DIY Baby Receiving Blanket

I started sewing during my first pregnancy and quickly fell in love with making baby blankets! I bought a pack of receiving blankets for my baby at Walmart, but I wanted to make my own so I could choose the fabric I wanted. I came up with this receiving blanket pattern on my own so that I could do just that. And now you can too!

What You’ll Need

• Fabric
• Thread
• Serger/Sewing Machine
• Cutting Tools
• Round object

FABRIC
You will need 1 yard of flannel fabric. I have gotten fabric at Jo Ann’s, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and online. I find flannel works best for these receiving blankets because it's softer and you only need 1 layer. 

THREAD
Colored thread that matches your fabric. This is for sewing around the edges.

SERGER/SEWING MACHINE
The preferred method to use for the edges is a serger, but if you don’t have one, you can use a sewing machine with a specialty stitch.

CUTTING TOOLS
You’ll need all your preferred items for cutting fabric.

1) A cutting board or table

2) Scissors or a rotary cutter

3) Measuring tools such as a measuring mat, ruler, etc.

4) A fabric pen or pencil to mark the fabric if you use one

ROUND OBJECT
Lastly, you’ll need a round object to get the corners cut. I used a cereal bowl, but you can use whatever you’d like. Any round object that you have on hand that’s the size you would like to use will work.

Let’s Get Started

STEP #1 
First things first, you will need to prep the fabric for sewing. This means washing, drying, and ironing your fabric. I always wash and dry my fabric prior to sewing because some fabrics (specifically cotton) shrink a little bit, and it’s better to have it pre-shrunk so that it doesn’t get messed up later on. This is also good so that if the fabric bleeds at all during the washing process, it is done before you wash it with other items.

Once the wash and dry portions are completed, then you will iron all the fabric. Ironing it helps to get the wrinkles out and flatten the fabric out for proper measurements when cutting. 

STEP #2
Cut the flannel fabric to a 28 in x 28 in square. Use your own preferred cutting tools to get it cut down. I based my receiving blanket size on some that I bought at Walmart; however, you can always make it bigger if you wish to. 

STEP #3
Place a round object like a plate or bowl on the corners of the fabric to cut rounded corners. I used a cereal bowl upside down and traced it with a fabric marker. When you have it marked, cut along the marking to make the corners rounded. 

STEP #4
With the fabric cut and ready, all that’s left to do is sew along the edges. Using a serger around all edges is the preferred method. However, if you don’t have a serger, you can use a regular sewing machine with a specialty stitch. With only a sewing machine, this is the option I used.

I played around with different stitches on my sewing machine until I came across one I thought could mimic a serger. The main objective here is to keep the fabric from fraying and unraveling on the ends. Using the stitch that I chose, the receiving blankets I made have held up being washed and used.

If your goal is to make blankets to sell, then I’d invest in a serger to have a more professional look. But if you’re wanting to just make a simple blanket for yourself or family, this stitch I used will work just as well and save you from having to go out and buy a serger.

Option #2:
If you don’t have a serger and don’t want to use just a regular stitch around the edges, you can always keep the edges squared and hem it to sew instead. To do this, you would fold the fabric under twice and sew that down. That way the fabric is folded under so it won’t fray or unravel, and you don’t have to mimic a serger. If you choose to go this route, you will probably want to cut a bigger piece of fabric than just 28 in x 28 in, because you will be taking up more fabric by folding it under to sew. 

And there you go! You can now make your very own receiving blankets for your little ones using your favorite fabrics. Happy creating!