Sentimental Baby Blankets

Pile of blankets

     A client came to me looking to do something with the receiving blankets and other blankets that she had saved from her three children.  She was expecting her first grandchild and wanted to somehow use these blankets.

Layout for blanket number one

    We came up with the idea to cut up the receiving blankets and piece them together and then stitch to a waffle weave blanket as the backing.  Because of the thicker edge on the waffle weave blanket it was decided that sewing them right sides together and turning would create too much bulk.  Instead I would turn under the edges of the pieced top and topstitch it in place.

Pieced top pinned in place

     The striped blankets were specific to each child, it was the one they came home from the hospital in.  I made sure not to mix those up.

Detail of the topstitched edge

     I measured each waffle weave blanket and then figured out how big the pieces of receiving blankets needed to be.  Each blanket was a slightly different size.  I cut and pieced the receiving blankets, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance for a little extra strength.

Embroidered name

     I embroidered each child's name onto their corresponding blanket.  I then pinned the pieced blanket unto the backing blanket and trimmed the corners. I top-stitched all around.

Back of the blanket

     
     For a little added stability I stitched in the ditch around the center square.

Finished blanket

     I liked how they turned out.  The client was so pleased when she picked them up.  She said she had some second thoughts after giving me the blankets, worried that her children were going to think she was giving them rags.  She absolutely loved them!