Minky Baby Blanket Tutorial

I don’t sew too often, but I’m always so pleased with the results of the homemade project when I do! I love that I can create something so unique and personal that fits exactly my preferences and usually saves me a ton of money off the retail equivalent, too! When I received my sample yardage from Shannon Fabrics I was so excited to get back behind my sewing machine and make some beautiful soft cuddle blankets for my 2 year old and newborn. My 2 year old has been carrying his blanket around with him everywhere and absolutely loves his new blanket! We use the blanket I made for my newborn (shown below) when we are snuggling up with him cuddled in our arms since he is too little to sleep with blankets. I also made a receiving type of blanket for my newborn with the extra half yard of two of the prints of fabric and I love how it turned out.

After I sewed the blankets, I used some more of the fabric to create a minky changing pad cover that is so soft! I have been very pleased with the quality and beautiful prints available from Shannon Fabrics! They wash up beautifully and work great for lots of different sewing projects. If you’re looking for beautiful fabric for your next project, check out Shannon Fabrics line of cuddle fabrics! Wholesalers can purchase fabrics directly through Shannon Fabrics. Consumers can find Shannon Fabrics available through retailers such as Fabric.com, Beverlys.com, and FabricDepot.com as well as your local fabric retailers.

Minky Baby Blanket Tutorial

To create you’re own minky baby blanket, you’ll need 2 yards of minky fabrics. I recommend a cute print for the front and a cuddle rose solid color for the back as the cuddle rose fabric is SO soft but you can choose any type of solid or print yardage for the back. You’ll also need satin blanket binding for the edge. I use two of the pre-packaged (4 3/4 yards) satin blanket binding available as it is easy and ready to go but you can also purchase satin binding by the yard or purchase yardage of satin to create your own binding.

36″ x 30″ Minky Baby Blanket

Supplies:

• 1 yard Minky Fabric for the front
• 1 yard Minky Fabric for the back
• 9-10 yards of Satin Blanket Binding
• Sewing Machine or Serger
• Pins, Scissors, Measuring Tape, Etc

Steps:

1. Choose your blanket size. For ease, I just use the full yard of fabric making my blanket approximately 36″ x 60″ depending on the width of your minky. This size works great for children ages 2-8. You can make an infant sized blanket by using half of the width, 36″ x 30″ and get two blankets out of your one yard of fabric. You still will need to purchase two full yards to get the right length, however, unless you use matching fabric for the front and the back. Measure and cut out your fabric to size leaving .5″ seam allowance. If using the full yard of fabric, you may only need to cut off a little bit off one of the fabrics to make them the same width.
2. Lay our your two cuts of fabric together with right sides facing each other. That means, you won’t see your print or the “good” side of either of your fabrics.
3. Line up your satin blanket binding right to the edge of your fabrics and pin together. You will want the edge of your satin to be right at the edge where you will sew. If you’d like ruffles, create the ruffles as you go along or use a ruffle foot before pinning your satin. I choose straight edges for my boy blankets. Then, pin your two layers of fabric and satin binding all together as you go around. Minky is very slippery to work with so use lots of pins. Leave an extra 4″ of satin binding hanging off of both sides of the corner.
4. Sew together your layers leaving one corner open with about a 4-5″ opening. Once your project is pinned together, you’ll use either a your sewing machine or use your serger to sew together your blanket. If using a sewing machine, you will want to use a zigzag stitch and sew about .5″ from the edge to give you seams that will stay in place. With a serger, you can use the cutting edge to give you a clean crisp edge but plan to cut off approximately .5″ of fabric layers to be sure you catch all the layers as you go around. If you happen to miss the satin layer, you will have to go back and seam rip so watch carefully that you have all your layers.
5. Turn your blanket right side out. When you reach your 4-5″ spacing you’ve left, you will reach your hand inside the hole and pull all the blanket through the hole giving you the right sides and satin trim facing outside.
6. Seam your satin binding closed. Measure and figure out how much trim you’ll need and pin the two pieces of satin together with right sides facing each other. Then, sew or serge the pieces together. Flip the satin with the seams down and inside the fold with the right side facing out. It works well to do this at the corner as it gives you a little bit of wiggle room to add more or less ruffling at the corner as may be needed.
7. Stitch your blanket closed. Use a sewing machine or a hand stitch to close your blanket. You’ll tuck your seams through to the underside and then stitch using two rows of straight stitches or a single with a zigzag stitch to close up the 4-5″ opening. This will be visible on your blanket but minky hides stitches pretty well.

Disclosure: I received a selection of fabrics from Shannon Fabrics in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own and any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.