Recently a friend wanted to know how to make the receiving blankets she had seen me create. Her desire was to make some for a niece as there is nothing like this in the stores. Plus, she got to choose the fabric patterns! I decided why not post the steps?

When I was a child I watched my mother make flannel receiving blankets for newborns. She noted that she and my grandmother always pulled a thread in the flannel to make certain it was all straight on the warp.

The warp thread is the lengthwise thread of your fabric. The warp thread (or warp yarn) runs parallel to the selvage of the material; it forms the lengthwise grain. The structure is more robust in this direction, and it will stretch the least. This is the reason why professional sewers cut most items along the warp thread.

https://www.creativefabrica.com/the-artistry/needlework/how-to-make-fabric-thread-perfect/

When I began making receiving blanket I decided pulling that thread was too much effort and aggravation. I purchase the flannel. Bind edges of flannel with zigzag stitch and preshrink by washing and drying at cotton settings.

Here is an easier on the hands method, edges sewn with decorative machine stitch.

Place on cutting board. Most flannel is 44-45” wide. Use the yard stick and chalk to mark the lines for 1 square yard, marking off selvage edges and the zig-zag stitches as you go. Cut out 1 square yard of flannel. {You may save any extra for a “burp towel” or collect scraps to piece together for a two-sided blanket.} Wash and dry it. Press it flat. Cut edges in straight lines. Rarely if ever does a fabric store assistant cut a totally straight edge. {Actually these days I cut it with ruler, cutting pad and ‘pizza cutter” quilters use.}

I also just use the 45 inches wide and 36 inches long for a blanket.

Press under tiny hem with steam iron on all four edges. Roll hem over again so that raw edge is covered and press with steam iron. Trim excess fabric from the corner folds.

The easiest and fastest way to create the edge is to stitch on sewing machine with a decorative stitch. Turning at the corners.

My grandchildren all used these blankets. Some of them chewed on the corners if I crocheted them. What follows are the crochet instructions. (sc is abbreviation for single crochet, sl st is slip stitch)

• To attach Knit-Cro-Sheen or similar weight bedspread cotton in matching or contrasting color to the flannel: Hold the fabric with the wrong side facing you and the hem at the top. Poke the hook through the fabric below the hem, but adjacent to the bottom fold of the hem. (Be certain to leave about a 6 inch length to finish off with.) Yarn over and pull a loop from the right side of the fabric through to the back of the fabric.  Bring the top of the loop to the top of them hem.  Yarn over and pull up both threads, placing the stitch on the top edge of the hem.  Pull taut so that the 6 inch finishing thread is out of your way and the thread has proper tension to continue.  Make 5 chain stitches to lay across the top of the hem. Lay the stitches out to their full length along the top of the hem. This will indicate where to place your next stitch. Place 1 single crochet through the fabric by poking your hook through the fabric, below the hem, yarn over, and pull the loop up  placing this (and each remaining stitch) at the top of the hem. Ch 5, sc, ch 5 around until you reach a corner.

As you approach the corner sc in the corner, ch 3 to the corner, *sc in same hole as previous sc, ch 3, repeat once from the * sc, then ch 5, sc to next corner. Repeat with 3 sc and 2 sets of ch 3 in each corner and sc, ch 5 around the sides.

End with sl st in top of first sc.  Leave a 6 inch length and end off by tying the two thread in a single knot.  Thread one length into a needle.  Hide the ends in opposite directions in the hem.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6 NIC