So remember how I was so busy there for a couple of weeks? This is what I was doing. For everyone who has been asking how to make my baby blankets, this post is for YOU! Yes, I am now going to expose all my secrets to you all.
Hopefully these instructions cover all the details, but if you have any more questions feel free to ask away! I know these pictures aren't the best, but I was having a hard time getting the edited ones to post with my crappy connection. I don't know why it did that, but at least I finally got it to post.
Start with your fabric. I always try to pick fabric with lots of different textures.
Use painters tape with a low adhesive to mark out your blanket pattern. This is where you can get creative. Just make it up. I normally have a drawing of what I am going to make, although this particular blanket I have made before, therefore I did not need a drawing.
Lay out the fabric in whatever color order you want. Notice the fabric is cut into strips. This does not have to be even. Some can be fat, and some can be skinny. Make it up!
Sew all the strips together.
Lay the strips out over the pattern.
Time to cut. Using your pattern, cut along the line.
It should look like this. Remember, it DOES NOT have to be perfect.
Time to fill the center with fabric. Lay your large fabric pieces under the strips you have just sewn and cut along the line. Do this on one piece of fabric only!
Use the large piece you have just cut as a template for the other side and cut.
Sew it all together and it should look something like this.
NOW IT"S TIME TO MAKE YOUR TURTLES!
I normally draw them out on a piece of paper the exact size I want them, and then use that as a template.
The back ground of the turtles should be a large oval.
Using your template as a guide, fill in the center with fabric. Next use an iron-on fusing to basically "glue" the fabric together. You will need to do this to the center pieces of the turtle, and to fuse the turtles to the blanket as well.
If you don't know what that is, here is a picture of what I use. Great stuff.
Now it's time for the fun part. Set your sewing machine to the zig zag stitch. You will need to set the stitch length to be pretty long. On my machine I normally go between a 5-7. But every machine is different. The most important thing here is to set your stitch width as small as possible. You want the stitches to be very close together. I normally have to go over everything twice to get good coverage. Just play around with it. It's fun!
This is what it should look like when you have finished.
This is what everything should look like at this point.
Pick a border, cut it into strips and sew it on. I go 2 inches. You do whatever you want...wide or thin it makes no difference.
I like to sew on some ric-rac to make it cuter, I think it finishes this particular blanket nicely. Now to the last step....the dreaded binding. I hate it. It is hard for me. Just try to be patient and keep at it.
Especially be careful while sewing it on. Just take your time, and it will turn out MARVELOUS!
The bikes are pretty funny to watch and it does take a fair amount of time to get down there, so we don't do it very often. We recently had the idea of letting them drive the jeep down there. Logan is getting pretty good at driving it, so why not.
Logan and Alexis are still the best of friends. Alexis instantly forgave Logan when he gave her a hug and said he was sorry for crashing.
They are indeed the best of friends.
