Baby Blankets Make Great Baby Shower Gifts

The size of blanket that you will give will have to depend on the recipient. Smaller blankets are ideal for kids while large ones will be more appropriate for adults that usually have king size beds. Materials that are best for blankets are fleece, alpaca, merino wool, and cotton, to name a few.

Now you need to sew it together with the batting and the backing. As you probably already know, a blanket isn't just made of one layer. You will have to sew it together and then stitch across the entire quilt to hold it all together. This is where you can get fancy and make pretty stitch designs. If you are looking to get this done fast, just do a basic straight stitch across the whole blanket. You will have to do this sewing by hand, so get a comfy position on your couch and get sewing!

Blanket Quilt Turn and press this rectangle over the seam allowance, again pressing away from the center piece. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching line.

Once a quilt block template has been created it should be put on the fabric lined up with the fabric's grain on one straight edge. Then with either a tailor's chalk or a quilter's pencil it can be drawn around. Folding several layers of the fabric accordion style will create several patches at once. Then after the template has been stapled to the layers one can cut the pieces out. If it is possible, it is of great value to use a cutting mat and a rotary cutter should they be available.

Never store your handmade quilt in a plastic bag. The fabric needs to breathe. Storing it in a plastic bag for a long period of time may result in yellowing and discoloration of the beautiful fabrics.

The next time you are trying to figure out just what to get for an upcoming baby shower, think of the impression your gift will make if it is personalized. Even if mom and dad have not announced the baby's name, you can still have the child's last name added to any gift you choose. If you decide on a baby blanket, quilt, or pillow, ask the parents what theme they have chosen so you can coordinate your gift.

Never dry on high heat. Use low temperature to start the drying process then remove it from the dryer and lay it flat to finish drying. Once it is nearly dry, you can put it back in the dryer on low or air for a short time to fluff it up and finish drying.