I like to make my own receiving blankets, both for myself and as gifts, and I thought a few of you may want to know how I make them. I LOVE these blankets. I find that the ones from the store are too small and of poor quality most of the time. These are so quick and easy to whip out and are 100% worth it. They last a long time, are great quality, are the perfect size, and you get to pick from lots of different patterns of fabric. I do also love the Aden and Anais gauzy muslin blankets, but when you need a snuggly, soft, regular receiving blanket, there is nothing better than these! And, they literally take only a couple of minutes to make.
You will need:
1 1/4 yds. snuggle flannel {I got mine at JoAnn Fabrics}, washed
**I always have the girls at the cut counter cut mine at exactly 1 1/4 yds. to save me time. This goes on sale pretty often, or you could also use your coupons. Remember, they also accept competitors' coupons**
A Serger, threaded with matching thread
First {and very important to save time} when you go to have your flannel cut, ask for it to be cut to 1 1/4 yd lengths. I have found this to be the perfect length for receiving blankets for my babies.
Throw them in the washing machine and dryer to prepare the fabric.
Next, pick a side and begin to serge your fabric down the entire length, trimming off anything that needs to be trimmed.
When you reach the end of a side, round your corner and proceed to the next side. Repeat until every edge is serged.
Your edges should look like this:
And you are finished! SO easy, right? I made these for Ella when she was a baby, too, and they were the best blankets I had. They hold up so nicely.
These are so addicting to make and make the perfect gift for expecting mommies!
Have a wonderful day, friends!
Dana
How do you stop serging once you've overlapped where you began? I don't know how to stop without sewing off an end. But with rounded corners, I can't do that. It's not as if we can backstitch like we do on a sewing machine. I know this is a dumb question, but I really don't get what to do.
Kristen Whitby
Not a dumb question at all! I continue serging, overlapping some of where I sewed in the beginning, and then as I sew straight, I slowly pull the fabric away from the serger until it tapers off and my fabric is no longer under the foot. Then I just trim the excess thread.
Dana Bishop
Thank you so much. It was sweet of you to take the time to reply.
Tammie
Thank you for this idea!!! Love it!
Janice E Jones
Thanks for posting this method of making receiving blankets. I am going to make some but also put a crocheted shell stitch edging around them. That way I can weave in a ribbon and use the blankets as bags or wrapping for a shower gift.
Kristen Whitby
That sounds adorable!
PATRICIA JUNE
I made these receiving blanket for my first child 61yrs ago, & made them 40"x40" used a rolled edge or foldover twice ,so nice to cover baby when you just need a light weight cover, I also put two piecies together print out & sewed blanket bindind around them & made them 40"x40" great crib blankets ,very warm.
Claudia
Oh these are wonderful! And so easy!
Samantha
Is there a best size bolt width?
Kristen Whitby
Truthfully, I just use what they have on sale, but it is usually about 45" wide.
Nancy A
I buy 3 yards of flannel. I can make two receiving blankets, two double sided burp cloths (I often use an old light-colored towel between the two layers or and pieces of an old blanket) and then 2 small wash cloths single side with a zig zag edge. The wash cloths are the size of the palm of my hand and the flannel is so soft on babies skin.
Deb Cain
Great idea!!!!!!!!
Jennie Harrison
Do you have pictures and sizes for each?
Lynn
Debra Sears Gill
I've found this very informative as I'm knitting some baby blankets, but was also wondering about other ways to make some. I love this easy way to make them. I sew by hand and have found one message informative for doing so. This could make it to where I can make some to donate to shelters. Thank y'all for such good info
Candice V. Rice
I have made this sized receiving blanket as baby gifts for years! And I have a quick tip that won't add much to your construction time.
Before sewing/serging, I fold my fabric lengthwise and then widthwise, with the four loose corners together. Then I take a bread and butter sized plate, lay it upside down on the four loose corners and trace around it, then cut off the squared edges. When serging, this lets you angle into the corner correctly and gives a much more predictable result. I pair it with one of those little baby pillows that looks like a birth certificate for the gift.
I started this when making receiving blankets for my own children, and then decided to continue to give as a hand made baby gift to friends and family. My own kids would take their little pillows and blankets in their activity bags when we would go on car trips, for using in the car and hotel rooms. They are now 20 and 23, and still have their blankets and little pillows!
Lynne
adorable~but what do those of us without a serger do?
Sarah
Without a serger, you could always fold the edges over twice and hem. It will be a little bit more bulky, but not much. I made many of them this way (with the hem) until I heard about making them with a serger.
Vicki bowling
Hi, been making my own just like this for almost 49 years, except I use the turn under foot on my server for a finished serged edge.
Starting with my friends, my children, every niece, nephew and then grand children, grand nieces & nephews, great grand babies, & every baby shower I’ve ever been to, have been given multiples. The new momma doesn’t appreciate them until she uses them and boy do I get the thank yous and the accolades. I bet I’ve made about 500 by now LOL.
You just can’t buy this size or quality anymore.
P.S. you can use a regular sewing machine and turn under foot (rolling edge foot like you use for making cloth napkins) to do this same thing, just sew very close to the open side of the edge
Sonia
Do I need a special type of sewing machine or special equipment? When I Google "serger", I see a sewing machine with about 4 or 5 spools of thread on top of it. Thank you.
Kristen Whitby
Yes, a serger is a special type of sewing machine. If you don't have a serger, you can roll each edge under twice and sew in a straight line to create a nice, finished edge.
Dallas
Is this a single piece of fabric or two together
Kristen Whitby
a single piece- perfect weight to swaddle a baby!
Kelly
Thanks for sharing - can you please tell me how you finished them? I just got a serger and am not sure how to finish them off. Thanks!
Kristen Whitby
I just leave the served edges as-is. They have been the very best receiving blankets for all 4 of my babies!
susan
No serger so I fold over twice and hem down the perimeter. Can crochet edging if you like. This is neater than an exposed serged stitcr
Kate McCaul
Jubilee- the serger trims the excess away as you stitch, no extra trimming necessary! It's very nice. =)
Jubilee
What a great idea. It looks like you sergered all the way around and then went back to trip the edges when finished?
ljb
What is a receiving blanket for? Those are very cute. I like that you can use any fabric you want and aren't beholden to the whims of the stores!
shelby
To swaddle babies
Anna
In Australia, we call them Bunny Rugs.
Linda Hobman
?? YES, I had no idea what a receiving blanket was. Each time I saw “receiving” I was like ....what? Cheese cloth for summer and flannelete for winter??
Sharon T
Almost all new babies like to be wrapped up nice and firm, or as Shelby says "To swaddle". Plus, you need several a day due to the baby wetting them, so you are always wash, wash, washing them! After you are finished with them, they are great for dolly blankets (if you had a little girl), and when she is through with them, they make great dust rags! You can use almost any favric you can, but best to use cotton, as it is washable & better for babies than plastic.
Angie Lawson
These are SO adorable and they look so soft! I never really liked the store bought blankies for my little ones either! These are great for gifts (I have a niece getting married)! Thanks for sharing!~~♥Angie
20 North Ora
Kristen - I make these all of the time for new babies! Why would anyone buy those little ones when they could make these for next to nothing? Great tutorial!
Judy
Anna @ A Good Home
An excellent idea, Kristen! Love it 🙂 Non-serger owning folks could trim the fabric to the exact size and shape they want and just use a zig-zag or over-casting stitch on a regular sewing machine. Yay! I'm totally making some of these!
Karen Read
Thanks for sharing, I bought the fabric and have been procrastinating. New Grandbaby, Christmas and I still work full-time. This is a fantastic time saver!