Quick and Easy Self-Binding Baby Blanket

I am so in-love with these blankets! Every year I stock up on super cute flannel during Black Friday sales...and then it sits in totes. No More!

Because my goal this year is to finish unfinished projects and to utilize my fabric and yarn stash, I decided to pull out all those cute flannels and make baby blanket gift sets complete with a blanket and matching burp cloths. Not only does it use my fabric, but sewing is so therapeutic and having a stockpile of baby gifts takes the stress of giving to expecting friends and family away.

I have taken a lot of pictures, but if you need a video, check out this video tutorial. She claims this blanket is 10 minutes to make...I'm not that fast (especially with kidlets). However, if you had all of the fabric already cut and waiting to be sewn, this would work up very quickly.

Let's get started!

Items Needed:

*Iron & Board *Rotary Cutter *Fabric Ruler & Cutting Board *Scissors *Sewing Machine

*Cotton Thread *Two Coordinating Fabrics *Pencil/Pen *Fabric/Quilting Pins

1. Iron Flannel: Iron your flannel for easier/more precise use. It helps to iron before cutting so the squares are more exact.

2. Cut Fabric 1 (the back and front border): Fold Fabric 1 in half length wise (there should already be a fold line) and then fold width wise until approximately 21". This allows you to cut off any rough edges without wasting fabric. Line up the fabric and cut at the 20" mark. (Move excess fabric to the side for later use.) Without opening the square, turn it and line it up with the rough edge close the 20" mark. Cut excess fabric at 20" to form a perfect 20"x20" square. DO NOT OPEN. Set aside to cut next fabric.

3. Cut Fabric 2 (front middle): Follow step two but cut this fabric into a perfect 15"x15" square.

AT THIS POINT: You should have two squares of fabric that when unfolded will be 40"x40" and 30"x40".

4. Pin: Before opening the squares, place a pin in the exact middle of each side of each square (4 pins per square).

5. Line up: NOW open your squares and place right sides together. One side at a time, line up the middle pins and pin the fabrics together at the exact middle.

6. Sew: Starting from the MIDDLE of each side, sew the edges together with a 1/4" seam. Stop 1/4" from the end of the smaller fabric.

*ALWAYS sew from the middle out to the corner. Be careful not to sew on your pin.

7. Leave Space: On one side, leave about 4" opening to flip right-side out.

AT THIS POINT: All sides are sewn together with 4 "ear" looking corners.

8. Corners: Pinch the corner and line up the edges and seams together, leaving the excess fabric out to a point.

9. Mitered Line: THIS IS TRICKY! Lay corner flat (as shown) and line up the edge of your ruler along the folded fabric and draw a line up to the end of the seam line. This will be where you sew for that perfect 45* angled mitered corner. REPEAT to all corners.

10. Cut Excess: After sewing the corner, cut excess corner fabric close to the seam

11. Flip and Iron: Remember that 4" opening? Carefully pull fabric through that whole and poke your finger or thumb up into the corner to make a nice point. Iron flat.

AT THIS POINT: Your blanket is almost complete and it looks awesome! Keep going. :D

12. Pick a Stitch: Pick a fun stitch to top stitch around the blanket! It adds character and will also sew closed the 4" opening where we flipped the blanket.

13. Top Stitch: Line up your blanket so the needle will stitch your fancy stitch along both sides of the seam.

14. Admire your work: You did it! Hug it, kiss it, admire it. It looks awesome.

OPTIONAL: Remember that extra fabric? Make a couple quick burp cloths to match! Simply lay the fabrics right-sides together and draw the same you want to cut out. I used an old burp cloth I loved and traced it slightly larger to account for seams. Cut and sew, leaving a space to flip. Flip and Iron flat. Use the same top stitch as the blanket and voila! You've got a matching baby gift set. :D

I hope this tutorial was useful for you! It is a lot of steps, but once you get going, you'll be cruising.

Happy Sewing,