If you’d like to check out her blankets and her step by step how-to, she’s posted everything online

I’m working on my own set of flannel swaddling blankets, although I don’t think I’ll line these.  The 100% cotton flannel is super-soft and cushy – so I don’t think they’ll need an extra layer of insulation.

All I’m planning on doing for these is to trim off the selvages and loose threads and then fold over the edges twice and stitch.  Flannel is notorious for shrinking differently on the selvages, so it’s a must to trim those off – especially for something that’s going to get a lot of washing!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Swaddling Blankets with The Purl Bee

One of the projects I’ve been wanting to make is a reversible blanket with flannelette and minky fleece (super soft fleece, almost like a silky terry cloth).

Unfortunately my camera washed the yellow minky out, but they look quite nice in real life.

I’ve got a few options when it comes to putting this blanket together.

The first, and easiest, is simply to sew the two pieces of fabric together – right sides together.  Leave an opening and turn it right side out.  Prest0 – quick and simple blanket.  Easy, sturdy and no hand-sewing required.

When I make quilts, I use hand-sew a half-inch binding.  I think that might be a little too narrow for a fleece like this.  A one inch binding, maybe using the flannelette, could be a good option.

Traditionally baby blankets are bound with satin.  You can find pre-made satin binding in fabric stores, or you can make your own.  It’s slippery and requires a whole lot of pinning to make it work nicely.

I’ll let you know what I decide…

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Options for Binding Blankets

The blankie HAS to have a bath Linus.

Post from: Blisstree

Linus

I read an article in a parenting magazine saying parents should allow their boys to keep their lovie’s or bankies even up until 8 or 9. I’m going to send his article to my younger brother who’s in his 30s and his 3-year-old daughter is teasing him about his still-present attachment to his blankie.

He is in good company. Every one of my grandmother’s 42 grandchildren and 40-somthing great-grandchildren possess one of these almost-holy fabric hugs. Some, like my brother, wore them out with love and my Grandmother stitched them replacements.

A feminine skill passed from one generation to the next from my great-great ancestors, the women in my family have used quilting as both their artistic expression and a physical manifestation of a love.

I have a crazy patch quilt from my great-grandmother, passed through my grandmother. When my husband uses it to move furniture or dry muddy kids off I feel like my head might explode.

I realize it’s not as common for a woman of my generation to have sat in quilting circles – but I have – and I know the amount of physical labor and time that went into making that patch quilt.

To use that ancient artifact of my feminine birthright for such everyday tasks is an offense.

My son, Zack, has developed a possessive love for his own Choo Choo Bankie hand-quilted by my grandmother. When he drags it around, he reminds me both of the fictional Linus from Charlie Brown specials and my own little brothers when they were small.

His is baby blue satin on one side and I can tell he’s addicted to the soft smooth texture and the coolness of a fresh touch. He’s a baby and he understands his bankie is like a grandmotherly snuggle passed down from his maternal lineage. It makes him feel safe, secure and loved. He’s two, so maybe he only intuitively knows this – but I surely know this.

I’m convinced the tactile recipe for the kind of undying love my brother has to his blankie is satin. My creative contribution to our quilting tradition is to add faux fur (washable, of course). I made several for nieces’ births, as an excuse for my grandmother to teach me all her quilting secrets, with pink satin on one side and animal print faux fur on the other.

I made one for my son’s birth, but my daughter won’t surrender it. The faux fur is a deep chocolate crushed velvet and the satin is black. The tactile experience is divine.

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Blankie = Matriarchal Hug