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Gifts, Home Decor, and Kids' Stuff

Aden & Anais Summer Blanket

9/10/2013

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This is a continuation of the Aden & Anais Security Blanket project. My initial goal was to make a couple of super breathable security blankets, but I had so much leftover material, that I was able to make the perfect size blanket for my daughter for the summer. The steps are very simple and this blanket was just the right weight. We don't have AC, but it can still get cool at night. The swaddle blanket by itself was too thin and her knitted blankets were too heavy. By adding a piece of flannel to the back of the Aden & Anais blanket it became the perfect blanket!

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures for this project. However, it is very similar to making the swaddle blanket... but a lot simpler. Here is goes:

  1. Put your leftover swaddle blanket fabric on top of a piece of flannel, right sides together. (This is just like we did with the swaddle. We are going to sew a seam around the inside of the blanket so it is concealed.)
  2. Using a rotary cutter and mat, square of the pieces so they are equal size.
  3. Pin the two pieces together.
  4. Sew a 1/4" seam around the entire blanket, but leave a gap about 1.5" inches wide. (Remember to backstitch when you begin and end your seam.)
  5. Gently tug the blanket through gap so that it is now right sides out.
  6. Sew a little less than 1/4" topstitch around the entire blanket. Don't forget to tuck the raw edges of that gap in so it's closed up tight as well.
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You're done! Like I said, it has been the perfect weight blanket. I'm so glad I had the guts to do this project. Happy Sewing! 


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Aden + Anais Security Blanket

8/16/2013

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Your Aden + Anais Jungle Jam blankets have arrived and you are super excited! Now, what to do while you are awaiting the arrival of your little one...

Why not make a security blanket?

I have to admit that as an beginner seamstress, I was a little hesitate to cut up my favorite receiving blanket (this was actually the one she was swaddled in the day she was born. But, I'm so glad I had the guts to do it. Because now she has a blanket that is as unique as she is. 

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Step 1.
Cut two equal pieces of your blanket in desired size.
Cut two strips of silk material so that their length matches the width of your blanket material. 

You are going to fold these pieces in half lengthwise in another step, so whatever you want the final width of the accent pieces to be, double it when cutting. For example, if you want your silk to extend 1.5 inches beyond the length of blanket, measure a piece 3 inches wide.


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Step 2. Place your two muslin pieces together, right sides facing each other and pin.

Step 3. Sew along two sides of the blanket, be sure to backstitch every time you start and stop. Do not sew the edges where you want your silk pieces to be. We'll insert those in the next step. Leave about a 1 inch gap in the middle of one of these sides. The reason for this is so we can pull the material through the hole in a later step. If you forget to leave this gap (as I have once or twice), just use a seam ripper to make a gap when the time comes.

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Step 4. Take your muslin and silk pieces to your ironing board. Fold your silk piece as seen in the photo. What you are doing here is turning about a 1/4 inch in so that it'll fit in the pocket we've created for it on the blanket and so that the final product won't show any raw edges. This will make sense in a minute...
Spray this edge with starch and iron. Repeat on the other side so you now have 1/4 in turned in on both sides.

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Step 5. Fold the silk piece in half lengthwise, spray with starch and iron. 

Repeat steps 4 & 5 with the second silk accent piece.

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Step 6. Insert your you silk accent pieces into the "pockets" you created, matching the raw edge of the silk accent to the raw edge of the muslin blanket. 

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This is what your blanket will look like once you have inserted the silk piece. Be sure to leave a little of the raw edge of the silk sticking out the top as shown here. This way you will be sure to encase the silk accent in the seam in the next step.

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Step 7. Sew the raw edges of the silk accent piece and muslin pieces together. Repeat on the second side.




Do you remember how we left that gap? See the two pictures below. You are now going to gently pull your material through so that the right sides are out.

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Step 8. Iron your blanket so it lays nice and flat. I know you are excited to get to the final product, but do not skip this step.

Step 9. Sew a final topstitch around the entire blanket. When you reach a corner, make sure your needle is in the down position and lift the foot so that you can turn your piece. Put the foot back down and keep sewing. Backstitch at the beginning and the end of your topstitch and make sure you tuck the edges of that gap in when you reach it so that it won't come undone in the future.

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You're done! And now you can make another one so you can always have one for your baby and one in the wash. 
Also, check out my post for how to make a light summer blanket out your leftover material.

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My daughter doesn't go to sleep without hers. And I've been able to rest easily knowing that she's safe with her super breathable security blanket. 

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