Double Sided Fleece Blanket for Toddlers - Naptime Project

Ben, the three year old, has been so patient as I keep stitching things up for his little sister, and I have been really wanting to make him something of his own.  Every time I'm working with fleece, he steals the fabric and says it is his blanket, so I thought I'd make him one.  The boy loves his Baltimore sports teams, so I bought a yard of each of the fabrics above and made him a blanket that he can actually use.  I told him if he took a good nap, I'd have a surprise for him when he woke up.  And I did!  I don't think I've ever been happier to give someone something I made.  He has been wanting a blanket from some of my fabric stash for so long.  He immediately wrapped himself in it and stole my heart.

Click on "read more" to get the full how to.

I think I could have made this fancier, maybe added a border and what not, but I really wanted to make it during his nap, so this is quick and dirty.  And easy.

You need a yard of each material, pins, thread, and your sewing machine.

Place the wrong sides together, and pin all of the edges.  Make sure that you aren't getting wrinkles in the fabric as you pin more sides.

My fabric was not cut square, so to cut the corners at right angles, I laid it on the tile floor of my kitchen and used the grout lines.  I'd like a nice cutting guide, but I don't have one, so the tile will have to do :)  Also, the grout lines make a nice channel for the scissors.

Leave an opening on one side of your fabric.  Mine is about 3 inches long.  I marked where I wanted to start and stop the opening with pins so that I wouldn't accidentally stitch it closed and have to get out the dreaded seam ripper.

Sew up all sides. I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Backstitch on each side of the opening.  For corners, leave the foot down and turn fabric 90 degrees.  When done, cut the corners out so that they are easier to turn right side out.

Pull blanket through the opening that you left.  Poke out the corners. 

Top stitch (sew on the right side of the fabric.  This makes it look finished and also closes up the opening you left in the first seam.) all edges.  I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance for that. When you get to a corner, leave the needle in, foot down, and rotate the fabric 90 degrees.

All done!