Rectangular Self-Binding Flannel Blanket Tutorial for Luke's Loves

Kimbo from A Girl and a Glue Gun is doing a blanket drive for Luke's Loves and has asked several bloggers to participate by sharing a blanket tutorial. We are happy to be a part of this great project! Here is some information about Luke's Loves...

For our blanket tutorial, I decided to tackle the Rectangular Self-Binding Flannel Blanket. This is similar to our tutorial for the traditional Self-Binding Blanket, which is square. But I wanted to test it out to see if it works for a rectangular blanket...and it does!

Isn't my little model adorable? She likes to cut her own hair.

Materials Needed:
Two pieces of flannel. Cut them so one piece is 10 inches shorter than the other, both in length and width. For example, if your larger piece is 42" x 62", your smaller piece should be 32" x 52".

Steps:
1. With pins, mark the middle point of all four sides of both pieces of flannel.
2. Pin the two pieces of flannel right-sides together at the middle points. Now pin the fabrics together, starting at the center points and working out to the corners. Expect extra fabric to be showing at the corners. This is how it's supposed to be!
3. Sew each side: I use 1/2 inch seams when sewing with flannel. Sew each of the 4 sides, stopping 1/4 inch from the corners. On one of the sides, leave a 6" opening which you will use later on to turn your blanket right-side out.

 

(step 3) This is what your corners will look like.

4. Fold the blanket in half diagonally to make a triangle. Match up two of the sides you just sewed. The corner will form a triangle like this:

(step 4) The black dotted line is your seam from the previous step.

5. Sew a seam that STARTS at the end-point of the black dotted line and ENDS at the fold, making a 90 degree angle where it hits the fold. Clear as mud, right? The picture will help you out.

(step 5) The red dotted line is the seam you sew in step 5. See how it makes a 90-degree angle with the fold?

6. Cut off the triangle to the right of the seam you sewed in step 5.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 for all 4 corners.
8. Turn your blanket right-side out. Put your hand inside the blanket and use your fingers to work the corners out so they are nice and pointy. Sometimes they are a little stubborn.
9. Iron your blanket.
10. Top stitch the rectangle where the two fabrics meet. Be sure to stitch the opening shut.

Thank you to Riley Blake Designs for providing the gorgeous flannel from the Chatsworth collection!