High Country Quilting: Ric Rac Receiving Blanket Tutorial

This is a new favorite way of making a receiving blanket of mine, and our first tutorial. Let us know what you think!

Rick Rack Receiving blanket

finished size 36 x 36

Materials needed:
1 1/8 yard pattern flannel
1 1/8 yard solid flannel
2 packages (2.5 yards ea) medium rick rack

1. Wash and dry fabrics - this is really important when using different materials, and flannel tends to shrink differently than your typical "flat" cotton. This blanket would also be great with one flannel and one "flat" cotton, or Jumbo rick rack. Iron both fabrics.

2. Square both fabrics. I chose to cut them 36 x 36 because of how my fabric shrunk, but there is not one right size. Bigger, smaller, they all turn out cute! I do choose a square because I like it better when swaddling a little one, but rectangles work too. Really, no rules here... just guidelines!

3. Round the corners - I used a dinner plate as my guide for a nice curve. I have no objections to square either, but the rick rack is easier to maneuver around the corners if they are rounded.

4. Sew rick rack to right side of one piece, 1/8" away from fabric edge. When your rick rack runs out, pull to outside and insert new piece in the same fashion. Trim the edges off.

5. Lay pieces on top of each other, right sides together. Because I am working with flannel, and it has some stretch, I choose to pin. Two per corner, and two on each side. I also double pin on one side, leaving a 10" opening to turn blanket out.

6. Turn inside out and press. You may have to do some "wiggling" with your fingers to get the rick rack right where you want it.

7. Because we added the rick rack, I chose to topstitch with a straight seam on this blanket, 1/8" away from edge. Again, do what you like. There is more than one way to make this simple blanket great!