Cotton And Fleece Blankets For Winter
We have a wonderful family tradition of everyone making at least one homemade gift for Christmas to give another family member. My children have all made at least one blanket to give a family member. The fabrics are fun to choose and put together as we think of the personality of the family members. We have a daughter very much into music so there are always musical motif fabrics in her quilts, a son who loves insects so a quilt with ants or other insects are often made for him. There is the wonderful John Deere fabrics to make beautiful quilts. If you have a hobby or interest there is sure to be a fabric just right to personalize your blanket.
Cutting the clothing: Most of the articles should be ironed (without stretching it) to get an accurate cut. First take a scissor and cut out as much of the flat area of the article that you want to use on the quilt. Next lay this piece of material on your cutting board and cut out a square or rectangular piece. Then sort these pieces into same sized piles. Sew these similar sized pieces into a horizontal row (as wide as your quilt will be). Next put this row on your cutting board and trim the top and bottom edge so they are straight. Iron the seams open.
This means there are a variety of patterns, whether its a plain or single colour quilt, or printed and stitched patterns. There is no one single design or pattern that defines a quilt, but quilts are most commonly a single colour.
Blanket Quilt Rotary cutters have round blades that enable you to cut straight-edge shapes more quickly and accurately than scissors can. They come with various blade sizes. (A good size for a first blade is 45 mm.) Experiment with handle styles to see which you prefer as they come in various shapes and sizes.
A no sew blanket is a great option for people who just don't want to sew. It is easily made with only scissors and your own two hands. It simply involves tying two pieces of fabric, usually fleece, together. You can easily find instructions for making this type of blanket online.
For quilting beginners there are kits available that contain all of the material needed to create a quilt. These kits include step by step instructions to help you make the perfect hand crafted quilt for the new addition. Kits are also great because they help new quilters learn the basics of quilting, enabling them to create other, more personalized quilts in the future. While experienced quilters are often aware of the hard work and materials that go into creating the perfect quilt; creating the perfect baby blanket can still be difficult.
Always use a rotary cutter with a cutting mat specifically designed for it. In addition to protecting your work surface, the mat helps keep the fabric from shifting while you cut. Start with a 17x23" mat marked with a 1" grid, hash marks at 1/8" increments, and 45 and 60 degree angles.
