How to Make an Easy Sew Flannel Baby Blanket
Any mother will tell you that babies go through a lot of blankets. Whether you are needing a baby gift or are setting up your own layette, here’s how to make an easy sew flannel baby blanket.
Flannel blankets have been around for ages and are handy. You can swaddle the baby with them, they make a great, light blanket for warm days or naps. They are great in the car and in the stroller as well. Flannel fabric is economical and comes in a ton of different colours and patterns to suit any needs. They can also be thrown into the laundry and come out great every time.
This easy-sew flannel baby blanket could not be any easier. It is literally a piece of flannel fabric, finished on all 4 sides.
Supplies to Make an Easy Sew Flannel Baby Blanket
- flannel fabric – 1 metre or 1 yard makes a good sized baby blanket and allows for shrinkage
- sewing machine
- sewing notions – thread, scissors, etc
- iron
Most fabric stores carry flannel fabric. As flannel is 100% cotton, be sure to pre-wash your fabric. You don’t want any shrinkage surprises after you’ve made your baby blanket.
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Ensure that your fabric was cut straight. The easiest way to know is to snip the finished/selvage edge and rip your fabric. This will always create a straight line. Keep in mind that depending on your print/pattern, the print/pattern may not be printed on the fabric straight. For this reason, I tend to shy away from plaids and stripes. Random patterns always look good.
Here are a few ways in which you can finish the edges on your easy sew flannel baby blanket. It all depends on the type of machine you have.
How to Finish with a Sewing Machine
Using an iron, fold and press 1/4 inch seam allowance. Fold over a second time, the same amount so that those raw edges are hidden. I like to do the 2 cut sides first.
Sew that double fold down. As mentioned, I like to do the 2 cut sides first.
Now for the selvage side, you could iron it the same way with 2, 1/4 inch folds. However, since it is a finished edge, you could just fold it over once. Sometimes I like to do it only once because it cuts down on the bulk since it is less thick.
Now sew those other 2 sides. Then you are done. This creates a nice, clean edge.
How to Finish with a Serger and a Sewing Machine
Another way of finishing this baby blanket is to finish all the edges with your serger. This will keep it from fraying which flannel is known to do.
After you have finished all 4 edges, fold and press 1/4 inch hem. Then with your sewing machine, sew all 4 edges. This one varies in that you only need to fold and press once.
How to Finish with a Serger Only
My serger has an option to do a rolled hem. While this is not a typically finished edge for flannel fabric, it does create a nice, clean edge.
How to Finish with a Cover Stitch Machine
Similar to the above, you could also fold over 1/4 inch and press and then finish with a cover stitch machine.
The cover stitch machine will cover up the raw edges, preventing them from fraying, as well as doing a nice topstitch.
With my Baby Lock Cover Stitch machine, I did a 2 thread, narrow cover stitch. There are 2 rows of stitching on top and the underside looks like it is serged. This makes a neat, very professional-looking finish. I love that it is all in one.
I sewed it in the exact same order – the 2 cut sides first and then the 2 selvage sides.
This is a great beginner project with a cover stitch machine. In fact, this is the very first project I did when I got my cover stitch machine.
It’s just so easy to finish things with a cover stitch machine. This was my preferred way of finishing this easy sew flannel blanket.
See how fast it was to make this easy sew flannel baby blanket? Why not buy a few different patterns and sew up a few? I made these for my boys before they were born. I had one in the hospital with them.
An easy sew flannel baby blanket makes a nice addition to a gift basket. A set of 3 makes a great baby gift. These blankets are really handy and any mother would appreciate them.
