By Sarah Ann Smith,
Janome Artisan
@sarahannsmithq on FB and IG
I sewed this entire baby blanket at top left in 47 minutes! All you need is two rectangles of soft fabric and thread. This one is 42×44” so it is big enough for a stroller, car seat or crawl on the floor (and later a hobo sack for the pet or picking up toys). You can make yours any size from about 25×36 to lap throw. The ones I made for my sons were were about 36×42 inches and used them ALL the time.
For the blanket above left, pictured with my brother’s bear (circa 1933), my bear (late 1950s), and my older son’s bear (early 1990s), I used flannel from one of the new dad-to-be’s favorite sheets (the bottom wore out but the top was fine so I saved it and still had it!!!) on the top and a high quality double-gauze on the bottom. The blankets and burp cloths in the photo on the right and below are made from double-brushed quilting flannel on both sides. If you live somewhere warm, using two layers of double-gauze or a fine cotton lawn (think Liberty Tana Lawn) and double-gauze would be lovely. The flannel burp cloths I bought when my sons were born were rudimentary: two white flannel layers with serged edges. BORING. So I bought pink-blue-green alphabet block flannel and still have one. For my first grandchild, I bought half-yards of flannel and cut pieces 10” x 18” (so four across) and mix-and-matched the prints to make eight. Photo at end.
Process for both blanket and burp cloths:
Step 1: cut both layers the same size. For the blanket, try 36×42 (or width of fabric)—this is best for non-directional prints. Or go for a square: 36 or 40/42” works well.
Step 2: Pin together making sure the fabric is flat / no ripples (flannel does that, so smooth out from the center and pin. In the center of one side mark a section about 8” long; this is where you will turn the blanket right side out.
Step 3: Mark the corners to round them (way easier to sew and turn). I have plastic templates but the bottom of a large soup or tomato can or a saucer works perfectly. I used a ½” seam allowance so be sure to set the sewing line at your preferred seam distance. Note: I used the blue double-gauze fabric as my edge; I trimmed up the flannel sheet after sewing.
Step 4: Sew all the way around the blanket.
Step 5: Trim edges if needed. Clip corners so the seam allowance won’t bunch up when turned. See videos on my blog at https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/ or on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/@SarahAnnSmithQ/videos
Step 6: Press the seam allowances as stitched (wrong side out). Then press the seams open (see videos on my blog or on YouTube, links above. Especially press the seam allowances at the opening.
Step 7: Pin the opening closed. Select a decorative stitch to secure the edges. I used a 3-step zigzag to echo the design of the flannel sheet, but often I use the serpentine stitch. If you look closely at the photos at the end of the burp cloths and first two flannel blankest, you’ll see that one.
Alas I gave these to my son and DIL before getting better photos because they were moving houses in addition to expecting soon. The fabric is perfect for a woodland themed nursery. I hope they find them as useful as I did. Once the kidlet is in day care, I’ll make another that is a good size for there, too!
