Strap-friendly Baby Blanket
Beginner level. Detailed tutorial w/no sew version
A hooded blanket that can be used in any type of baby seat, the straps pull through it and secure both the baby and the blanket. No more picking up kicked off blankets off the dirty floor and trying to work around every baby seat so your baby stays warm. This is not a completely original design, mine is a little different, it has less steps and materials. You can find the original tutorial in ( http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2012/01/tutorial-hooded-car-seat-blankies.html?m=1 )
What you will need
Tools
Fabric marker/chalk
Fabric scissors
Rotary cutter (optional)
Sewing machine (version 1)
Hand-sewing needle (version 2)
Fabric
(1 m / 39½ in)² of Minky (square piece)
Miscellaneous
(6½ m / 21 ft 4 in) Stamped bias tape
(6½ m / 21 ft 4 in) Heat 'n Bond strip (version 2)
Matching Thread
How to do this project
Calculations: If you wish to adjust the measurements of this tutorial, keep in mind the following
1
The piece of fabric should be squared, if you're working with inches, or need a different sized version, always keep the piece of fabric squared, is a lot easier to work with and serves a purpose.
2
The formula to calculate the amount of bias tape you're going to need is this [4A+4B+2C+½A] , where (A = square fabric side length) , (B = length of the slits for the straps), and (C = width + height of the hole for the strap between the babies legs). In my case, the measurements are (A= 100cm or 39½ in), (B= 30cm or 12 in), (C= (10cm + 2cm) or (4 in + ¾in)) . Which gives me: [4(100cm)+4(30cm)+2(12cm)+½(100cm)]= 594cm which is almost 6 meters. The reason I put 6½ is to avoid turning up short.
3
If you don't have a sewing machine you can still do this project, just follow the instructions for version 2. And if you decide to change the measurements, use the number you got in step 2 and buy the same amount of Heat 'n Bond strip.
Preparing the fabric
1
Fold your square piece of fabric in half 2 times. You should get a square half the size of the original square. Make sure that all the edges are aligned, and there aren't any wrinkles aside from the folds.
2
Draw a shape that looks like the picture, it doesn't have to be perfect. This is your cutting pattern.
3
Place the sharp corner of the pattern in the twice-folded corner of the fabric. Cut around the pattern, making sure you're cutting the raw edges of the fabric, NOT along the folds.
4
Unfold and you should have a shape that looks somewhat similar to this.
5
Fold along the diagonal and measure 36cm/14in down along the fold from the top corner, make a little mark 5cm/2in from the fold. From that mark measure down along the fold your desired length for the strap slits (measurement B from step 2 in the Calculating section), if you're doing it exactly like me measure 30cm/12in. Make a little mark at that point 5cm/2in from the fold. Connect the two marks you've made with a straight line, it should be a parallel line to the fold, 5cm/2in apart.
6
Measure 5cm/2in below the marks you made in the previous step (make sure it's 5cm/2in from the fold) , make a mark at that point and trace a perpendicular line to the fold. Trace a parallel line to the one you just made 2cm/¾in below. Connect the 2 lines, it should form a rectangle (5*2)cm/(2*¾)in.
7
Going back to the very top of the diagonal fold, trace a curved line that starts in the raw edges, and goes down the fold. This will be the hoodie.
8
Unfold and copy the lines you traced in the previous steps in a mirror fashion. They should be 10cm/4in apart.
Assembling (version 1)
1
Sew along the line you traced for the hoodie, make sure you sew it while the fabric is folded right sides together on the diagonal you used to trace the lines. You can finish the seam by opening it and sewing the extra fabric along the side of the original seam, do both sides and trim the excess.
2
Sew around the lines you traced in the previous section using at most ½cm/¼in seam allowance. This will ensure that the Minky won't unravel in the process.
3
Using a rotary cutter or fabric scissors, cut along the traced lines.
4
Sew on the bias tape to the slits inside and the outer edge. There are plenty of great tutorials on how to sew on bias tape. If you're not sure how, check them out.
Assembling (version 2)
1
Iron your Hot 'n Bond strip to the wrong part of your bias tape. In some places you can find bias tape that actually comes with a heat transfer backing. If you find it, you can skip this step.
2
Sew along the line you traced for the hoodie, make sure you sew it while the fabric is folded right sides together on the diagonal you used to trace the lines. You can finish the seam by cutting the excess fabric, leaving ½cm/¼in seam allowance, doing a hand-sewn overcast stitch, and then doing a very quick simple stitch between the seam allowance and the blanket to pin them together. It's very simple and there are lots of great tutorials online.
3
Cut along the traced lines with fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. Be very CAREFUL not to stretch the Minky while you do it since you don't have a security seam to help you and it might fray.
4
Iron the bias tape while you fold it around the edge of the fabric, follow the Heat 'n Bond instructions. Remember to cover every raw edge. There are plenty of great tutorials on how to apply bias tape, if you're not sure how to do it, check some of them out.
5
If you want, you can end it there. Or you can add a hand-sewn seam along the bias tape to secure it
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