With Christmas not too far away I have started my long list of items to make for my children, niece, nephews, cousins children, sisters....well you get the point. So, I have been trying to knock out an item on the list every evening. This evening I created a blanket with tags...which many know as Taggie Blankets but I want to make very clear that Taggie Blankets are patent protected and you cannot sell these on Etsy, Ebay, etc BUT you can make these for personal gift giving. :) Since these are patent protected I am going to refer to them as blankets with tags and I want to give a general idea how to create one of these.
These types of blankets are super easy to make and anyone with minimum sewing experience can make these.
Materials:
1/2 yard Minky Fabric
1/2 yard Coordinating Fabric (flannel, satin, more minky up to you)
168" of Ribbon consisting of 4 different types (usually sold by the spool)
Matching Thread
Scissors
Tons of Pins
Starting off you should decide how big you want to make your blanket. I decided on making a 16" by 16" but when I cut my fabric I cut it 16.5" by 16.5" so I could do wider seams.
Above is my fabric I decided on doing blue bubble minky with light green stripped minky. You can see some of the ribbons I had started cutting to length.
Next you need to cut out your ribbon to either 4", 5", or 6" long (you'll fold these in half so keep that in mind) you can either do different lengths or all the same lengths. I did mine as 6" ribbons...
I had some ric rac and used that as one of my 4 ribbons
Now that everything is cut out lay your two fabrics right sides on top of the other and get ready to pin your ribbon to your blanket!
Fold your first ribbon in half and pin it about half an inch from the corner then measure and inch from this one and pin your next ribbon. Your ribbons should be pinned to were they are tucked into the blanket.
So, once everything is pinned do a straight stitch. Make sure to leave an opening to pull your blanket right side out! ( I forgot to photograph that sorry! Leave about a 1-1.5" opening by one of the corners)
After sewing all sides AND leaving your opening pull your blanket through the hole smooth it out.
I like the idea of putting some ribbon or ric rac as a designated hang up loop. Were the opening is you will need to do a ladder stitch (hidden stitch) and tuck in your ribbon/ric rac in the process right at the corner.
Once you finish doing your ladder stitch and adding your optional hook piece now it is time to do a top stitch. Using super soft or silky fabric it is going to roll in your sewing machine so I heavily suggest pinning your edges to do your top stitch.
The above photo is what you should have before the top stitch (took this before I did my ladder stitch).
Top stitch! (I pinned mine after I took this photo)
After you do that your done! TaDa a blanket with tags!
Enjoy and have fun!
~Be Faithful in the Small Things because it is in them that your Strength lies. -Mother Teresa
Something all mommy's (and daddy's) try to decide after they find out they are having a little one is how to decorate their new arrivals room! When we learned we would be having another baby I started to worry about decorating the new babies room. I learned with my first that the cute baby decor does not stay long and if you like to create things as I do it can make the effort seem not as fruitful when it is not up long. So, when we learned that this baby would also be a boy I chose a very old nursery rhyme called Wynken, Blynken and Nod! For those of you that do not or have never heard of this rhyme see below:
Wynken,
Blynken, and Nod (Dutch Lullaby)
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in that beautiful sea---
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish---
Never afeard are we";
So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam---
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
'T was all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 't was a dream they 'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea---
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
After looking and looking I realized I had chosen something that did not have any bedding (or at least that actually looked like the rhyme). SO I decided to make one myself! I have created crib sheets, lamp shade, light covers,(I'll post those later) even the wooden shoe sail silver/gold net and the herring fish! I hope this inspires others to create a custom nursery for their little one as well. I have really enjoyed doing everything and have a few things to still create but not much!! 58 days till my due date so I think I can get it done before then.
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| Wynken, Blynken and Nod |
I still have to adjust the sail but I feel this turned out wonderfully!
Now I just need to make the crib mobile and all done!
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
~Mother Teresa
