This is one easy DIY project that will give you bang for your $5. My mom created the first iterations of our family’s flannel swaddle blankets and I have sewn a few more with these instructions. I even made one large enough to wrap my five-year old when he wanted to be the baby again for a while.
When shopping for receiving blankets, it seems that there are 3 kinds of totally WRONG kinds of blankets: cute but stretchy, too small, or not square. Uggh! For a true Harvey-Karp-style swaddle, you need a biggish piece of flannel or muslin fabric cut in a square.
STEP ONE: Buy a 40″ by 40″ piece of flannel with a cute pattern. Through trial and error, we have found that the more nubbly flannel works better than smooth because it has better grip.
STEP TWO: Fold over, iron, then (or hem) the edges. A jaggedy stitch holds great and looks like this.
PRO TIP: Mistakes are no big deal. A perfect square makes the best swaddler, but any shape will do for a stroller blanket or play mat. The baby below (Holden) required tight swaddling for several months. The baby doll was much more relaxed and barely put up a fight.
Seven years later and we’re still using this robot blankie. I also just gifted a few others circa 2005 over the weekend. Sniff.
Related links:
Happiest Baby on the Block (dvd) – How to wrap your perfect swaddle.
Rookie Mom’s Handbook – How to enjoy becoming a mom.
Our Makin’ It series – How to do dozens of other fun projects.
Ok, so I totally want to try to make a few of these as as I have a ton showers coming up (2 for new moms, 2 for repeaters) but sadly my many years of Home Ec. education was taken many years ago and I’ve apparently pushed most of that info out of my brain and replaced it with newer, important info (like who’s John Mayer dating this week) hence I can not for the life of me figure out how to finish flannel edges. I have a sewing machine, but it’s stitching is iffy at times (I think it may have something to do with my bobbin loading skills – either that or gremlins). What about wonder-under or whatever that iron on strip stuff is called? Can I use that on flannel?
Wait… flannel’s the fabric they make those throw blankets with the tied edges out of, right? Or am I thinking of fleece? Can I make a swaddling blanket out of fleece for a baby or is that a no-no.
Ok, let’s see one at a time here!
1. Flannel is that lumberjack stuff. Grunge shirts. Non-stretchy. What I did was fold over the edges, iron it (gasp!) and do my best. Flannel frays a bit if left unfinished.
2. Fleece is the stuff of recycled plastic bottles, ski trips, great for putting under potty training kids when they’re zoning out playing. You can cut a square and make a “play blanket” without doing any sewing at all! Awesome, yes, but I would not recommend for a swaddle (would be too sweaty).
3. If you totally can’t handle the finishing the edges, I wouldn’t bother with the sticky stuff but I wonder what other folks would suggest.
I didn’t hear about the Happiest Baby on the Block until *after* my first was three weeks old and wouldn’t sleep anywhere but on me. I bought two 45 x 45 inch squares of flannel (the fabric was 45in. wide) and I used them with unfinished edges for MONTHS because I couldn’t handle getting the sewing machine out and threaded. Two of the edges were selvedge so they didn’t unravel, but the other two were cut and frayed a bit. They eventually started unravelling, but by that time Wyatt was too big for swaddling anyway.
Ok I will be a 1st time mom in September and really liked this idea. I didn’t think just one piece of flannel was enough since the baby is basically in the fall plus my mom is the sew lady of the family. I had her put together 2 pieces of flannel which was on sale at Joann Fabrics for $2.99/yd plus a 10% off coupon (off the total purchase). I must say the blankets are very nice and she has since decided to make several at once and she will give these as a shower present to the future mama’s that come her way. She also bought excess and used those to make matching burp cloths! They are very cute and her sewing machine does fancy stitch designs.
I made a pile of these blankets while pregnant with my lil one. Here’s my recipe:
For one blanket, get 1 yard of flannel. It’s a thin, slightly fuzzy fabric, non-stretchy, and absorbent enough that you can wipe up spit-up with a corner of the blanket as needed (I love these blankets for nursing & burping too!) … JoAnn’s often has “Snuggle Flannel” on sale ($6 down to $3ish) and it comes in tons of cute prints.
The fabric is usually 44″ wide (check to be sure), so if you buy a yard you can cut it down to 36×36, or buy 44 inches for a larger blanket.
Trim the edges so they are square and straight. Then fold over an edge, by say 1/4 or 1/2 inch. You can either iron the fold in place, or fold it as you sew. Use the zigzag stitch on your machine (99% of sewing machines have a zigzag stitch, even the cheap ones) to c over the raw edge of the fabric. This is quicker and easier than a real hem and I think better for blankets anyway. Repeat for the other 3 sides. Ta-da! Finished blanket.
Quick question, I have this lovely jersey knit, kind of fannel fabric, it is quite stretchy, do you think this will work if I trim it down to a smaller sized square? Is stretchy fabric okay to use? I have used the same fabric to make a sling, I bought 5 yards as it was marked down to $1 per yard. Love a bargain!
Hailey, it’s worth a try. I fear that your jersey might be too stretchy. Please do report back.
What about muslin? I realize it is a bit more expensive, but I was seeing all of these positive reviews for the muslin Anais blankets but they are ridiculously expensive. I was thinking of buying Unbleached Super Muslin 44” x 15 Yds. for $49.99 and cutting them into 40×40 squares. Has anyone had any experience with using muslin as a swaddler?
Rumor has it, muslin is fantastic! We’ll provide more information when we get it.
This looks like something even I could handle. Love it! And with a new baby cousin born today I will have to get on it. Thanks!
For my first baby a few years ago, I made a few out of plain old cheap muslin from JoAnn’s. Did exactly what you outlined. Very easy, and the blankets work great for other jobs too (changing blanket, etc. ).
Big tip for any fabric that you want to have some absorbency to: Do not use fabric softener (dryer sheets or liquid). These products make fabrics slightly waterproof. I use a few splashes of white vinegar in the liquid fabric softener bin in the washer. Clothes come out soft and clean with a neutral odor. …I always wondered why I bath towels didn’t absorb water like I thought they should….. Now I know
I looked at the muslin Anais swaddler for a friend, but a $44 pack was going to be over $80 to ship to Canada. Um, not a freaking chance! So I think I’ll just make a bunch of them. I could use silk for what those Anais ones cost!
Hello me again! I have decided not to use the jersey, maybe too stretchy and warm… I am not able to find muslin cloth in the UK to buy, and the muslin squares here are too small to swaddle with (70 x 70 cm), until I found this site through the National Childbirth Trust.. http://www.bigmuz.com They ship to Canada and the US and seem quite cheap compared to Aden & Anias ones….
I have also used cotton… in between the weight of flannel and muslin. (we actually got 2 seersucker blankets from my hubby’s student when we had our first son). They are great too!!!
Just curious why you would shy away from stretchy fabric? The Moby Wrap sells a swaddle blanket that’s done quite well and I think the Miracle swaddle blanket is out of jersey knit too but I’ve never tried either. Any reason stretchy would be bad for swaddling?
It seems like you’d be able to get a good snug wrap without the risk of suffocating but again all I’ve ever used is flannel??
Hi Bree,
I don’t know what the right word is but “stretchy” seemed to make sense, perhaps “flimsy” is better. You want a fabric that will give a tight hold.
Flannel, jersey, and muslin all have different properties but seem to work well.
Thank you so much for these easy instructions! My son still loves to be swaddled at 3 months, and we’re still using those not-so-adorable hospital blankets because the “receiving blankets” are too small! I, too, love the Aden and Anais and Moby swaddle blankets, but I can’t bring myself to spend that much (although I did splurge on the Moby wrap- it is amazing).
If you’re looking for something like A&A (and really, who isn’t – they’re great!) but don’t want to spend that much, I’ve heard that the cotton bubble gauze available from Dharma Trading online is virtually identical fabric to what the A&A blankets are made from. And, it’s like a 50″ wide piece, so you’ll get a nice big square – perfect for swaddling.
) And, needless to say, MUCH cheaper!
We just got home from the hospital yesterday with our new baby boy but had to chime in about the swaddle blankets. A couple of weeks ago I found some gauze like material at Walmart on the $1.50 table and used it to make my swaddle blanket.
At the hospital all the nurses went on and on about how great it was for swaddling and didn’t overheat the baby.
One even asked if it was an A&A and was very surprised when I told her I made it myself!
Thanks for the instructions and if you find gauze… stock up!
I have a flannel sheet set that I have patched over the years until we finally broke down and got a new set, and now I am inspired to take some scissors to the old set and make a few swaddlers! Thanks for the inspiration, I’ll tackle this project right after I finish my homemade nursing pillow.
I think the best material to use if your in a moderate climate is “flannelette”. This fabric is soft to touch, breathable and thinner than flannel which is thick and fluffy. Most stores carry flannelette “Receiving Blankets” that are usually 30″x30″, or a mere 28″x30″. More expensive are the larger, more useful, “swaddling blankets” that start at 36″x36″ up to 40″x40″. I need to purchase fourteen, 36″x36″ flannelette blankets for a Haiti relief project that I’m working on, which provides birthing kits for new moms in Haiti. See (www.umcor.com) This is for charity and the completed kits have to be mailed to a depot and then to Haiti. Please email me if you can beat the Target price of 3 blankets for $12.00. I would like the blankets to be gender neutral if possible (yellow, green or multicolored), even though I’m sure the mothers receiving them probably wouldn’t care.
[...] Or pick up a large square of flannel for an easy swaddling blanket. [...]
I wanted to say we had a blanket given to us when we had our second baby, it was matching with the sleeper, and made out of the same fabric, I would say it was jersey-like… it had that kind of stretch to it… I didn’t use it until we ran out of the few blankets we had that were actually big enough for swaddling, and it was the only one I used since! That little bit of stretch was amazing for getting the baby swaddled nice and snug. I also managed to use it in the bucket seat… the stretch and size of it allowed me to have my boy swaddled in the carseat, he LOVED it!
I still prefer flannel for swaddle blanket. Sorry, is fleece the same as micro-fleece? Because I’ve seen some being sold over the internet that is made of Micro-fleece.
[...] swaddle blanket (tiny bit of [...]
OMG! I just love swaddling babies. It’s a miracle solution for colaci babies. My grandson was so premature he wouldn’t even eat. He didn’t know how to. The N.I.C.U. nurses just let him lay ther flinching and just a receiving blanket on top of him draped lightly. They complained about how he never slept unless my daughter and I was there. I was so upset! Everyone who knows kids, should know but obviously didn’t that “Swaddling” is the cure to EVERYTHING! LOL if your kid gets older and has trouble in school swaddle em! If your kid has dating issues Swaddle em! U can use these things for everything and forever. (Of coaurse the jr highschool swaddling was a joke) but they now make swaddling blankets for mothers! Google it! It’s true! About fell off my seat when I saw it.
Just stocked up on a bunch of muslin and have leftover flannel from making my husband the tshirt quilt I promised him when I was making room in our now shared dresser. Loving the simple instructions (it seems everyone else is hell-bent on making things more confusing to those just learning to sew!)
Thanks!
[...] her it had to be very easy or most people would feel intimidated. She said, “If you can make The Easy Swaddling Blanket, you can make this jellyfish mobile I’ve been working on.” So I asked her to share the [...]
Hey, thanks do much for shareing this! My husband and I were so desperate for sleep the first night we brought our home that we ripped up a sheet and wrapped her in that. Even though people gave us a bunch of blankets as shower gifts, none of them worked well for swaddling.
The next day or so, we headed to Hobby Lobby and picked up some gingham and made four blankets out of that. It was light enough that we could rap her in two without getting overheated -and our little wiggle-worm couldn’t escape! Sleep at last!! We’re still using them months later.
Thanks so much!
I love the lightweight tutti fruity fabric at Joannes ~ it is so bright and colorful! I am an inexperienced sewer with a new granddaughter coming in September and I am on the lookout for new and easy ideas to sew. I have made burp cloth’s and a rag quilt and a fleece tie blanket and now I want to try my hand at a swaddle blanket. What do you experienced sewers think???? Could a swaddle blanket be made from the tutti fruity fabric (resembles sear-sucker in a way but brighter)
[...] yard of adorable flannel patterned material (can be made into swaddle blanket if you give [...]
[...] sheet tutorial , receiving blanket tutorial , nursing cover tutorial , changing pad cover , and everything else was kinda improvised. [...]
New to sewing here…Should I wash the fabric first before sewing?
Sure Stephanie, you can wash the fabric first, then trim and iron. But if you forget, that’ll be fine too. This project is really forgiving.