{charmed earth}

The Lifestyle blog of Katie Storms.: something simple, something sweet, something styled.

02 January 2012

{something cozy} woodland baby blanket, granny style


Our baby *jupiter* and I have already met in a dream. She had pink pig tails like Jem, and she giggled when she called me mama.

Our nursery is still a pretty empty room across the hall from our room. People keep asking us if we have a theme. We don't. Really, we don't. I don't want a theme. And I want to say, for the record, that if there's a theme, it's vintage-handmade, with a touch of woodland.

The other day I meant to stop at a the Book House to search for images and titles to bring home for Jupiter's library. But my pregnant mind forgot, and I'd already arrived at Trader Joe's.

I headed home afterward to do something else for her: I finished her handmade blanket. This is the one way I know how to make a blanket by heart. It takes little measuring and minimal sewing machine skills. And, it turns out, this is the method Jv's Granny most likely used to make her popular "Granny Blankets" that are in our bedroom.

Part of me wanted to get different fabric since I've discovered the best fabric store in all of St. Louis. But the "Living With Less" attitude got the better of me. I needed to use the fabric I already bought at the store with my Mama back in the fall. It's a woodland spring motif. My favorite part about it is the fawns--they are so beautiful.

This baby blanket took me a few hours--minus pre-washing and ironing the fabric.


Supplies you need: two layers of fabric, 2 yards of each; crib sized batting; yarn; sewing machine; darning needle; scissors; safety pins; and thread. {isn't my needle book super cute?! My friend Sheri handmade it for me for Christmas, and I adore it.}


Step-by-Step:
Step One: Lay your first layer of fabric out on a large space. I used my dining room table. Make sure your pretty side is facing away from you. Lay the batting on top of the fabric. If it's too wide, you can trim it later.
Step Two: Lay the second layer of fabric on top of the batting. Make sure the pretty side is facing you. Smooth out the fabric and batting so that there are no wrinkles. {mine has a few wrinkles--all the more handmade}
Step Three: Safety pin the layers together, making sure you pin enough spots so that the fabric doesn't slip.
Step Four:Thread your darning needle with your yarn, and cut a long piece of yarn off of the ball. I think I cut about a yard or two.
Step Five: Sew your yarn through all three layers of fabric and batting. Pull the yarn all the way through until you have about a one to two inch piece left.
Step Six:Tie your yarn into a knot. Trim yarn. Repeat this step and step six all over your blanket so that you have enough knots that the blanket is secure. Remove your safety pins when you are finished.
Step Seven: You might need to do some trimming so that you can cleanly bind the blanket.
Step Eight: Fold the edges in to face each other.
Step Nine:Sew the edges with your sewing machine {now you are binding that baby blanket}. When you get to the corners, fold the corners in like a paper airplane so that you can have a firm corner before going back to Step Ten. As you do this, backstitch a few times to secure the corners. After each seam is bound, your blanket is ready for a sweet, sweet baby.


I hope she likes it:)

xo
katie scarlett

3 comments:

  1. this totally just melted my heart! you are going to be such a great mama! and she is going to love her granny blankets. i still have both of mine right here in my apartment! haha! happy new year cousin!

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  2. Very sweet! I have no nursery theme either, and I love it that way :) Everything works! Can't wait to see you, and to meet her!!! She and Morgan will be close to how far apart in age we are, and they will be great friends, I just know it!!

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  3. My family calls these blankets peginas (peh-she-nas)--it's Czech--except that the cover is put on an old blanket or bedspread. When that fabric is worn out, you just cover it again...making an increasingly cozy blanket.

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