when putting initials on a small baby blanket, where do you put them, and what size should the blanket be for a newborn? thank you for any help you can give. betty

One more suggestion! I also make them 45x45 in sq. But I do one out of a fairly thin material & the mom uses it for "privacy" while nursing baby. Big enough to cover her & baby, thin enough to keep from roasting him! I had to laugh at one gal who told me her little boy who was at that time about 2 loved his blanket so she was afraid he'd want to take it to school & eat his lunch under it! These are great for 1st time mom's that may be a little shy about breast feeding. My daughter said she got so good she probably could change her clothes under it! :-)

1 comment

by bettytaylor 01 Jul 2011

thank you, never thought of that. betty.

Betty, the hood was on both that way the hood was lined in flannel as well. Very easy to just put right sides together, stitch, turn and close. I did a top stitch around the outside. It would also be nice to use a decorative stitch too.

These get softer with every wash. You will be able to find the flannel in many colors so you can match your outside fabric.

I also did one for 'church' out of cotton lawn fabric. It was summer for that baby and the cotton lawn made a great 'Sunday best' blanket. I did have to look around for a good price on the lawn. I only found it in pastel shades but they were very good church.

You can be very creative with designs on the hood even for little boys. I put a bunny with clothes on one. The pants part stitched to look like they were plaid.

Please keep us posted about the blankets you make.

Marcelle
http://embroideryavenue.com/
http://embroidery.gotop100.com/

1 comment

by bettytaylor 01 Jul 2011

thank you again. it would make sense to copy on both sides. will have to try this. betty

One more 2 cents worth. I make my receiving blankets 45 x 45 out of flannel. This size will last past the newborn size and be usable for many years. The square fabric is easier with which to work when swaddling a newborn or covering a toddler as you don't have to turn to get the right length. I only double the flannel if I think a heavy blanket is needed. I make crib blankets 45 x 54 and usually out of fleece. Sometimes I bind with satin but mostly I just hem with a decorative stitch. These also make great travel blankets for older children. My kids always took a small lap blanket on trips to sleep in the car. Where you embroider is your choice. Have fun. I am sure it will be appreciated whatever you make.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 01 Jul 2011

great idea using the entire length of fabric and i would need 1.25yds for the width. i like this idea, it would work for me. thank you, you can add your 2 cents anytime.

you've gotten really good answers already, but I agree - it's your creation, so use your imagination and go for it!

1 comment

by bettytaylor 01 Jul 2011

thank you. betty

Hi Betty, Most of mine are 75cm x 100cm

As the others have said, you can put the initials any where.
Have added pictures of some that I have done.

1. Done on the corner -
2. done on the corner -
3. done on the corner -
4. done in the middle at the bottom

Hugs Yvonne

4 images:[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]

2 comments

by leenova54 01 Jul 2011

All are beautiful!

by bettytaylor 01 Jul 2011

thank you Yvonne, very beautiful. nice pictures. i like them all. nice work. what do you use for your backing? and do you back your blankets with another piece of material? thanks again. betty

Lots of great ideas! I just love our project area to gather information. Just fyi, my receiving blankets are 42x36 and made I from flannel. I serge around the edges as I'm usually making alot when I make them for my grand babies. I will make one or two with decorative trims. If it's a girl, they can always use them later for their baby dolls. I have to agree though. It is your project and you should do as you please. You never know what might catch on and be of interest to others. Can't wait to see what you've done.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you for the idea of a larger blanket, does your flannel material have the color on both sides? they just don't make material as they use to. the flannel today has no color on the back if it's a print. didn't know if you are supposed to use two pieces(seems heavy) for a summer blanket. guess i'm still a bit confused(this definitely comes with age). i use to buy the prettiest material when i was still in school for $ .25 per yard. will try to post pictures if dh will do this as i do not know how. betty

You have had lots of great answers, but I have to say something here. When you are creating, YOU are the artist. You can put any decorations anywhere you want. There are no rules regarding this. Or if there are "rules", feel free to break them. Have fun and create what you have in your mind. Baby blankets can be any size. If you want it to last beyond the newborn time, then make it a little bit bigger. Then the child can grow up with their special blanket.

3 comments

by adavisx3 30 Jun 2011

I agree. It is your creation; make it any way you want. Post a picture when you have it finished.

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you for your suggestions. just don't want anyone laughing at me if i show up with a few very small blankets, maybe i should buy a doll also?

by justonlyme 30 Jun 2011

A doll would be a fabulous gift, as long as it is an appropriate doll for a newborn i.e. rag type doll. The standard crib size quilt is about 36x45 or so. Usually one yard wide by 1.25 yards long. ANY size will do. If you make a tiny one, it could be a changing blanket. I worked for months on my first gift quilt and it turned out very small. So I just named it a changing blanket, and it was well received. :)

You already have several great suggestions but I have one more.

I made several from various gingham check colors and lined them with flannel. In one corner I put a piece for a type of hood like the towels have. I put an embroidery design on the hood part so it showed really well. Embroider first then just make both pieces and stitch them together. Leave a small opening to turn and hand stitch closed. This is very easy and you don't even need a pattern. My fabric was 45" wide and it was a perfect size for little babies. My daughter in law loved them. Very easy to wrap them just like in the hospital and the hood was super. She would throw one over the carry car seat before she carried them outside too. She always had extras in her bag. They were well used with 3 little boys in a row. I was thrilled to have come up with something she really liked and used every day. I will look for some pictures and see if I can post them.

Marcelle Lewis
http://embroideryavenue.com/
http://embroidery.gotop100.com/

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you, great idea, did you put the hood on the flannel side or the cotton or both? i've made swaddling blankets before, just thought the small (or receiving blanket) were smaller in size.

I'm making a blanket for a new grandbaby and I checked Pottery Barn Kids. Theirs are 36 inches by 50 inches. These are crib quilts, not receiving blankets.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you, this will help. fleece comes in 54inches and one yard will be perfect. will check out this website. betty

I like this style with a hood and would put the embroidery in the middle of that "corner".
Of course not doll-sized as in the example-
to wrap an entire baby a size of 75 cm as madrocki suggested is ideal, I think.

2 comments

by muflotex 30 Jun 2011

Danke für den Link

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you so much, this is so cute. i bookmarked it as i know i will make some of these. very cute. and also the sewing machine cover at the bottom. thanks again. betty.

You can do most anything - especially whatever the mother of the baby wants - take a look at all these great baby blankets in PROJECT from some of our CUTE family? Most do put them centered in the corner and I like that as well on any blanket.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you shirlene, so many wonderful pictures and ideas. i should have gone to projects, i do sometimes, just don't remember blankets. when someone wants you to make something, usually in a hurry, i get anxious about how to do it and my first thought is the cute family here. so thankful i found this site. i do tell others about this site as well. you've helped me in the past and again today. thank you again. betty

Hii Betty,

I'd do like Madrocki suggested and I've put the webpage here so you can have a look at the one done in Projects - it was done by Lulu07. Love and blesings Chris

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

a picture is worth a thousand words. thank you, beautiful blanket. thanks for sharing. betty

There are some embroidered baby blankets in the cutie projects. (Look at the tabs across the top of this page for the Projects tab.) Some new ones posted on the first couple pages. You might get an idea of what you want to do with your blanket.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you so much. my real concern was where to put the initials. i'm fairly new to embroidery and wasn't sure. there were plenty of pictures in the projects of so many beautiful blankets, this helps so much. thanks again. betty

My blanket size for a basinette is 75cm x 75cm and I put a design in the corner of the blanket.

1 comment

by bettytaylor 30 Jun 2011

thank you for your help. this is like the receiving blanket size? it's just been too many years since my children were little, (like 40+) and i really don't remember. the blankets at the store are packaged and cannot really get a look. thanks again. betty