How to Make a Receiving Blanket

As any mom with a newborn baby can tell you, you can never have enough clean, receiving blankets. This pattern is simple to make and is much cheaper than purchasing new ones all the time. Plus, you can add special touches just for your bundle of joy. You can use leftover fabric to make a small, matching burp cloth as well. Follow the same general directions for it. Read on to learn how to make a receiving blanket.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 yard of flannel print
• 1 yard of flannel solid
• Scissors
• Cardboard
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Needle
• Ironing board
• Iron

1. Purchase 2 yards of contrasting flannel fabric. Pre-wash it in cold water, and let it air dry.

2. Cut both pieces of flannel to the desired size. If you cut it 27 inches by 30 inches, you can make a matching burp cloth.

3. Create a template from a piece of cardboard. Lay it on the fabric, and draw the rounded corner. Cut corners off. Or, you can leave the corners square.

4. Sew any decorative items on the outside piece of flannel at this time. This may be an appliquéd item, the baby's name in embroidery or whatever you like. Or, you can skip this step.

5. Place the pieces of flannel together with the right sides facing. Start sewing on one side. Continue all the way around the receiving blanket until you get to within six inches of the beginning.

6. Turn the receiving blanket right side out. Press the edges out to the seam. Stitch the opening closed with a needle and thread.

7. Stitch a seam 1/2-inch from the outside edge of the receiving blanket. This can be straight stitch, or you can use a decorative stitch in a contrasting color of thread.