Annoucement: I recently made a biggggg mistake and managed to delete all of my blog photos. I am working to get them all back up asap. Please bear with me, and if you have any questions on tutorials, please feel free to email me and I will try to help you out as best as I can...Thanks!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Easy Peasy Baby Blanket Tutorial



One of my friend's asked me to make a baby blanket for her awhile back, so I thought I'd share a quick tutorial since I have been seriously lacking in posts lately...sorry, I've been painting my family room for a week with three kids running around!  Yeah, it's been an adventure!  lol  Anyway, let's get on with the tutorial!

What you'll need

2 - 36" x 36" squares of coordinating fabric
2 packs of satin blanket binding
a gathering/ruffle foot (useful but not necessary)

Take both packages of blanket binding out, open each of them at one end and stitch them together into one long piece with RS facing.  Press the seam open; fold the binding back in half and press.  Using a 3/8" seam allowance along the open end,  use your gathering/ruffle foot to ruffle the binding.  

If you don't have a gathering/ruffle foot, set your upper thread tension to zero, and your stitch to the longest setting your machine will go.   Run two stitches one 1/4" from the raw edge (the edge opposite the folded edge...it's not actually raw, but I don't know what else to call it) and one at  3/8".  Make sure you pull about 5" of thread before starting your stitch and about 5" at the end.   Tie the threads at one end, then grab both the bobbin threads at the other end and gently pull to gather.  You want to gather it down to about 4 yards (the perimeter of the blanket) + 10".

Pin the binding to the RS of one of the 36" x 36" squares around the perimeter with the gathered edge matching the raw edge.  I rounded my corner because I find it easier and I prefer the finished look but it's up to you if you want to square them...

Leave a few inches when you start pinning.  The binding should run off the blanket like this.


Then, do the same when you finish.  Make sure you don't pull the ruffled part to tight at the beginning and end, because if you do it pulls when you turn the blanket. See the part the arrow is pointing too is pulled almost flat...I should have taken a little of the ruffle from the parenthesis and make that part more ruffly if that makes sense.

Sorry this pic is blurry but I had to crop it really close to show how I should have left more ruffle.  Hopefully it will give you a better idea of what I am talking about. 


Anyway, it should look something like this once you're done, then baste in place with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Now somehow or another, I forgot to take a pic of the next part but it's really simple.  With RS facing pin the two blanket pieces together (the binding should be sandwiched between them), and stitch them together using a 1/2" seam allowance.  Leave about a 6" opening for turning making sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of the stitch.  Trim the corners with pinking shears.  Then, turn the blanket RS out, gently pulling the binding at the corners.  

Next, use a ladder stitch to close the opening and your done!










Thursday
 
Photobucket    make it wear it   giveaways 
 
HookingupwithHoH  Party Button

4 comments:

Karen G. said...

Where did you get the super-cute pink/purple damask print? And is it fleece?
Thanks for the tutorial!

April said...

@ Karen G. My friend bought it on clearance at a fabric store near her house...not sure where because she lives about 3 hrs from me. I think it's the minky burnout fabric... found these...not quite the same...

http://www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=minky+damask&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e

http://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?search_submit=&q=minky+fabric+damask&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings said...

I adore that fabric it looks so luxurious! I'd love it if you'd add this to my link party at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com

Karen G. said...

Thank you April! Those search results are perfect--going to have to get me some!

Post a Comment

Thanks for stopping by! I love hearing from you. I read and apprieciate each of your comments. Please make sure your email is enabled so that I can respond to your comments. ♥

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...