Receiving blankets

[TEX]

Has anyone really looked at how small the receiving blankets you buy are now. Years ago my grandmother just shook her head at them and went down and bought several yard long pieces of fabric (appropriate for the season) and hemed the sides - instand receiving blanket that is really a nice size. Since her death I have become the family appointed receiving blanket maker. I am expecting a new grand nephew around thanksgiving (nice in a way to know the sex) so after work today I will run and get enough material to make 5 or so nice flannel receiving blankets. I usually buy material on sale off the dollar rack but somehow I have run out. They are the easiest things in the world to make and if you want you can even sew on lace or ribbons or binding. Everyone who has ever had a baby knows that you never have enough receiving blankets in the first few months and that they really are never big enough.

Just thought I would share.

[mtwildflower]

Nope, they aren't big enough at all.

I did the same thing. Just sewed them for my sons and daughters when they were born. Just serged the edges and was done with it. Lots of fabrics to choose from and for about the same price as the itty bitty ones too.

[LJH]

I didn't know what a receiving blanket was until asked to make one as a gift, LOL! Since then I've done several both as gifts and for customers. Flannel is my favorite, but fleece is popular too. I have a quilting business and use a longarm machine, but there's no reason you couldn't do this on a domestic:

Two layers of flannel, wrong sides together, quilt and bind. You could use a thin batting but it's not necessary.

Two layers of fleece, wrong sides together, quilt and run a line of stay-stitching around the edges at your desired depth and fringe. You could use batting, but the fleece is plenty thick by itself. Cutting the fringe takes about the same time as binding, but it's a nifty finish.

One layer of either fleece or flannel or Minkee, one layer of quality cotton. Batt and bind as desired. (I wouldn't fringe anything with Minkee)

Actually, stay-stitching and a cut fringe works with any of the fabrics ('cept Minkee), the flannel and cotton will 'rag up' with washing for a chenille-ish effect.

I pre-wash all natural fabric before using, but that's just me. Some quilters don't. No need with the synthetics.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Whenever I was pregnant, I would get a dozen or so yards of yellow/lavender/ or green flannel to make baby clothes. I preferred yellow, but used others. I would make 6 receiving blankets, blanket kimono type bag sleepers, small hats. I also crocheted a couple heavier blankets and a sweater plus hat and booties. The best part of expecting was making things for the baby. I use to make bassinet covers with lots of lace and ribbons and bumper pads for the crib. It was such fun. Of course you had to cut diapers out of white flannel. In adventuresome moods I would even sew a few them into "prefolded" type diapers with center padding, but usually just used them as flat ones.
We still bought t-shirts and socks, but most of the newborn things you can make yourself. I had a pattern for the "layette" set that I used. It is such fun.