No-Sew Baby Blanket Tutorial

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."  

                                                                                                         Jeremiah 1:5

A couple of days ago, I got an invitation to a baby shower. With the invitation came an announcement card saying that my friend's first little one will be a boy(!).

To me, it is always such a blessing to celebrate the gift of a new little life. It brings back memories of when my Mr and I first discovered we had conceived each of our own beloved little ones. It also reminds me of how very precious each tiny little human being is to the Father in Heaven, who created him. It makes me wonder about the Divine plan imprinted on each one of our hearts and about the plan for this little child's life...such a gift!

Speaking of gifts, I love to give them. And whenever it is possible, I love to make them. 

This is one of my very favorite gifts to make for new babies (especially if they're the first little one in the family). Besides the fact that it is a fast and simple project, it is also very inexpensive to make.

How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Baby Blanket

You Will Need:

Sharp Scissors

Ruler

30in x 36in piece of fleece x 2

#1. Select and purchase 2 complimentary colors/patterns of fleece. You will need one yard of each color/pattern. 

Note: Because the standard width of fleece is 60 in, when you unfold your pieces of fleece they will be long and rectangular. This will be enough fleece for 2 baby blankets.

#2. Line up the edges of the fleece exactly. Cut off any excess on each side.

#3. Cut the rectangle in half  (through both layers of fleece). 

 Note: Each half should look almost like a square, not like a really long and thin rectangle. Kapeesh?

#4. Measure and cut 3in. "up" and 3in. "in" at each corner

#5. Cut 3in "up" (through both layers of fleece) every 1.5 inches, creating strips.

#6. Fold each strip up and cut a very small slit in the center of each strip (I make mine about 1cm).

#7. Grab the ends (both layers) of the strip and guide them through the slit.

#8. Pull the ends all the way through.

#9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 all the way across the first side of the blanket. Then repeat steps 5-9 on each of the unfinished sides of the blanket.

Doesn't that make a nice edge?

 #10. Step back and marvel...you have just completed a hand made baby gift!

To sew, or not to sew,...that is the question...

Now, you can be finished at this point if you like, but if you'd like to quilt a little pattern into the center of the blanket then read on.

 You Will Need:

Paper (parchment, wax, brown, wrapping...whatever you've got on hand)

Thread

Pins

Needle

#1. Choose the shape/pattern that you'd like to quilt on the front of the blanket. (I chose this little sailboat).

#2. Create a pattern, pin it to the blanket, and draw around it with a pencil/wipe-off marker (I just freehand the pattern onto the paper. You can buy a wipe-off marker at any sewing shop. They are used specifically for quilting)

#3. Choose a spool of thread that compliments the colors in your blanket.

#4. Use a quilting/running stitch to sew all around the outline of your pattern.

Sorry! I just couldn't get the camera to focus for this picture!

#5. Ta Da! A quilted sailboat!

It's difficult to see but there's a big quilted boat on this blanket!

Other gift Ideas:

When I don't have enough time to make a gift, and since a am a great lover of reading, I love to give a couple of these board books: