Once upon a time there was a beautiful baby with golden curls. Admirers came from far and wide with gifts of soft, cozy blankets; each visitor trying to out-do the one who came before. The beautiful baby smiled and laughed and shook her golden curls. She loved all the blankets, declaring each one to be, 'Just Right!' We offer you the Goldilocks of receiving blanket options: Easy Baby Bear Decorative Stitch Blanket, Harder Mama Bear Ric Rac Blanket, and Hardest Papa Bear Bound Edge Blanket. You'll find instructions for all three blankets below. They are broken up by project, so you'll know exactly what you need to make just one ... or all three!

Baby Bear Decorative Stitch Blanket

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing machine (we recommend the Janome Magnolia 7318)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 1 yard of 45" wide fabric for front of blanket: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Kiwi Flora
• 1 yard of 45" wide fabric for back of blanket: we used an ordinary dark pink flannel
• All purpose thread in color to match fabric
• Decorative thread in contrasting color to fabric
• See-through ruler
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Iron and ironing board
• Fabric pencil
• Straight pins

Getting Started

1. Cut the fabrics for the front and back of the blanket into 36" x 36" squares.

At Your Sewing Machine

1. Pin the 36" x 36" squares, right sides together, leaving a 12" - 24" opening along one edge.
   
2. Sew together, using a ½" seam allowance. Leave the 12" x 24" opening unsewn for turning.
   
3. Turn blanket right sides out.
4. Fold in the unsewn opening of the blanket ½" and press in place. Pin opening to secure.
   
5. Edgestitch around all four sides. Remember to pivot at each corner. Press.
6. Select a decorative stitch on your machine, and thread the machine with contrasting thread.
   
7. Stitch around all edges of the blanket with a decorative stitch. Take special care to make sure the layers don't shift as you sew – you may choose to pin the layers in place along the edge to avoid this. For more about decorative stitching, read our tutorial: Decorative Stitches: Sewing Outside The Lines.
   

Mama Bear Ric Rac Blanket

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (We recommend the Janome AQS2009)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 1 yard of 45" wide fabric for front of blanket: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Paprika Mod Dot
• 1 yard of 45" wide fabric for back of blanket: we used White Minky Dot
• 4 yards ric rac in complementary or contrasting color to blanket fabrics: we used a jumbo dark pink ric rac
• All purpose polyester thread in color to match fabric
• Stretch sewing needle, size 90/14
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight pins

For this project, we are specifying Minky Dot fabric. Minky has a unique nap that makes it incredibly soft. Because of this, it helps to follow a few special instructions when using it. First, we've recommended polyester thread as well as a stretch needle to deal with the special characteristics of this fabric (it can be a bit slippery and stretchy). Also, be very careful when pressing. You don't want to press the Minky much, if at all; it will flatten the nap as well as the raised dots in the fabric.

One of our favorite online sources for all kinds of Minky is Minky Delight.

Getting Started

1. Cut the fabrics for the front and back of blanket into 36" x 36" squares.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

1. Starting in the middle of one side, begin pinning the ric rac to the right side of the fabric for the front of the blanket. Position the ric rac so the upper curves extend above the edge of the fabric, and the center of the ric rac is positioned about ½" inside the edge of the fabric.
2. At the corners of the fabric, pin the ric rac so a curve is positioned across the corner of the fabric. You'll need to tuck and pin the ric rac a tiny bit to make a smooth turn.
   
3. When you get back around to your starting point pin the ends of the ric rac in place so the raw edges extend down toward the edge of the fabric. This way they will be hiddin in the seam when you sew the back of the blanket in place.
   
4. Stitch the ric rac in place on the front of the blanket. Your seam should run along the center of the ric rac, ½" from the edge of the fabric.
   
5. Pin the back fabric to your completed front, right sides together, leaving a 12" - 24" opening along one edge.
6. Sew together, using a ½" seam allowance. Leave the 12" x 24" opening unsewn for turning. NOTE: Be especially careful, use extra pins to hold the pieces together, and stitch on the fabric for the front of the blanket, right along the same stitching line you just created when you attached the ric rac. Go slowly and maintain your ½" seam so the ric rac will extend from the blanket evenly.
7. Turn the blanket right side out.
8. Fold in the unsewn opening of the blanket ½" so the ric rac is exposed evenly. Gently press this edge in place, being careful not to iron much on the Minky fabric. Pin in place.
   
9. Starting in the middle of the unsewn side, topstitch around the entire perimeter of the blanket, placing the stitch about ¼" from the edge.
   

Papa Bear Bound Edge Blanket

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome 3128)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 1 yard of 45" wide fabric for front of blanket: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Earth Mod Blooms
• 1 yard of 45" fabric for back of blanket: we used Kiwi Minky Dot
• ¼ yard of fabric for binding: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Kiwi Tiny Dots
• All purpose polyester thread
• Stretch needle size 90/14
• See-through ruler
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Iron and ironing board
• Fabric pencil
• Straight pins

As we did above for the Mama Bear Blanket, for this project, we are specifying Minky Dot fabric. Minky has a unique nap that makes it incredibly soft. Because of this, it helps to follow a few special instructions when using it. First, we've recommended polyester thread as well as a stretch needle to deal with the special characteristics of this fabric (it can be a bit slippery and stretchy). Also, be very careful when pressing. You don't want to press the Minky much, if at all; it will flatten the nap as well as the raised dots in the fabric.

One of our favorite online sources for all kinds of Minky is Minky Delight.

Getting Started

1. First, you'll need to make your bias binding strips from the fabric you've chosen for the binding (Kiwi Tiny Dots in our sample ). If you haven't done this before, you'll find all the steps you need for making and applying bias binding in our tutorial, Bias Tape: How to Make it and Attach It. You will need to create 150" of bias binding. You could save time and use pre-packaged bias tape; it will simply limit your fabric accent options. If you choose the pre-packaged route, purchase 4¼ yards of 7/8" double fold bias tape (sometimes called Quilt Binding) or satin blanket binding.
2. Cut the fabrics for the front and back of the blanket into 36" x 36" squares.

At Your Sewing Machine

1. With WRONG sides together and right sides facing out, line up the 36" x 36" squares of your front and back fabrics and pin along all sides.
2. Sew front and back together, using a ¼" seam allowance, around all four sides.

Binding with Real Mitered Corners

1. Starting in the middle of one side, attach your binding, mitering all four corners and making a simple folded edge finish where your ends meet. As we mentioned above, if you are new to attaching bias tape and making mitered corners, link to our tutorial, Bias Tape: How to Make it and Attach It.
   

Binding with Faux Mitered Corners

If you don't want to make a true mitered corner with your binding, and I'll admit it is a bit challenging, you can use a simpler folding technique. My only caution is to pin and press liberally and be VERY careful with your stitching. This is because, unlike the real mitering technique, you do not stitch down the binding in two steps; you simply slip the binding over your raw edge and stitch both the sides in one step. People do it all the time, and you can do it too, just go slowly and carefully.

1. Starting in the middle of one side of the blanket, unfold your bias tape and slip it over the the raw, edgestitched seam. Work from the side you consider to be the front of your blanket. Be very careful that your middle fold is right on the blanket's edge and your binding is even on both sides. Pin from starting point to first corner.
   
2. Bring your blanket to your machine and starting in the middle (where you started pinning), stitch binding to blanket, staying as close to the edge of the binding as you can.
   
3. Sew to the corner and stop. Back-tack to lock your seam.
4. Remove your blanket from under the needle and clip your threads, but do not cut your binding.
   
5. Fold a pleat in the corner to make a 45˚ angle. Pin. Encase the new side's raw edge with the binding to the next corner. Pin and press.
   
6. Return to your machine, and matching your first line of stitching, edgestitch around the corner and down the side to the next corner. Stop at the corner and back-tack. Note: By 'around the corner' I mean you should drop your needle in at the end of your original line of stitching, stitch into the corner, pivot, and then stitch down the new edge. This way, your line of stitching around each corner will appear uninterrupted.
   
7. Repeat these same steps at each corner.
8. When you return to your starting point, tuck under the raw edge of the binding, match bottom edges and match our stitching line to finish.
   
9. Press, being careful to avoid the minky fabric when ironing the bias strip.
10. If you want super flat and secure corners and end, you can hand stitch, using a slip stitch, the corner folds and the fold where the binding ends.

Other machines suitable for this project include the Elna 3230 or the Pfaff Select 4.0.

Comments (19)

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... @ Marie Towells - I'm sorry - but I'm afraid I'm not understanding your question. Which blanket and/or which photo are you looking at that is causing the confusion? Thanks.

January 29, 2012

Marie Towells said:

... I can't figure out how you have a printed edge on the inside of the blanket when you cut 36" square for the top and bottom? Am I missing something?

January 29, 2012

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... @ Heidirsmith - We use Illustrator and PhotoShop.

September 28, 2011

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it said:

... What program do you use for your illustrations? They are amazing! Thank you!

September 28, 2011

Susie Matthysen said:

... I love your blankies. I embroider mine and use a similar way of finishing it off. They sell really well at my Lifestyle Stall, here in Durban, RSA. Thank you for the lovely and clear tutorials.

August 21, 2011

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... @ Teresa H - thanks for such a nice compliment! They do say writing instructions is one of the hardest things to do . When we don't think a photo can quite capture a step correctly and/or we've forgotten a photo or want to add another after a sample's finished, we often turn to diagrams and illustrations. The hands are simply drawn within a standard computer program, nothing special - other than the ability to draw . Thanks again... and keep on sewing!

July 29, 2011

Teresa H said:

... I have been sewing my whole life, yet your projects are fresh and beautiful and new. You are quite good at writing tutorials that are clear and photographed so well. Engineering a project step by step cannot be easy. As I read this tute, and got to the image of the ric-rack, I couldn't imagine how you made that image, and then I got to the image of the hands and had to laugh....how the heck did you do that?? I never saw anyone else do hands in their images,...did you write that program? I am impressed and would love to know. You are my homepage when I boot up because I have made so many things you have created. Thanks so much for your inspiration!

July 28, 2011

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... ... @ Charlene -- extra pinning will help, but remember to remove them as you go. What might also be helpful is a walking foot. This is a specialty presser foot that keeps layers moving at the same rate across the machine's feed dogs. Many models come with this foot standard. If not, check with your local dealer to purchase it separately. It is a great foot that can be used in many, many applications where you are sewing slippery, thick or different types of fabrics. I use mine all the time.

July 24, 2011

Charlene Packard said:

... Liz, Just found your web site and it looks most helpful. In searching, however, I couldn't find a tip on how to keep satin blanket binding on a soft fabric (baby blanket)from bunching up. As I sew, I keep having to make tucks in the binding. I did pin the binding on but it is still getting away from me. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

July 22, 2011

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... @ Daniela K -- We are so happy to have helped with your first project ! Congrats

July 18, 2011

Daniela K said:

... Hey, thanks for this tutorial! I made the Papa Bear blanket as my very first sewing project ever and it looks pretty cute! It has light green minky dot on one side, with a pear and apple cotton print fabric on the other side, and a pink satin blanket binding. The satin ribbon was the hardest to deal with & it's not perfectly straight stitching, but I'm okay with that.

July 17, 2011

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... @WFish -- so glad you are going to make one of our blankies! Because you are working with just two fairly thin layers and since the blanket is bound on all sides, quilting stitches are not mandatory across the main blanket panels. However, if you've chosen thicker fabrics or just want it to be doubly secure, quilt away! That is really a quick step at the very end so you won't be expending much extra time at all.

June 24, 2011

WFish said:

... Just found your website the other day and I am officially obsessed!! It is fabulous! I am about to start on my first project (the Mamma Bear Blanket)...does the blanket hold together well? I'm concerned that the top and the bottom fabrics will separate in the middle. I thought about sewing a few straight lines in a tic-tac-toe pattern across the blanket but I don't want to waste time sewing extras if I don't need to.

June 21, 2011

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi Molly P -- these three blankets are just that -- blankets. They're designed to be a simple double-layer, lightweight covering. Because of that, the binding around the edge is enough to hold the layers together through washing (BTW -- make SURE you pre-wash your fabrics before you start). The ruffled edge project you mention is called a blanket, but is really a simple quilt. We added a layer of batting for warmth and so quilted the layers together with simple parallel lines of stitching across the entire piece. You certainly could add a layer of batting to these little blankets above, but you would need to quilt the layers together so there isn't too much shifting during the wash. Also, the additional layer of batting will make the edges a bit thicker, which will make the binding step just a tiny bit harder. Have fun.

December 26, 2010

Molly P said:

... I'm getting ready to make the papa bear blanket. I have purchased the fabric. I got a minky dot for one side and a cotton fabric for the other side. I was looking around the website and found another baby quilt called the pretty bird ruffle edge quilt. That pattern calls for quilt batting. The blankets on this page did not. Would that be something you would recommend me adding to the papa bear blanket or do you think it will be fine the way it is? Will the blanket holp up long with all the washing if it does not have the batting added? I have 2 kids now still in cribs and I have to wash their bedding multiple times a week. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

December 26, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi mrsmeek -- your pix was great -- I had to delete the post because the size of it was causing the instructions above to shift off the page. It's a weird thing about the software. We are working on getting a Flikr group up and running so folks can better share their images. Thanks so much.

December 04, 2010

mrsmeek said:

... Baby blanket complete (Papa Bear style). Next up, crib bumpers! Thanks for the tutorials!!

December 04, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi Christina -- I'm not sure what fabric you chose for your baby bear blanket, so it's a little hard to trouble shoot from afar. Did you pre-wash your fabric? That is always recommended, especially for items like blankets that will end up being washed over and over. Pre-washing helps take care of some of the raveling. If a fabric is super-prone to raveling, such as a flannel, it's also a good idea to finish the raw edges of your seams to help with that. Try those two things on your next project. I've posted two links below to our tutorials on pre-washing and machine sewn seam finishes. The third link is to our tutorial for really cute burp cloths, which might be a good option to follow for your "lovie" -- I hope this helps and you have great success going forward! http://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/332-finishing-raw-seams-sewing-machine-or-serger http://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/272-preshrink-fabric-before-sewing http://sew4home.com/projects/bath-linens/627-baby-gifts-pretty-bird-burp-cloth-trio

September 19, 2010

Christina said:

... I made the baby bear blanket, but i did not do the decorative stitch (my machine doesn't have that option). When I washed it the edges frayed on the inside of the blanket and made it look funny. I am about to try the Mama bear blanket for a friend, but am worried the same thing will happen. How do I prevent that? Also I am going to try to make a matching Lovie....any recommendations for the size and trim?

September 19, 2010

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