Baby shower gift: Handmade style

It’s arrived. The invite to the latest baby shower. Sure you could hit the stores, but there’s something extra special about putting the time, effort, and love into creating a handmade gift. Which is exactly what I want to share in this blog, how to make a super easy handmade baby shower gift because, honestly, who doesn't like sewing with really cute fabric and giving a handmade gift!?

My mom taught me to sew when I was about 10 or 11, but I didn't do much with it until I was in my 20s and from there was self-taught. I love any excuse to sew, it's therapeutic and a creative outlet for me. Now, I'm not some uber, over the top talented sewer. I try to let the fabric speak for itself in simple easy designs. That’s exactly what we’re offering up today with step-by-step instructions for a flannel swaddling blanket with matching burp cloth set.

How to make a flannel swaddling blanket with two matching burp cloth set:

What you'll need:

(Apart from the usual: sewing machine, thread, pins etc.)

1 1/4 yard patterned flannel print of choice
1/4 yard solid or coordinating print flannel to match your primary print

DIRECTIONS:

To make 2 burp cloths:

Cut 1/4 yard section off of your 1 1/4 yard flannel print, then cut in half.
Pin the 1/4 yard print and contrast solid/print, right sides, together and repeat with the other two pieces.
Sew (1/2 inch seam allowance) the 1/4 yard pieces together, leaving a 4 inch opening in the seam to turn inside out.
Clip corners, turn the burp cloth right side out, press and fold in the seam of the opening and then pin.
Top stitch the burp cloths and viola- you're done!

To make swaddling blanket:

Square off your fabric, press out (1/2 inch) roll hem around the blanket’s edge.
Top stitch opposite sides of the blanket, then follow with the other two sides.
Press and you're done!

Here are some of the examples I've made for gifts: