Learn How To Bind A Baby Blanket At Home In 12 Easy Steps

Making baby blankets is one thing; learning how to bind a baby blanket is another. You can sew a baby blanket to bind it. The details are below, and we added other baby blanket-related topics after it as well.

You will learn a lot of things in this article, especially if you’re a new parent. Be sure to give the whole thing a read!

how to bind a baby blanket

 

Step-By-Step Guide On Binding Your Baby Blankets

 

Step #1. Prepare your materials

Here are the materials you need; for the fabrics, you need 1 and 1/4 backing/binding, plus 7 or 8 yards of contrasting fabric. You also need a rotary cutter, a ruler, a mat, and an erasable ink pen. Lastly, you’ll need a sewing machine.

 

Step #2. Fabric

First, cut the binding fabric into 40”x40” squares. Next, cut your contrast fabric into 30”x30” squares.

Then, diagonally fold the squares to ensure that they are indeed square. You can cut the squares smaller, but ensure that the binding fabric is 10” bigger than the contrast fabric.

 

Step #3. Find the center

Place the contrast fabric in the middle of the cotton square with the right side up.

 

Step #4. Pin

First, find the center of one side of your contrast fabric and your backing fabric. Then, pin the center and edges of the contrast fabric to the edges of the backing fabric.

Leave one inch of contrast fabric’s corners unpinned. You will have at least 5” space of fabric on either side. Next, find the center on the other sides and pin them as well.

 

Step #5. Floppy

You should have floppy triangles on the fabric corners after pinning them.

 

Step 6. Mark

Mark a dot 1/4” from both edges on all corners. Use a ruler.

 

Step #7. Sew

Sew all the edges together with a 1/4” seam allowance. Leave an 8” opening on one side so you can turn the blanket with the right side out.

When you are sewing one side, pull the next one out of the way. Sew the seams until the 1/4” dot. Lift the needle when you reach the dot and turn the blanket.

Pull the backing fabric from the side you were working on. Then, sew the next side of the backing fabric from the 1/4” dot. The floppy outside corners would still be open.

 

Step #8. Mitered corners

Pull the center fabric away from the backing fabric to make mitered corners. Begin from one corner and pull it, then match the raw outside edges and make a triangle.

Diagonally fold the center fabric in half, match it to the intersecting seams. This should have a 45-degree angle next to the triangle flap.

Mark a line from the seam ends using a ruler. Then, draw along the outside folded edge of the binding fabric.

 

Step #9. Trim

Sew from the 1/4” endpoint of the original seam to the edge of the folded binding fabric. Then, trim the excess flap 1/4” away from the new seam. Discard the excess.

 

Step #10. Flatten and press

Flatten the new seam open, then press it. Press the other seams, too, and make sure they remain flat even when you turn them with the right side up. Finally, flatten and press the remaining corners as well.

 

Step #11. Right side out

Turn the blanket right side out when all corners are mitered. Shape the blanket carefully, then press the outside edges.

Tuck the center fabric’s edges toward the outside or binding fabric. Pin the edges together.

 

Step #12. Top stitch

Top stitch along the edges of the center fabric. Close the opening for turning.

Top stitch the outside blanket as well. Do the same thing on the middle of the center fabric as well to prevent it from shifting when being washed.

 

What is a self-binding baby blanket?

The steps above tell you how to make a self-binding baby blanket. Here, we’ll clarify the difference between a self-binding blanket and a traditionally bound one.

First, the former uses backing fabric. This is to make a finished edge outside the quilt, which gives it an applied binding look. A self-bound blanket also takes less time to finish.

You can self-bind your quilts if you do not use them extensively because the outer edges of quilts are prone to damage. Since the self-bound blanket only has one layer, it is not as sturdy as traditionally bound ones.

 

What is a baby blanket?

There are numerous variations of baby blankets. However, there are four main types; these are receiving blankets, swaddling blankets, security blankets, and crib blankets.

The receiving blanket is the most versatile among the four, while the swaddling blankets are for swaddling only. A security blanket is generally made of soft fabric and made to provide comfort for your newborn.

Lastly, crib blankets have different types as well, from sheets to bedding sets. Nonetheless, choosing one should be based on safety and comfort first.

 

Conclusion

Learning how to bind a baby blanket by yourself is challenging, especially since it is for your baby. Despite the challenge, we assure you that it’s worth it when your baby lays on it and loves it!