Creating A Crochet Baby Blanket Gift

For making perfectly straight cuts, choose a thick, clear acrylic ruler. A good size to start with is a 6x24" rectangular ruler marked in 1/4" increments.

Don't be afraid to use your handmade quilt. The layers and the warmth of the batting make it perfect for keeping you warm cold winter nights. Even after many years of use, this author has several quilts that are still in excellent condition.

Blanket Quilt I have made two of these quilts and my daughter is now making one for herself. It is fun to add the fancy pocket designs that many jeans have. And by all means use other colors if you like to your quilt. Jeans are not all blue. I have added green, white, purple, black, tie-dyed and acid washed. Then denim is a very durable fabric and is also heavy enough so that the wind will not blow it around on your picnic or at the beach.

The best fabric for simple quilt patterns is 100% cotton because it minimizes seam distortion, presses crisply, and is easy to quilt. Good simple quilt patterns specify quantities for 44/45" wide fabric unless otherwise noted. You'll need to allow for a little extra yardage to accommodate minor cutting errors and slight shrinkage.

Creating any type of quilt requires planning and arranging items in the perfect order. While baby quilts can range in complexity of appearance they often require as much work as a full sized quill. There are five key steps in planning and making the perfect quilt.

If your fabric hasn't already been cut into squares, use a pair of fabric shears, or a rotary cutter, to do so now. If you use a rotary cutter, you'll also need a cutting mat. Otherwise, you could end up damaging whatever's underneath the fabric.

Unlike comforters, a quality quilt is filled with cotton. This results in a much more substantial bedcovering. When you compare a comforter and a cotton-filled quilt of the same size, you will find that the quilt weighs quite a bit more. The quilt is heavier, but it takes up less space. Therefore, you get all of the warmth of a comforter, without the bulk. And because the batting is cotton and not polyester, you won't wake up sweaty in the morning. Quilts are also much easier to store when not in use, and they can double as a picnic blanket! When was the last time you took your comforter to the park?

Quilting Fabric. You'll need two squares of fabric that are the exact same size. You can use any sized fabric you want, but these three sizes work best for a baby blanket or quilt.