Blankets, blankets, blankets

I have been busy for a few days with making receiving blankets. Our church has a special tradition on Mother’s Day: new babies are dedicated to the Lord and prayed over by our Pastor and the church on Mother’s Day. As a symbol of God’s all encompassing love, the babies are gifted with a receiving blanket that has an applique foot with the church’s name on it. It also has attached to it a little tag that says “Wrapped from head to toe in God’s love; Covered with the prayers of His people.”

Here is a photo of what the final blanket looks like:

Since there were a lot of baby boys born this past year, we had 10 blankets to make. I am saying “we” because even hubby got into the action. He serged some of the blanket hems for me while I did the embroidering. First time serging or doing any kind of sewing for him. He did great!! 🙂

The applique foot design is available for purchase on our site, together with all sorts of other little and bigger feet! 🙂

It stitches up quickly. Instead of the church’s name, you, of course, would place a child’s name.

When I make these receiving blankets, I make the length the same as the full width of the fabric, so you end up with a receiving blanket about 40×40″ – which is much bigger than the ones you usually purchase in a six pack at K-Mart or Wal-Mart. I cut off the selvage and then serge the edges. I fold over the serged edges 1/2″, press, and then topstitch the serged hems with a wide zigzag stitch. Then I place the applique foot design in one corner (center of design 6″ up from corner). These make nice gifts for baby showers, too.

Happy Stitching!