Tuesday, March 1, 2011

something for baby : :

Yes, can you believe it -- after all those pillows I finally have something different to share! And no, this is not for my baby.Sigh. I recently found out that my sister is expecting a baby this June, a little girl in fact, and I am so excited that she has asked me to make many of the little things that will be needed for her first child -- I am honored and totally up for the challenge! Right away I remembered this post I had seen on AMH's blog a little while back for her little luxury receiving blankets. On Sunday I found a little time to make one.
receiving blanket
Anyone who has worked with these fabrics will tell you that the quality of Anna Maria's voile and flannels are just beautiful, so to have them paired together for a cozy blanket for baby is complete perfection! When fabric is this gorgeous sometimes it is best just to do the most simple of projects. These little receiving blankets are a perfect example of that sweet simplicity.
receiving blanket
Since I am still fairly new to sewing when it comes to many skills and have not yet learned to make bias tape, I knew after working with the fine, slippery voile that my first time shouldn't be with this fabric. I decided to use a pre-made bias tape = bad idea! I am really disappointed with that decision. The color looks great, but the feel of the stiffer cotton trim is too rough when compared to the softness of the flannel and voile. I may even redo it, I'm still deciding since my concerns were confirmed yesterday when I stumbled upon this blog post. I may just forget the trim altogether and do the same technique I used on this blanket, one of my very first sewing projects, yikes!
bias tape.
Anna Maria sells project packs for these blankets, complete with all the directions and materials you'll need, including voile for the bias tape. I knew right away how these blankets were made, so I didn't think a kit would be necessary but now I am kind of wishing I would have bought one for the bias tape instructions alone.
receiving blanket
I am hoping to have something to send my sister each week for the baby and will no doubt be sharing those projects here. Since I, regretfully, wasn't sewing yet when my children were babies I would love to hear some suggestions on what handmade items you would have or will appreciate for your babies? I have a couple more blankets, of course more pillows, bibs, and a few play things on the list, along with hoping to find the courage to do a little garment sewing for this little one, as well. Your input will be so very helpful - thanks!

And, happy March to all! ~ Maureen

19 comments:

  1. Beautiful fabric choice...lovely colors!

    I'm with you on the pre-made bias tape, it's way too stiff, though it will soften a bit after washing. If I have enough fabric, I always make my own. 2-1/4" or 2-1/2" strips, sewn together, edges pressed in and then I make my own. You can even pick a contrasting print to do the binding in...I love the look of that!

    What a lucky sister you have!!!

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  2. You are much more of an expert sewer than I am, so all I can do is give encouragement.

    The fabrics you chose are so beautiful -- I love how unexpected they are for baby stuff.

    My mom loves to sew for all the people she knows with babies and she makes little hats out of knit fabrics a lot. Babies seem to need a lot of help keeping their heads warm.

    www.stitchingincircles.blogspot.com

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  3. These are awesome... hope you are planning to sell some of these!

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  4. Loving those fabrics, very pretty!

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  5. Love the color combo you chose. Her fabrics are delightful!

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  6. what an absolutely lovely blanket. the colors are lovely. what a special gift too :D can't wait to see all the other things you will make. exciting! & congrats to your sis & family.

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  7. "the practical guide to patchwork" has a few pages on making ones own bias tape with some good illustrations of the process to boot. it's the only good tutorial i can think of at the moment although there must be some online.

    one of my friends made just about everything for her baby and she has great taste...this is her blog and one of my favorite projects she did: http://emmmylizzzy.blogspot.com/2011/02/past-project-friday_18.html

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  8. Those fabrics look great together! My sis-in-law is pregnant, but she's having a boy and I don't think this would work so well in his room. Too bad!

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  9. I love it!! But I'm sure I'd agree with you that premade bias tape is a bit rougher than I'd like. I haven't been following your blog long enough to know how much you've made your own bias but it's not too hard (well I've only ever done it straight cuts which wouldn't work over those rounded corners, but still). I follow the tutorial for single bold binding from CrazyMomQuilts (http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/binding-tutorial.html). All that being said, I don't think it'd take anything away from this sweet blanket if it was bound by the "pillowcase/birthing method" which looks like you used on that blanket you linked. You could even keep the curves that way. I make flannel blankes that way all the time for babies with just one yard of each print (36x42) and let me tell you my two year old still uses those sweet simple ones!

    Wow, I just wrote a little book there... I love the blanket though, just how it is!!

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  10. Great blanket!

    Bibs are always wonderful!

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  11. Oh how I love these receiving blankets!
    There are many really good tutes on making bias binding, the easiest way I find is to make the binding continuous. You sew a 'tube' and mark where the binding needs to be cut that way it's all sewn together and you're ready to go!
    I haven't made voile binding, and I know it's slippery.
    Cheating option would be find some Liberty ready made bias binding that matches and use that ;-)

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  12. Well the bias tape certainly looks nice! Bias tape and binding tape are both not my friends.

    As for other items to sew, I suggest bibs and burp clothes since you go through so many of those and they really should be cute for the fun!

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  13. I love flower pattern and yours is just beautiful. I really want to sew neatly like that but so hard! You have to make more and sell it!

    Dita

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  14. So pretty - bias tape is not my friend either! How about some sun hats and a shopping cart cover for when the baby is older or a peekaboo mat? I had always thought I would learn to sew really cute dresses when I had kids...then I had 4 boys! LOL

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  15. Your work is absolutely stunning and your fabric choice is brilliant. I love following your blog...from EBT.

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  16. What a beautiful gift, the receiving blanket is truly beautiful. Congratulations to your family.

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  17. Oooh, YUMMY. I love the colors and the design, and I can feel the smooth cotton in my mind.

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  18. These fabris look great together.
    Try washing the blanket, that should soften the bias tape.

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