Be Cautious with Home Crafted Baby Blankets

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Posted by Marian Hammel | Posted on 26-06-2010

Sleeping Baby Blanket

Sleeping Baby Blanket

Enterprising people have even turned baby blankets into works of art. However, in crafting, as in any kind of artistry, many are called but few are chosen. There are mistakes that can be made in creating blankets for babies.

Most people think it’s fairly easy to stitch together something that little. If you take for instance, a basic organic baby blanket, say one that’s 36 inches square, it seems fairly easy to snip out the material and run up a few stitches.

Choose Wisely

However, there are many choices that the would-be blanket crafter has to make. One is that they might decide to go with the non-traditional type of baby blanket and pick a material is some wild colors. This is not necessarily a good choice to make.

Blankets for babies are traditionally and typically in light and pastel colors for a good reason. Babies need some stimulation, but not constant stimulation. There are crib mobiles that can be hung to entertain the baby, and even these are often in muted colors, and with a flash of bright colors from time to time.

With this, it’s a different thing than something that is wrapped around the baby, that the baby sleeps on and looks at all the time. It could be jarring for the baby if you have something that’s in brilliant reds, and oranges, and bright blues and greens.

Check the Material

Another classic mistake that I’ve seen take place in a handmade blanket for a baby if a person buys a proper soft fabric, and then hems it with hard hems. They fold the material up too tightly and stitch through it, and this leaves a hard ridge all around the edge.

And while to the adult, the hard ridge doesn’t look like much, to a tiny baby, it can be quite difficult to lie on. Another mistake, well-intended though it was, involved attaching a very lacy edging to a baby’s blanket, and the edging that caused a problem was a beautiful filet style.

Hand-made Blanket

Hand-made Blanket

However, baby’s little fingers and little toes kept getting hooked in the crocheted edging of thebaby blanket, and this caused some panic for the baby. If you want to be creative in creating baby blankets, stick to traditional colors, add maybe a tiny bit of accents here and there, stay away from lacy finger-catching trim, and if you are into making baby blankets at home, be absolutely positive that all pins and needles have been removed.

A Baby Blanket is a Security Blanket

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Posted by Marian Hammel | Posted on 09-10-2009

 

Striped Baby Blanket

Striped Baby Blanket

Every baby should have his or her very own special baby blanket.  You know, there is a certain “psychology” behind it.  We all have our little “crutches” that get us through day to day traumas and they are often referred to as our “security blankets.”  How much more a tiny infant needs that extra added security.  Think about it.

That child recently left the warmth and safety of his/her mother’s womb and is thrust out into a chaotic world with a cacophony of sights and sounds.  The reassurance of a blanket that stays with him/her day and night replicates the safety of the womb.

Now you could go out and purchase a one, which many people do.  However, if you want baby’s blanket to be truly unique and special try making it!  A handmade blanket for a baby will be cherished for years to come.

Trip Down Memory Lane

Don’t you still have your first pair of baby shoes, your baby book and your first “blankie” in a memory box somewhere?  I bet your grandmother made you a lovely crochet blanket for babies that was made with enough love that you could actually “feel” it as a child.

Many online sites offer a variety of free patterns for almost any craft or hobby.  If you are looking for a knitting pattern for a blanket or a baby quilt pattern try browsing the several sites around.  If you look you can find patterns for the crochet enthusiast as well as ideas to make a personalized baby blanket if you have an embroidery machine.

Get It Customized

A baby quilt that has been embroidered with baby’s name and nursery embroideries is a truly unique gift.  If you are really creative you could try making your own pattern to save some money.  Of course mommy and daddy probably appreciate that blanket more now, but as the child grows his blankie will almost certainly become an extension of him.  Wherever baby goes, blankie goes.

So you see, a handmade baby blanket is so much more than a personalized gift for baby.  Over time baby develops a sort of friendship with his blankie.  When the child starts going to day care while mommy works his blanket goes with him.  It feels and smells (and is some cases tastes) like home.

You can also put a quote on the gift for your little one, like the one below to add even more value to it:

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Sentimental Value

Ultimate Comfort

Ultimate Comfort

For mom and dad it is just one more sign of how special their little one is.  That blanket was handmade especially for their baby and everyone knows their baby is the best baby in town.  If it were any other way there’s something terribly wrong with those parents.  Each and every baby is unique and should get a special gift from their family. They deserve to have their very own blanket .

My recommendation is to spend the time and find blankets for babies that work specifically for your baby. In other words, I am not giving you a real recommendation! It’s all up to you!