How to make a swaddle blanket

Find your favorite knit fabric for your swaddle blanket

DO NOT USE A SWADDLE PAST 2 1/2 MONTHS!!

There are so many beautiful prints of fabric. The best fabric to use for a swaddle blanket is a stretchy knit. The following will instruct you on how to make a swaddle blanket to help baby feel safe and secure. These blankets make the most wonderful gifts for a new mom and baby. You can whip out 3-5 in an afternoon for a shower the next day. So get out your rotary cutter and thread your sewing machine and let’s get started!

A swaddle blanket is 45″ by 45″. For each blanket, you need to purchase a yard and a fourth of fabric. I would suggest a yard and a half so you can square it up nicely, plus have a little bit left over for a matching knotted headband.

Square it up

Hold the material up with selvage edges together and shift the material until it hangs straight. (Without any ripples down to the fold) You want an exact square, so the first item of business is to cut the selvage off the edges. Next, line the fabric up on your rotary mat and square up one side of the fabric. I find it easiest to use a clear ruler and a rotary cutter. Square up the other side. You want to measure the width of the fabric after cutting the selvage off. Make it the same length to have a square. You can take one edge and fold it into a triangle to make sure it is square.

Finishing

Now it’s time to finish the edges. The preferred method would be to set up your serger for a rolled hem with matching thread and trim off approximately 1/8″ all the way around, rounding the corners. You can also just serge the edges with a regular serged seam. Another way is to use your regular machine. Use a zig zag stitch on the edges. For knit, you need to make sure and use a ballpoint needle for stretchy material. Voila! You are finished. Now, wasn’t that easy? If you are making these for a baby girl, they are super cute with a matching headband. For instructions on those, click here!