Play ‘n Snuggle Mini Blanket Tutorial

Hi! Sherri from Thread Riding Hood, back again this month with another baby-related tutorial, this time using Sew Sisters' Cuddle from Shannon Fabrics. Seriously, this stuff is SO SOFT! Not being an avid quilter or blanket-maker, I admit, I haven't worked with Cuddle a lot. Whenever I pick some up it makes me think it should be a more regular thing. I'd love a blanket big enough for me - and Sew Sisters stocks a ton of colours. (Check out my September Double-Gauze tutorial - a baby swaddle blanket with a hood. It comes in a matching doll size too!) I think the Play 'n Snuggle Mini Blanket would make a great baby gift and I hope you like it too! This mini blanket reminds me of when my kids were little and I incorporated all of their favorite baby things into the design. A corner with ribbons for playing, a knot in one corner for teething and a looped cord - to attach a soother or toy. It's the perfect size to hug and not too big to bring out on trips. Bonus, it keeps that soother attached and not on the floor!

The Play 'n Snuggle finished size is about 20" x 22". Since Cuddle is extra-wide, this project only requires a 20" cut (just over 1/2 metre) of Cuddle. If you'd like to make it with a contrasting colour on the back, you will need two 20" cuts. With that much Cuddle, you will have enough to make two mini blankets. They sew up quickly, you can cut and finish one in less than an afternoon!

With tips on how to sew Cuddle and simple sewing supplies, this project is easy enough for beginners! Here we go...

Materials:

• Two pieces of Cuddle by Shannon Fabrics, cut to 20" x 22" each (I used Cuddle Dimple - Dark Lime and Cuddle Solids - Turquoise)
• 10 pieces of ribbon cut to 5" long each (see safety note below)
• one 10" piece of twill tape for soother/toy cord (see safety note below)
• Fray Check
• Water Soluble Fabric Marker or other fabric marking tool
• Ruler or measuring tape
• matching thread (suitable for top stitching that will show on both sides of the blanket)
• sewing machine
• scissors, pins & your usual sewing notions
• optional: walking foot (See note below)
• Play 'n Snuggle Mini Blanket Corner Template - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the FREE TEMPLATE

Safety First! When sewing for babies there are a few things to remember, long ribbons or cords can be dangerous. Short ones, like in this toy, are rarely a problem. That said, you still don't want your child (or someone else's!) swallowing them. I recommend the following:

• Ribbons should be double stitched to secure well, as indicated in this tutorial.
• Ribbon and twill tape ends should be treated with a fray-deterant such as Fray Check. Synthetic ribbons can be melted carefully over a lit candle.
• Ribbons should be solid colours or have a woven pattern. Screen printing will come off easily when babies mouth the toy.

Optional Walking Foot:

• A walking (or even) foot is a great sewing machine add-on that is highly recommended when sewing Cuddle fabrics. If you have one, please go ahead and use it for this project.
• However, I made a point of sewing this blanket entirely without a walking foot on my Janome Skyline S5. I wanted to make sure it could be done and it was not hard at all! You'll just need to add a few more pins and have a little more patience.

More resources for sewing Cuddle:

• Shannon fabrics has compiled a great resource for Cuddle tips and tricks.

Prep:

• Print the Template: Download the Corner Template using the link in the Materials listing. Print out the pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Do not select “fit to page” when printing, make sure you print at the original size. Once you have printed the page, measure the 1″ test square to ensure the pattern is the correct size. Cut out the template on the outer gray line
• Prepare the Ribbon/Twill Tape: Use Fray Check or another fray deterrent method to seal all raw ends of ribbon and twill tape.

Cutting:

• Cut two pieces of Cuddle 20" x 22" each. Place them on your cutting table, right sides together (RST), matching all edges.
• Place the corner template in one corner matching the edges as seen in the picture below. Trace the corner and cut along the traced lines.

• Trace and cut each of the other two corners, placement can be however you'd like.
• Do not cut the fourth corner, it remains square.
  

Instructions:

1. Attaching the Ribbons/Twill Tape: With the blanket Cuddle fabric right sides together, pin all straight sides and the knotted corner curve. Use a lot of pins, mine are placed every 1" to 1 1/2".
2. Lay out your ribbons so they are evenly spaced around the ribbon tag corner. I found it helpful to mark my placement along the fabric edge with a removable fabric marker.
3. Fold all ribbons in half and insert the folded edges in between the layers of Cuddle. 1 1/2" of the ribbon will be between the layers and 1" will stick out from the corner. Pin, making sure the ribbons are straight.
4. Insert and pin the twill tape on the soother corner with the same method. If desired, fold the ribbon in a loop (see photo) instead of folding it in half.
5. Outer Blanket Edge: Mark a 4" opening along one long straight edge. I like to mark the opening by using a double pin.
   
6. Stitch around the entire blanket with a 3/8" seam allowance, leaving the opening area un-sewn.
   • When you reach the square corner, sew all the way to the edge and back stitch. Remove the fabric from your machine and fold over the sewn seam allowance. Begin sewing again at the edge. This will produce a tidy, strong corner.
   • TIP: If the Cuddle starts to gather up while you are sewing, lift the presser foot to relieve tension on the fabric. Replace the presser foot to continue sewing.
7. Turn only the ribbon and twill tape corners Right Side Out to check that the ribbons are placed as you would like them. If necessary, unpick your seam, straighten the ribbon and re-sew.
8. Safety First! Turn the blanket RST again. Use a wide zigzag stitch to sew around the ribbon and twill tape corners within the seam allowance. This will make sure they are doubly secure.
9. Top Stitching: Turn the blanket Right Side Out through the opening. Push out the corners and edges. Use a turning tool to flatten the folded edges of the square corner inside the blanket so they lay flat. (Don't you LOVE that nice square corner?!)
10. Turn the edges at the opening under and pin all the way around the blanket. I pinned parallel to the edge because I found it seems to hold the edge in place better.
11. Top stitch around the edges with a scant 1/4" seam. Use a longer straight stitch if desired. This will close the 4" opening. However, if you'd like, you can use a slip-stitch or ladder stitch to secure the opening as well.
12. Optional "Quilting": Mark a sewing line 2" from each edge with a ruler and a removable fabric marker. Draw a smooth curve under the knotted corner and a square corner at the soother corner. Pin well along the line.
13. Stitch along the quilting line. Remove markings.
14. Knotting the Corner: Pull the knotted corner fabric together and tie a very large half knot. (Loop it around and bring the corner under and then through the loop.)
15. Pull the corner tight, then pull the knot towards the corner. You will find that the knot will get smaller. Continue to repeat - pull the corner tight and then pull the knot towards the corner - until the knot is the correct size. It took me 6 or 7 times to get the knot small enough.
16. Attaching a toy or soother: Place the twill tape loop through the toy/soother. Bring the loop around the toy/soother and pull to tighten. Reverse the action to remove the toy/soother.
     

Congratulations! You have finished your Play 'n Snuggle Mini Blanket.

Giveaway!

We're giving away half a metre each of the Cuddle fabrics Sherri used in this project!
For a chance to win half a metre of Cuddle Dimple - Dark Lime and half a metre of Cuddle Solids - Turquoise by Shannon Fabrics leave a comment on this post. 

Winner will be chosen Monday, October 19.

Good Luck! 

Many thanks to Sherri from Thread Riding Hood for this great tutorial! 

Thursday Tutorial: Double Gauze Hooded Swaddle Blanket by Thread Riding Hood

Hi, my name is Sherri Sylvester and I'm visiting from Thread Riding Hood, a (proudly) Canada-based sewing blog. There is rarely a day that I don’t use something handmade in our home – bags, clothing, home decor, quilts and lots of things for my kids. My favorite part is when those things end up on the blog and I get to talk about them with you! I am so happy to have been invited by Sew Sisters Quilt Shop to provide this tutorial with one of my new favorite fabrics, Double Gauze. It's breathable, light and so comfortable to use and wear! Best of all it's easy to sew, and this project is simple enough to finish in a few weekend hours. When I had my babies, I remember loving their hooded blankets - perfect for keeping tiny heads extra warm. If I had known about double gauze then I would have made so many of these!

Using only one metre of fabric and simple sewing supplies, this project is easy enough for beginners! Here we go...

Materials:

• 1 metre of Embrace Double Gauze by Shannon Fabrics (I used Fun Dot Blue)
• ruler or measuring tape
• matching thread
• sewing machine
• scissors, pins & your usual sewing notions

Finding the Straight Grain:

If you have not worked with it before, Double Gauze seems like it should be thin, stretchy, and hard to sew. But it's not! The only tricky part is finding the straight grain, because it tends not to lie straight on it's own. Thankfully it will always be parallel to the threads that hold the two layers of gauze together, hence the term "double" gauze. These threads are usually more visible from the fabric's wrong side and run every 1/2 to 1" or so parallel to the the fabric selvages.

To make your sewing life even easier though, all the Embrace Double Gauze fabrics by Shannon Fabrics from Sew Sisters have a lovely crossed line pattern woven right into the fabric. Just follow the lines to cut exactly on the straight grain! Even though they may not lay straight, they are. Trust the fabric, not your eye on this one!

Cutting your fabric:

Be sure to cut both necessary pieces for this project along the straight grain, or at right angles to it. Both squares below fit side by side along the width of this double gauze. Be sure to plan how best to fit them in before cutting!

1. Pre-wash and press your fabric.
2. Cut one 12" square, this will be the hood.
3. Cut one square for the blanket that is between 33-36". This dimension depends largely on how much fabric you have available on the straight grain. Be sure to check that you have enough width in both directions before cutting! (P.S. You might have lots left over, there's a bonus project you can make with your scraps, see the end of this post for details.)

Instructions:

1. Sewing the Hood: Fold two opposite corners of the small square together to make a triangle. This will be the hood. Match all edges and press the folded edge well.
   
   
2. Pin and stitch the folded edge with a 3/8" seam. Take care not to stretch the bias seam! It is easier if you increase your stitch length a bit. If it does stretch, have no fear, press it flat along the seam with a bit of steam and it should flatten right out.
   
   
   
3. Lay the blanket square flat in one corner with the wrong side up. Place the hood triangle in this corner and match the corner edges. Pin and baste them with a 1/2" seam. (Do not sew the folded edge of the hood, just the two edges that match up with the blanket!)
   
   
   
4. Hemming the blanket: Press the raw edges of the blanket 1/2" to the wrong side.
   
   
5. Clip the corner of the blanket (on the hood corner only) between the pressed folds and trim the seam allowance on the hood to 1/4" to remove bulk when hemming.
   
   
6. Press all blanket edges in another 1/2" and pin to make sure it stays in place.
   
   
   
7. Stitch with a 3/8" seam. Pivoting at the corners.
   
   
   
8. Press your hem again to set the stitches. You are finished!

Congratulations, you've finished your blanket. It's ready to be swaddled or snuggled in!

Wondering what to do with your scraps of double gauze? Make a matching swaddle blanket in doll size! Perfect to include with baby's full size blanket as a gift for the older sister or brother. Now they can be just like mom! I've included the dimensions for the doll size on Thread Riding Hood. Once you are there, click around - you might find some other tutorials you like as well. Thanks so much for visiting!

This Giveaway is Closed

Giveaway!

We're giving away one metre of the fabric used in this tutorial to one lucky winner! 

For a chance to win one metre of Embrace Double Gauze - Fun Dot Blue from Shannon Fabrics leave a comment on this post. 

Winner will be chosen Monday, September 21.

Good Luck! 

Many thanks to Sherri from Thread Riding Hood for this great tutorial!