Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Self-Binding Blanket

The self-binding blanket is one of my favorites. I love the results. The directions are a bit tricky. It's one of those things where you need to follow the instructions even though they don't entirely make sense. It all works out in the end!

Here we go...

Cut:

42” square of flannel for blanket back
32” square of flannel for blanket front

Use ¼ inch seams.

1. Lay the two pieces of fabric right-sides together.
2. Mark the center of each side (on both pieces) with a pin.

3. One side at a time, pin the 2 fabrics together starting at the center marks. This leaves extra fabric sticking out on each corner, since the back piece is larger than the front piece.

4. One side at a time, sew from the middle to the outside corner, stopping ¼ inch from the edge. This is your “stopping point”. On the fourth side, leave an opening for turning your blanket right side out later.
5. Fold the blanket in half, so it is shaped like a triangle. Working with one corner at a time, Sew a line from the “stopping point” to the fold. This line should be a 90 degree angle to the fold.
6. Repeat for all corners. This is important: turn the blanket right-side out and check to make sure your corners look right. If they do, then turn the blanket inside-out again and proceed.
7. Cut off the excess from each corner.
8. Turn the blanket right-side out. Press entire blanket.
9. Topstitch along the seam all the way around the inner square, making sure to sew the opening shut.
You’re done!


Head on over to Flannel Queen to shop for fabric or pick up a Self-Binding Blanket Kit.

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for this tutorial! I've always just done a simple pillowcase-style method for sewing the front and back together. I'll definitely give this a try next time! :-)

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  2. I am going to try this! Do you have to use Flannel?

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  3. This is similar to a trick when lining curtains. Thanks!

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  4. You tutorials are awesome. Sometimes, when a person thinks a project is simple, somebody else that has never done it, needs a visual example (like me:). Thanks so much for blogging your tutorials. I really appreciate it.

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  5. What size of seam allowance did you use?

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  6. Took me a little to figure out the directions, but how cool when I did! Thank you for sharing. Planning to make a blanket for a special little lady for her baptism; using her grandmother's wedding dress

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  7. I made three of these for my husband's daughter who is due in about a month. I made them a little smaller than shown in the blog but that's the beauty f these-you can make them any size you want. I wish there was a way to post pictures here as they turned out really cute and came together very quickly! The directions sound a little confusing but it will make sense as you move through it.

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  8. How do you get your corners to lay flat?

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  9. would this work with batting in the middle?

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  11. Does it need to be a square to work would a rectangle shape do the same?

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    1. I am not sure why she doesn't answer, so I will answer this. Yes, a rectangle will do fine, as long as all the corners are square (90 degrees)

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    2. After reading comments, I can also respond: def yes rectangle is fine as is adding batting. Mine was rectangular and I did a running stitch baste to the smaller piece of fabric. It worked ! Yes, as she states the directions are very difficult to visualize but follow her directions step by step and you will see beautiful results. Great tutorial. I wish her well and am so thankful she shared!!

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  12. You can apply this tutorial to so many other things like: table runner, place mats and a large blanket for you bed. Make sure that the size of the larger square or rectangle is an even distance from the edge of the smaller square or rectangle. So 32" will need 42" back; 32" X 42" rectangle will need 42" X 52" back.

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  13. Does it have to be a 10” difference? Wanted a little smaller border. Can I do 5” all around?

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  14. You can make the binding smaller, but remember that a 10" difference (I usually use 30" and 40" squares) results in about a 4 1/2" border, so if you only have a 5" difference in size you'll only end up with about a 2" border. You can also have 2 fabrics the same size with no border at all and then just top stitch about 1/4" or 1/2" from the edge. If I do no border, I usually round the corners

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