket and cut off the seam allowance.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

5. Cut off the corners too so that when you turn it inside out you can get crisp corners.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

6. Turn the blanket inside out and then hand-stitch the 20cm hole using a slip-stitch.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

7. Choose a thread for top-stitching that either matches or contrasts with the fabric you have chosen.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

8. Choose a decorative stitch on your machine and top-stitch round the blanket. I chose to use this cross stitch on the top and bottom of the blanket.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

9. I then did a straight stitch along the sides of the blanket.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

Finished!

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

This one went to Isa.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

This is another blanket that I made using Liberty’s Betsy and Phoebe prints. This one went to baby Mimi.

Liberty print baby blanket tutorial sewing pattern

Thorpe and Phoebe prints. This one went to brand new baby Emilia.

If you try this tutorial I’d love to hear from you – please email me a pic to katy@18.200.196.112.

 

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6 Comments

  1. 14th May 2013 / 8:24 am

    The top stitch gives it such a lovely finish! With projects like this, I sometimes cheat and use fabric glue to close the gap hehe!

    • katy
      14th May 2013 / 2:35 pm

      Now that is a good idea that I will be stealing!

  2. Farah
    14th May 2013 / 2:01 pm

    And Isa LOVES it. Is snuggled up with it right now…asleep.

  3. lino
    14th May 2013 / 8:38 pm

    I can’t wait to make mine with you!

  4. Gemma
    6th August 2019 / 3:50 pm

    This tutorial looks great but the pictures don’t seem to be working anymore – is it possible to restore them?

    • katy
      Author
      14th August 2019 / 9:28 am

      Hi there! I’m really sorry about this – I will see what i can do! x

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