Clover and Elm: The Easiest Blanket You'll Ever Sew (Tutorial)

Are you as shocked as I am that I'm going to have a sewing tutorial for you guys today? I'm trying to hold onto my britches, but my excitement is just too much to handle.

I don't know if there is something in the water, but in the past nine months, I've known twenty people who have announced pregnancies or have had their babies. What?! That's insane to me. Let me drink some of that water! (Don't worry, you guys. I know how babies are made). Gradually I'm finding myself looking at baby items on Pinterest. Baby fever is a real and very powerful thing! So to get my mind off of my own baby desires, I've been throwing together items all about babies.

Now, I promise this isn't all baby related. This blanket is so versatile, and beginner friendly, that I want to share. A few months ago I whipped out a blanket for my niece using this little method, and it only took me thirty minutes (that's including cutting the fabric). If you can sew a straight line, you're gonna be a pro!

The size I'm making is actually for a doll. Despite my good intentions, I can't afford to throw money down for fabric at the drop of a hat. Maybe I'll open up a shop online and sell the ones I've made. Who knows! You don't have to make it for a doll, or a baby. I plan on using the same method to make a blanket for myself. Also, with a project like this, the fabric choices are endless!

So I'll stop chatting and jump right in!

Basic Blanket Tutorial

You'll need:

2 pieces of matching or coordinating fabrics. (For doll blankets, you can just use fat quarters or large scraps lying around. That's what I'll be doing in this tutorial). For the baby blanket I made, I used 1 yard of two coordinating fabrics.

matching thread

pins

scissors

and some rocking outrageous tunes

1. Iron your fabric pieces free of any wrinkles or deep creases. (For each of my blankets, I wanted a worn look, so I skipped this step. It's totally up to you.)

2. Taking your fabric, put the right sides of the fabric together. Reach for two pins, (I like to use these flower like pins) and pin them 3-4 inches apart. Once you've marked that opening, finish pinning the fabric sections together.

3. Here's the best part: sew a straight line all the way around the blanket, EXCEPT for the little 3-4 inch section we marked earlier. Make sure you pivot at each corner. (To pivot, once you are about 1/8 inch from the corner, twist the dial that controls your needle into the fabric. Lift your presser foot, turn your fabric to the new direction you wish to sew on, place the presser foot back down, and continue sewing. You'll do this at all the corners).

4. Using your scissors, cut off the corner edge of your fabric, making sure to not cut through the stitches. This will help the corners form a sharp point. Unpin and then carefully turn the fabric right side out.

5. Press your fabric down, making sure your corners are square and your edges line up, especially where we left the gap open.

6. Then, take your pins and pin the gap shut. I also go around and pin the edges in place.

7. When you sew this final part you want to put your needle close to the edge. As you can see in the picture below, I don't go exactly to the edge, but I go close enough to close off the open section and keep the edges sharp and clean looking. Don't forget to pivot your corners!