Flannel Receiving Blankets
I’m starting to think that there is something in the water. Friends, left and right, are turning up pregnant. Thrilled with the good news, I’ve become a receivin’-blanket-makin’ machine. No sooner am I done with one, then I am on to the next. With each blanket I find myself guessing baby names, picturing my friends in the role of ‘Mom’ and imagining the nervous excitement of the dads-to-be.
I am so happy sitting with this super soft flannel draped in my lap, hypnotized by the rhythm of crochet and the feeling of merino wool as it winds through my fingers. The soft touch of these remarkable materials soothes me in the same way I know it will the new babes!
While it is a pleasure to make these Receiving Blankets, it is an even greater joy to think of them in use. The foggy, warm stripes of Ecrulet’s Flannel and the crisp, rich colors of Koigu’s merino combine in such pretty harmony, that I can’t wait to see my friends’ littles bundles all wrapped up inside!
Congrats to all those expecting! –Laura
PS: Check out Molly’s Lap Duvets for more ideas on how to use Ecrulet’s magnificent Flannel Stripes!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Materials
To make one 41-inch by 41-inch blanket:
- 1 1/4-yards Ecrulet Flannel Stripes. I used Grey.
- 1 skein of Koigu’s Koigu Premium Merino. I used colors 2290 and 2405.
- 1 US size A crochet hook
- 100% cotton thread. I used 1040.
Pattern
Cut and Wind
Cut the fabric into a 42-inch by 42-inch square.
Wind the yarn into a ball. Place it to the side for now.
Pin and Sew
Fold and press each edge of the fabric 1/4-inch toward the wrong side. Fold and press each edge 1/4-inch toward the wrong side once more. Pin the folds in place and machine sew down with an edgestitch.
Crochet the Edge
Orient the fabric so the front is facing you and the stripes are vertical.
Begin approximately 1 inch from a corner. Insert hook just below the hemmed edge, into the middle of a stripe. Pull a loop through. Grab the yarn from the back and pull it through the loop you just made.
Insert hook back through the same hole, and make a single crochet along the edge of the fabric.
*Chain one.
Insert hook into the next stripe, and make a single crochet.
Insert hook back through the same hole, and make a single crochet
Insert hook through the same hole, for a third time. Make a single crochet.
Repeat from * until you reach the corner.
Turn the Corner
After you’ve made a cluster of single crochets right before the corner, chain 3 (rather than 1). For the next stitch (the first of the new side), insert the hook into the last hole you made, as pictured above.
Now that you have turned the corner, you no longer have stripes to guide your placement. You can mark the fabric every 1/4 to 5/8-inch using a Chaco Marker if you would like a guide or you can just eye-ball it.
Continue around the 2nd, 3rd and 4th edge of the blanket, turn the 4th corner and work up to the stripe where you first began.
Connect at the End
Chain one.
Insert hook into the first stripe, where you began, and make a single crochet.
Cut yarn and pull through. Using a tapestry needle, weave in your ends.
You have done it!
Now you can do it again to make a pair!!!
My mother passed away over 30 years ago and this is what she always gave as a baby gift but she used crochet cotton instead of yarn.
I plan to make these but I am not using stripe material so was wondering how far apart are they so I know what the space length is. Thank you.
Phyllis Miracle
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for reaching out! It is a 1/2″ in between each one!
Warmly,
Gianna
Did u use a regular crochet hook or one of those sharp ones?
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! We used a regular crochet hook for this pattern! We used the SKACEL Addi Color Coded Crochet Hooks in a US size A!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am working on these now. Do the edges curl a bit or are they supposed to lay flat after adding the crochet stitches? Mine seem to pucker or cuve a bit but I’m not sure if this means I am crocheting too tightly or not. Thank you!
Hi Katie,
Thanks for reaching out! These blankets should lay pretty flat and not curl so you may be crocheting a bit too tightly if you are experiencing curling and puckering!
Warmly,
Gianna
Don’t have or use a sewing machine. Too old to start! Any other ideas
Hi Jan,
Thanks for reaching out! It will be a bit more cumbersome but you could certainly hand sew the edges!
Warmly,
Gianna
You’re never too old to start a new hobby. It also keeps your mind sharp challenging it. You can hand stitch it by catching the edge of the double fold.
Very nice tutorial.
Thank you to teaching and share.
Are these washable since merino wool is used?
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! It will totally depend on the flannel you use and the washing instructions for that particular fabric. Since we no longer carry this particular flannel, I don’t have the washing instructions available. However, some flannels are superwash so they are machine washable, and others require hand washing to avoided felting!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
I have done these for decades, but I use cotton blanket fabric & cotton or silk embroidery thread. Many babies do not tolerate wool. I have never heard of an allergy to cotton (which does not mean it does not exist), and it is usually less expensive.
I love you tutorial and photos, I haven’t made any blankets yet, but my Grandmother used to make blankets with this crocheted edging. I always wondered how she did it. Now I can make at least one for my new grand niece that was born about six weeks ago.
Thank you so much!
Just making sure- these are one piece of flannel with the edges sewn down? It’s not two pieces of flannel sewn together?
Thank you-
Hi Antonia,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, that is correct, this is one piece of flannel!
Warmly,
Gianna
Have I missed something? How do you get the crochet hook through the fabric?
Hi Deb,
Thanks so much for reaching out. The size US A crochet hook should be small and sharp enough to poke through the flannel, but you can also use a sharp tapestry needle to poke the hole if you find that easier!
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any questions.
All the best,
Carly
In the 1960’s I was given a flannel baby blanket with this very crochet edging and I have always wanted to know the stitch, but never able to figure it out. To replicate that blanket I made gifts using double flannel and made machine edging, nice but not the same. Thank you so much for this pattern and I plan to try it for expectant great grandchild.
Hi Dorothy,
Thank you for reaching out, and congratulations on your grandbaby on the way! It’s lovely to hear that you’re already planning out a receiving blanket for the new baby. You must be so excited!
Our warmest wishes to you and your growing family!
All the best,
Carly
What do you call this stitch?
Hi EM,
Thanks for reaching out. While it doesn’t look like this stitch has an official name, but it’s created with clusters of elongated single crochet stitches, connected with a chain stitch. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I have searched everywhere for the kind of flannel you show – double faced or reversible flannel. Everyone looks at me like I’m imagining this!
I understand the company that you mentioned is no longer in business but do you have any other suggestions where I might find flannel that is the same on both sides? Using a flannel that has a print on one side and simply plain white on the other isn’t as pretty. Thanks for any help you can lend.
Hi Sylvia,
I’m so sorry that we haven’t been able to help find a similar fabric! However, we had an idea that might make your vision for this project feasible with the fabric you’ve come across already. What if you sewed two pieces of fabric together, with both their right sides facing outwards? That would create a double-sided (and doubly thick!) blanket.
All the best,
Lili