I think sewing can seem very daunting and complex, which puts a lot of people off. There’s also that sense that unless you are an expert you can’t make anything of worth.
Today, I want to show you a really simple sewing project for those of us who have only recently begun sewing and yet you will end up with something really lovely and very professional looking. If you’re anything like me, everyone around you is popping out a baby at the moment (although, we’re popping out a puppy instead!) so I wanted to make something that could be a gift for a new baby. This baby blanket requires no complicated techniques and does not take more than a couple of hours.
You will need:
– Two pieces of cotton 110cm x 140cm (or change dimensions to suit – I made one a lot smaller for a friend’s child to use for their dollies and teddies). I have used Liberty’s Dorothy and Woolf prints from the Bloomsbury Collection.
– Wadding 110cm x 140cm
– Pattern paper
– Pins/fabric scissors/sewing machine/matching thread for top-stitching
Tutorial:
1. Make a template with your pattern paper 110cm x 140cm. Use this to cut out two pieces of fabric and one piece of wadding, all the same size.
2. Pin the fabric and wadding together: The fabric should be on top, right sides together, and the wadding at the bottom.
3. Sew the three pieces together leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance. Begin sewing in the middle of one side of the blanket and leave a 20cm hole so the blanket can be turned inside out.
4. When you have sewn all four sides, and left a 20cm hole, go round the sides of the blanket and cut off the seam allowance.
5. Cut off the corners too so that when you turn it inside out you can get crisp corners.
6. Turn the blanket inside out and then hand-stitch the 20cm hole using a slip-stitch.
7. Choose a thread for top-stitching that either matches or contrasts with the fabric you have chosen.
8. Choose a decorative stitch on your machine and top-stitch round the blanket. I chose to use this cross stitch on the top and bottom of the blanket.
9. I then did a straight stitch along the sides of the blanket.
Finished!
This one went to Isa.
This is another blanket that I made using Liberty’s Betsy and Phoebe prints. This one went to baby Mimi.
Thorpe and Phoebe prints. This one went to brand new baby Emilia.
If you try this tutorial I’d love to hear from you – please email me a pic to katy@18.200.196.112.
The top stitch gives it such a lovely finish! With projects like this, I sometimes cheat and use fabric glue to close the gap hehe!
Now that is a good idea that I will be stealing!
And Isa LOVES it. Is snuggled up with it right now…asleep.
I can’t wait to make mine with you!
This tutorial looks great but the pictures don’t seem to be working anymore – is it possible to restore them?
Author
Hi there! I’m really sorry about this – I will see what i can do! x