Activity #368: Make or buy a fuzzy, funky, personalized baby blanket

I saw this gorgeous baby blanket at TwoTinas.com as featured on Daily Candy (and lots of other places), and I thought, “I can do that!”

I wanted to try to make one for my sister-in-law’s new baby and, with my mother-in-law coming to town, I figured between the two of us, we’d have the needed skills.

You see, my MIL is a master-quilt-maker, and I own a sewing machine (but am afraid of it and I don’t like to measure). She talked me through the needed materials, helped me source them, cut out the pieces (thank you!), and got me started with a few practice stitches. Sadly, she left me with several pieces of my project pinned to each other but still unattached. The kicker is that you need to know the baby’s name (or initial) in order to begin the sewing.

Dalia is pictured (above) chilling in Central Park on my handmade creation. She looks pretty happy and, from here, you can’t really see the imperfections in the blanket.

The upshot is that if you’re a wiz with the sewing machine, you should make this snazzy blanket yourself (and you won’t need my feeble instructions). And if you’re like me, you should buy one because it costs just as much as making one and you’ll be assured that it will look awesome!

Stuff to buy for making one:

1. 1 yard of adorable flannel patterned material
2. 1 yard of soft, fuzzy baby minkie material
3. 1 foot of soft wide-wale corderoy in complementary color (for the circle)
4. 1 foot of soft-ish black denim or felt (for the initial)
5. Stitch-witchery or other iron-on adhesive
6. Enough quality thread for sewing it up
7. Patience, tenacity, a working sewing machine

Materials alone were about $50, as much as buying a nice one. If I have the audacity to try and make a second blanket, I will start to see return on my investment.

[updated: 3 years later and I have not made a second one. Whit, I can give you a good deal on materials!]