Flannel baby blanket with satin binding

This Instructable is for an easy basic baby blanket. It has two layers of flannel and a satin binding. It is very baby-friendly in that it can be machine washed and does not need any other special care. The blanket only takes about an hour or so to make.

Step 1 What you need

-two 1-yard pieces of flannel
-one package satin blanket binding (at least 140 inches long, I use Wrights)
-thread
-a sewing machine and knowledge of how to use it
-something to mark your fabric like tailors chalk
-scissors
-sewing pins

Comments

[jmewald]

Okay, I have made a few fleece blankets, and also a couple of flannel blankets now. I'm a beginning sewer. I get my pre-made satin binding from Walmart. I consistently have trouble with wavy, uneven sewing lines. I lay the blanket flat, put the binding on it, and I pin it down. The front/back appear to be "straight". Then when I start sewing the front, it is a nice even line along the binding, and I flip the blanket over and EVERY time it is wavy and it goes from being right along the edge to as much as 1/2 inch into the binding. I can't see what's going on on the back side while I sew... and it NEVER turns out straight. What am I doing wrong??

[line191]

Hmmm, I am not sure, but satin is a very slippery material to work with. The satin binding you are using has a crease it in right? I have only tried the Wrights Single Fold Satin Blanket Binding, so one thought is that it could be that the brand you are using is slightly different than the one that I have used. One thing that I always do is adjust the pins as I sew, so every 6-12 inches, I check the un-sewn binding and readjust as necessary. Another thing to check, if it is just the back side that is wonky, is that your feed dogs (those moving metal teeth-looking things under your fabric on your sewing machine) are working properly. If they are not in the 'up' position, or if they are not moving, then the bottom fabric may not be moving at the same speed at the top of your fabric and you can get funky slippage. And finally, try to play with distance between the satin crease and the edge of the blanket. It could be that you either have too wide of a gap, or not enough gap. Just make sure that the edge of the flannel is not bent over at all under the satin. Let me know if none of that works and I can thing of other things to try.

[beachyme]

Thank you so much. I'll do better on the "next" one.

[beachyme]

It says "attach the binding to the blanket" and "one side of the blanket at a time".
Then it says "when you sew the satin on to the binding". Isn't the satin THE binding? Does this just mean from the corner of the folded satin binding to the edge of the binding and continue on around? I know, I'm a first time grandmama and new to sewing.

[line191]

Actually, that's just a typo!, it should be "when you sew the binding on to the blanket" Thanks for catching that, I will fix it now. Also, just to be clear, when I say 'one side of the blanket at a time', I mean one of the four side edges at a time. I realize that 'side' could be taken to mean top or bottom. Let me know if you have any other questions, and I hope this works for you!

[michmash]

I am having a problem with my zig zag stitch catching the underside satin binding on the edge like the top side.  Any helpful ideas for me??
Michelle

[line191]

I have a couple of things you might try:
1-Make sure that the shorter side of the binding is facing up. All of the satin binding I have seen has one side that is shorter. Check to make sure that is the case
2-I try to just barely catch the satin edge on the top side. The satin has a little ridge at the end, and I try to put my top zig-zag so that it just catches all of the ridge
3-Try not lining up the fold of the satin completely with the edge of the flannel, leave a little gap. That way the satin is more likely to lie on the fold and retain a shorter and longer side.
4-If all else fails, just put your zig-zag so that you aren't catching the edge at all. You can either try to catch just one of the sides over the edge, or sew a good 1/4 to 1/2 inch in from the edge. It creates a different effect, but looks just as polished.

[teragram]

Thanks for your help.  I've been fooling with this for awhile.  I had already cut my binding, so I'll just forge ahead.  But I like this.  Maybe I can sew the binding back together and then do your idea.  Thanks again.

[line191]

Good luck! I had to try a few different methods before I came across this one somewhere online and it works great for me.