The Urban Baby Blanket Revisited

I was due for a good crafty project and this fit the bill perfectly. I love making baby blankets! I can't help it. Just strolling through the fabric store, there are so many great prints and textures that would make gorgeous blankets that make a statement. Now, don't get me wrong, I love sweet little prints and polka dots just as much as the next crafty mama ... but I like to do things my own way. This time I found a nice big floral print and paired it with a lightweight denim. I cut flowers from the extra fabric and appliqued the 'stack' to dress up the plain denim. Gorgeous! I love shaking it up a little, don't you?

Baby Blanket Goodness

Ooh .... I love this so much. The baby wale corduroy is just so deliciously soft and the colors are perfect for fall. This one is a bit smaller since I bought all the fabric on the bolt, but it is still plenty big enough for a little bundle of joy to get all kinds of use out of it.

New Fabric Lovelies!

I get to make another baby blanket! Yay! Gift giving is such a fun thing for me. I'm already turning over ideas for Christmas gifties too. I think I'll have a completely new project for everyone this year ... of course, I won't be able to post anything about it until after the holidays. Boo. Oh well. For now, I get to make a lovely baby blanket for a lovely girl. I love the fabrics too; a super baby-soft fine wale corduroy print and a great coordinating cotton print for the other side. The colors are deep and rich, perfect for a fall 'arrival'. This blanket is going to be a bit smaller than usual, since I bought all the fabric on the corduroy bolt. I'll post a better how-to this time with pictures for each super simple step. Keep an eye out in the next few days for it.

The Urban Baby Blanket

Today was a big project day around the house. The big one for me was to make 2 baby blankets for my nieces. I've found that that practical blankets get the most miles, so I've reinvented the blankets my great-grandma gave to me. I make mine 45" square, which is a lot for a wee bundle, but believe me you'll keep this size for years.

Here's a quick how-to:

Just find two coordinating, fabulous cotton woven fabrics that match the style of the recipient. Get creative. My favorites are corduroy or denim for the back paired up with a softer flannel or madras plaid. The options are endless, but don't just shop for baby prints. Wash up the fabrics to pre-shrink and remove any sizing. Iron them flat and smooth. Measure them out square and trim any excess. Sew them right sides together with 1/2" seam allowance leaving a 4-5" opening.

Trim the corners. Turn blanket right-side out. Press around the edges to get a nice sharp look and turn the edges under at the opening to match the seam. Stitch this closed as close to the edge as possible. Now stitch a square about 4" in from the edge to help hold the fabrics together.
Tada! Today's Urban Baby Blankets!