Need a baby gift? Make one!

Do you need a gift for a baby? Or are you looking for a snuggly blanket for yourself? Below are instructions for making a flannel blanket. What I love so much about this blanket is that the binding creates itself! This is a game-changer! Over the years, I have made many, many flannel blankets; several for babies but I have made them in lots of different sizes. The blanket in this post has a patchwork bottom. The reason for this is that I used material on hand. The patchwork was going to be the top piece but I ended up cutting the bottom piece the wrong size – drat – so I cut more squares to increase the size of the patchwork and it became the bottom piece. If you are making your blanket with two solid pieces of fabric, skip the section about the patchwork. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the blanket sews together.

If you want to use fleece fabric instead of flannel, check out this post. It has another way to make the self-binding.

Table Of Contents

Supplies Needed
Past blankets
You Tube Video
Cutting the fabric
Sewing the patchwork*
Pinning the top to the bottom
Sewing the top to the bottom
Creating the corners
Turning the blanket
Pressing with an iron
Topstitch
Finished blanket
Instructions for blanket
Let me know what you think
If you need supplies
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Supplies Needed

Flannel material
- 1 1/2 yds for backing
  - 40″ x 40″
- 1 yd for top
  - 30″ x 30″
Cutting mat (*optional)
Cutting ruler
Rotary cutter
Thread
Scissors
Sewing pins
Sewing machine

Past blankets

The pictures below are my great nephew & his twin sisters with their first flannel blankets.

You Tube Video

Cutting the fabric

The back of the blanket will be 40″ x 40″ and the top is 30″ x 30″. If you are buying fabric, a yard is enough for the top piece and a yard and a half will work for the bottom.

Sewing the patchwork*

(*You can skip this step if you have two solid pieces of flannel) Since I was using fabric that I had on hand, I made a patchwork piece. I didn’t figure out the exact dimensions before cutting out my squares (typical of me) but you can figure out exactly what size to cut them to end up with 30″ x 30″ for a top piece. Since I made a mistake in cutting the back piece wrong, I decided to use the patchwork for the backing. I don’t suggest doing this. If you are using left over fabric and making patchwork, it works best as the top piece. You can use a pattern to cut your squares. A piece of cardboard works well; just cut it to the dimensions you need. Or, you can use a cutting ruler and rotary blade, like I did, to cut the squares. Once all the squares are cut, arrange them in a pattern that you like. Pin together each row and stitch the squares to each other. I do one row at a time, lay it back down, and start the next row. Doing this helps keep the pattern intact. When all the rows have been sewn, sew the rows together.

Pinning the top to the bottom

To make the blanket, you will be sewing the top piece to the bottom piece. The first step is to place a pin in the center of each side of both pieces of fabric. Fold fabric in half and place a pin at the fold near the edge of the fabric. After the pins are in place, lay the top piece on the bottom piece, rights sides together. Pin the top to the bottom where the center pins are then continue pinning along each side from the center pin to the edge of the top piece. Your last pin on each end will be 1/4″ from the end of the fabric. (Apologies for the blurry pics. These are snapshots from the video)

Sewing the top to the bottom

Beginning 1/4″ from the end of one of the sides, using a 1/4″ seam, stitch the top piece to the bottom. Continue that process on 3 of the 4 sides. On the 4th side, leave an opening of approximately 4″ in the stitching so you have room to turn the blanket right side out.

When your pieces are sewn together, they will look like this. You can see the opening at the bottom of the picture.

Creating the corners

Now it’s time to create the corners. To create each corner, you’ll fold each side so that the edges touch each other – see pictures:

When you have aligned the first corner by folding one side of the top piece to the other, lay the blanket down with the fold away from you. Using a cutting ruler, you’ll find your 90-degree angle to create the corner. Lay the ruler along the fold line and the straight edge perpendicular to where your stitching stops. Mark a line from stitching to edge using a pencil, sewing pencil, or sewing chalk. Pin along the line. When all 4 corners are pinned, sew along the line.

After all 4 corners have been sewn, your blanket will look like this. The next step is to trim the excess fabric from each corner leaving 1/4″ space from the seams.

Turning the blanket

Reach inside the opening to turn the blanket right side out. As you are turning the blanket, press your index finger into each of the corners to help press them into a nice point.

Pressing with an iron

The next step is to iron the corners and binding so they lie flat. Pin the opening closed during this step.

Topstitch

The last step is to topstitch around the binding, closing the opening as you do so. You will want to use a zig-zag stitch for this step so you can catch both the binding and the top at the same time. If your sewing machine has decorative stitches, using one of those will also work well.

Finished blanket

Instructions for blanket

Cut one piece of fabric 40″ x 40″, this will be the back
Cut one piece of fabric 30″ x 30″, this will be the top
Fold fabric & place a pin in the middle of the fold
- Do this step with each of the 4 sides on both pieces of fabric
Lay the two pieces of fabric right sides together with the smaller piece on top
Pin the pieces together at the centers where you placed the pins
Pin from center pin to ¼” from the end on all 4 sides
Using ¼” seam, stitch from end pin to end pin on 3 sides
On the 4th side, stitch from end pin to end pin but leave a 4″ opening in the stitching
Remove all pins
To make corners:
- Fold corners out straight
- Place sides together, lining up the edges of the 2 sides of the smaller fabric
- Find your 90-degree angle using a straight edge/ruler
  - Line up the edge of the straight edge/ruler from the stitching to the outer edge of the fold
- Using a pencil, fabric pencil, or fabric chalk, mark along the straight edge line
- Stitch along the pencil line on all 4 corners
- Trim off the excess fabric from each corner
Turn blanket right side out by reaching inside the opening in the stitching
While turning right side out, push your finger into the corners to create a sharp point
Using an iron, press the binding & the corners
Pin the opening closed to hold it in place
Topstitch around the edge of the binding using a zig-zag or other decorative stitch, closing the opening at the same time

Let me know what you think

This sounds like a long process, but it truly isn’t. If you make one, please comment and share your handiwork! The finished size of this Lovey is 9″ x 12″ – a perfect size to be carried and snuggled!

If you need supplies

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to order through these links, it will be at no extra cost to you

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