Does anyone else find it hard making gifts for non-hand-making people? I'm always worried that in my private, fabric obsessed little world, I've fallen in love with colour combinations or prints that no one in the real world would actually like.
Hopefully that isn't the case here, though. My friend seemed suitably touched with this blanket for her gorgeous baby boy, anyway.
Instead of making a teeny weeny baby blanket, I opted for a slightly larger (I think it was about 40" x 50" in the end) cot blanket, so hopefully will be useful when the little chap is a bit bigger and in a proper sized cot. Particularly important in this instance as the little chap in question is already about six weeks old (manic wedding preparations getting in the way of a more timely gift) and probably almost out of his moses basket already.
I absolutly love making baby blankets like this instead of basting and quilting them - I find the idea of labouring over the basting, quilting and binding of a very small quilt a bit counter-intuitive, as they'll most likely only be used for a year or two, tops. I piece the top, then place the vintage blanket I use as batting and backing fabric together, put the whole sandwich together right sides together, sew with a 1/2" seam (leaving a gap to turn through), turn and ladder stitch the opening closed, then top stitch 1/4" from the edge all the way round. They don't take too long, and are extremely pleasing when finished.
It wouldn't work with a much bigger quilt, but it's more than adequate for these simple little baby blankets. This is actually the second one I've made (apparently 2.5-3 years is a Good Age Gap, as all of my toddler group friends are either expecting or enjoying their second babies), but I don't think I ever blogged the last one.
The cars print is (I think) a Japanese one I found at my LQS a while back, and the solids are organics from Bishopston Trading, Kona solids and I think an essex linen by Robert Kaufman. All from the stash though, which was pleasing.
