Homemade Baby Bedding

Some women used larger scraps, and often the block's strips were a variety of widths. Scrappy strips were asymmetrical and uneven, or pointed, or on the bias. Whatever fabrics were available, they were used as is. There was no time to waste cutting them to size. Women used an old blanket or quilt as the filler and tied the layers together; winter was near -- no time for quilting it.

If you aren't a crafty person, don't worry about it. Buying a beautiful baby blanket can be just as special. No one says you have to spend a lot of money for something to be from the heart. The same goes for crafts. Not everyone is artistic and crafty. If you don't have to knack for crafts, use your talent of choosing a beautiful blanket. Think about it, wouldn't you rather have your child get a beautiful blanket that they purchased than a 5 inch lopsided crocheted blanket?

I decided on using 35 pictures for Peggy's memory quilt. I chose pictures that showed her children at different stages of their lives. As well as pictures showing her and her husbands age regression. Her favorite color is blue, so I chose a dark blue with a light blue design, and a light blue with a dark blue design for the blocks. One thing to keep in mind when doing one for a person with Alzheimer's' is to try and keep the material fairly plain or quiet. When using a material that is very busy or loud, it just adds to their overall confusion. Something you definitely do not want.

Blanket Quilt Your baby shower gift will be complete when the edges are finished and the binding is sewn in place. Of the two types of bindings, crosswise grain and bias, the former is a good choice because there is less risk that a split would damage the entire side of the quilt. Crosswise strips also stretch well enough to curve when needed along the outer edge of the quilt.

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.

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.

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.

Crocheting baby blankets is a popular way to make a great baby blanket. You can use any kind of yarn of many colors, but the most popular for baby blankets are softer yarns and colors. You can even make the ultimate soft quality blanket by using cashmere yarn. There are so many different options with yarn you have to experiment for yourself.