How to Make a Self-Binding Receiving Blanket, no Quilting Needed!

Learn to make the CUTEST, self-binding receiving blanket with a few quick steps! This technique gives you a great blanket that is self binding and is so easy to make. For this baby blanket, grab ¾ of a yard of fabric for the inside, and 1 yard of fabric for the outside. Once you’re done, check out our other tutorials to add applique, or do some home quilting to make it unique!
Ever wonder 'what is a receiving blanket?" A receiving blanket often gets confused with a swaddling blanket. The swaddle is usually larger in size (47 x 47 inches), while the receiving blanket is usually used for newborns and measures 30 x 30 inches.This method will work for either size! Make a baby blanket that best serves the baby you'll be giving it to.
SUPPLIES
▸ Howdy fabric collection by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda Fabrics - bit.ly/3D7nnCb
▸ Moda Fabric at Fat Quarter Shop - www.fatquartershop.com/moda-fa...
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▸ Creative Grids 6.5” Square Ruler - www.fatquartershop.com/creativ...
▸ Olfa Deluxe 45mm Rotary Cutter - www.fatquartershop.com/olfa-de...
▸ FQS Magnetic Pin Cushion - www.fatquartershop.com/fat-qu...
▸ Dritz Pins - www.fatquartershop.com/extra-f...
▸ Frixion Pen - www.fatquartershop.com/frixion...
▸ That Purple Thang - www.fatquartershop.com/that-pu...
▸ Quilter’s Cut N Press II - www.fatquartershop.com/quilter...
▸ Iron - www.fatquartershop.com/velocit...
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[@katherineray1980]

I've watched 5 or 6 tutorials about self-binding blankets and this was the best. I think all the thoroughness and extra tips will help me up my blankie game!

[@maureenross579]

The more I watch you sew and make projects the more I appreciate your attention to detail and your precision in cutting and ironing. You have convinced me that being consistent is the key to good outcomes. No cutting corners!

[@janetbailey4282]

I just finished 6 different tutorials, you won the prize for best in class.....great job.

[@jessicacurrie924]

Great video! I love how when you were pinning for the mitered corners you said "an extra ocd step" haha. That is totally me!

[@conniekershaw4412]

I think this is one of best tutorials on how to make self-binding blankets. You explained every step and demonstrated every step. It was the most clearly explained mitered corner that I have seen. Thank you!!!!

[@debbiechittick4755]

Love that stitch! It really makes the blanket! Thank you Kimberly.

[@cynthiastrannard8944]

I am so glad I found this tutorial. I appreciate that every detail of the process is shown with such efficiency and clarity. I have been struggling to make these supposed "easy and quick" blankets, and am an experienced sewer, yet have not been aware of all the little steps that will improve the process and outcome! Thank you very much!

[@patriciabockenstette6550]

Kimberly lovely tutorial. Of all that I have watched yours was the only one that gave the formula of adding 10 inches to the center panel. Loved the colors too. Thanks.

[@towinbuddy]

I make toddler blankets and senior citizen lap blankets the same way. I add batting for those colder climates. Great job teaching

[@binkjo]

towinbuddy do you quilt or tackwhen you make a lap size?

[@kathytabb]

Thank you Kimberly! I've made some of these before from other tutorials and was not happy with the results. I know now, thanks to you, what I was doing wrong. I love your OCD! I think that makes the difference!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Ha - thanks so much Kathy!

[@magdalenaacosta6211]

I love this technique the best. I saw two other "how to" videos before this one, I wished I had seen yours first. Great Job! Thank you for your dedication to your viewers.

[@yvonnemoretti7646]

Thank you I have seen so many tutorials on this, but your explanations made it understandable. I am going to give it a try.

[@nanamjbri]

Thank you for explaining each step so clearly 👍🏼 it’s a gorgeous baby blanket love the way it turned out . My niece just had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and I have been watching so many videos on how to make Burp Clothes so I have decided to make some and after that I’ll try to make her a baby blanket like this one 🎀 wish me luck

[@oliviakornelis9073]

Thank you for this fabulous tutorial! The best instructions EVER!

[@debpangle9964]

So fun!! I love making baby blankets! 💛🌻💛

[@texasmimi1954]

Thanks for sharing how to make this adorable baby blanket!

[@colleenmurphy6529]

Thank you for this tutorial. My first attempt failed. Now that I watched this video, I know why. Best to you.

[@MultiCaro2011]

Colleen Murphy mine did too, i will try again but need to watch this tutorial first 😊

[@nancystanley3239]

Fantastic job! Very nice! Thank you

[@stephiepeterson]

I am glad to know I am not the only one who can be too aggressive poking corners out. Lol. Thanks for this!

[@loriesalkeld536]

Really appreciate your step by step process. Nothing left to guess at! Thanks

[@joanneogley4874]

Loved your edge stitching, what a sweet lil blanket, I will give it a go

[@lisa40SW]

Thank you for such an excellent video! Explanations and views of your work perfect so I was able to see and understand everything.

[@missmary9950]

Wow! By far the most helpful sewing video I've seen. Please keep making them! Thank u for all the details 🤗

[@dhanyaputhran3360]

I liked it so much,i wanted to learn same for the bedsheets.

[@lindamattson6281]

Always like your tutorials. You explain things that a beginner or long time sewer understands. I have purchased some flannel to make these blankets to donate to our local hospital. This will make it a lot easier than I thought to make these. Thanks again for your tutorials.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Thanks Linda!

[@avonnorma]

That was the easiest baby blanket I've ever seen. Thank you. I will have to try it.

[@lillianmaldonado9731]

Very detailed tutorial, great job. Thank you

[@klparker76401]

Excellent video Kimberly. I’ve got to make my granddaughter a blanket for her baby doll. Your blanket is just perfect, quick & easy! Thanks!

[@skutovr]

OMG you and those pins!

[@petmomful2260]

This is very cute! I have a new grandbaby coming so I need to try this!!

[@deelankford1180]

thank you sew sista!

[@csm3641]

Great vid! Thank You!!!

[@melissa-ur7kl]

That Bernina😍 wow watching it transport the fabric was making me drool. I have a Janome memory craft and a singer mechanical that I love but looking towards the next machine. Gonna seriously start looking at a bernina now! Thanks!

[@lindasivilich528]

thank you

[@donitadacus5078]

So cute! Going to make a couple for my friend who is about to be a grandma for the first time! Thanks for sharing your talent :)

[@katallen4021]

Thanks for directions that are very clear. My granddaughter wi be making this blanket today!

[@Lala_B]

I poke my corners out with the handle end of a small, size 1 or 2, watercolor paint brush. the end is blunt, so just don’t jam it too hard.

[@shek9]

Love your tutorial!

[@b.wooten4505]

Great video! I'm gonna try it!!!

[@janetinca4702]

You are the best!

[@marietteforget7804]

Thank you! 😎🌸

[@blingthingschar6530]

awesome video.. thanks for all the particulars, that really helped me

[@patriciamoller1618]

Thankyou , you explain everything so well

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Thanks!

[@MrsReese1125]

really liked the cute stitch

[@CharleneRyan-wv7gq]

Love it!!!💛💛💛

[@SunshineAnnie100]

Nice job! Thanks

[@joannewachel2505]

This is an excellent and clearly easy to follow method. I have made many of these blankets and the pressing is essential for good results. Your mitering technique is the best I have seen. Thank you, I will share it with my sewing friends.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Wow, thanks for the complement.

[@TracyJay990]

I like you!! Very helpful! Thank you!!

[@lynettemb4532]

Thank you Kimberly, I have made about 6 of these blankets and they always turn out wonky, now I know it's because I didn't cut it properly. I've always wanted to know how to cut a square piece of fabric accurately. Thanks again.

[@joanneG75]

Excellent tutorial

[@smallfootprint2961]

Very nice.

[@heddita1]

❤️👌❤️ love it...

[@kerrydobson6975]

Great tutorial Kimberly!! Very clear instructions. I also have made receiving blankets from another tutorial which was not as clear and the end result was not as good. Thank you for delivering clear instructions.

[@janesse1579]

I may try this with a smaller size first. thank you

[@tinapankow394]

good job.....these could be made in graduated sizes....good tutorial...thank you...

[@lindapucillo3493]

Thanks for the tutorial. Will be trying this in flannel after I finish my last two quilts. Good to know that you can make blanket any size, just add 10" to block. Am also assuming that you can make the border any size, too. Looking forward to making many of these.

[@mmreis7939]

FYI Will need to make 2nd layer/back greater than 10” larger than front to make a wider border. 10” inches larger gives 5” raw difference on all sides. When folded to the front the border is approx 2” after deducting the 1/4” seam on each side. A 12” larger back will give 6” difference on all sides. When folded to the front the border will be approx 2.5” (assuming 1/4” seams). 14” larger will yield about 3” finished border and so on

[@lindapucillo3493]

@@mmreis7939 Thanks! Appreciate the explanation. Have made a few of these in flannel, which have come out nicely. I made them bigger that this one, and did some stitching on the entire blanket to keep the front and back together. I gave some away, but used one at home for my first grandchild when we babysat. The flannel made the blanket so soft I used it for her bath towel.

[@mmreis7939]

Flannel sounds cozy for this time of year & good idea to keep one at home. I’m always wishing I’d done that!

[@LadyCatFelineTheSeventh]

Makes a great cat blanket - Can do a quilt pattern on the inside and contrasting fabric on the outside.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Purr-fect idea :)

[@MultiCaro2011]

I’m coveting your thread collection! 😂Thank you for this tutorial, i will try this one cuz the other i tried didn’t turn out 😔

[@SmittenKitten.]

Kimberly, you get to play with SO MANY different irons: which is your all-time favorite? (Sorry for the off-topic question.)

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hard question! I like the automatic pop up feature of the Oliso iron, but because I use so much steam, the Velocity Reliable is wonderful.

[@SmittenKitten.]

Fat Quarter Shop I feel the same way. Each iron I own has its own specialty, it would be great to have a mega-iron that does it all!

[@1018sewingforfun]

Have you had experience with the Panasonic cordless iron?

[@Sandra-yx6yp]

@@1018sewingforfun I have a cordless Rowenta steam iron and love it! Lots of heat and steam. I bought it online. Think of the biggest online site with free 2 day shipping! haha

[@sheilameneely2705]

Thank you! This was the clearest video I have seen on this method!!! I'm trying to figure out if I use this method on a larger lap sized quilt top that's a rectangle, if I can make a larger quilt back that will work. So, if it ends up 36 x 44 for the front, I'm figuring I would need to have the backing be 46 x 54? Second thought: since this basically makes up a large self-sealed packet shape, couldn't we just also cut a piece of battling that's slightly smaller (as the loft will shorten the width and length), insert it before closing the gap, pin it in place, and basically skip the entire sandwiching of quilting layers? Seems to me that it should work - but I'd love to hear someone else was successful before I try it.

[@sherylclark5414]

Sheila Meneely me too, I’m wanting to try this. I think I’ll do a small snuggly, and see how it comes out. My head says it will work. Did you do this with your large quilt?

[@sheilameneely2705]

Sheryl Clark I made mine a lot bigger! Then I got fancy and inserted batting before it was fully enclosed. I can’t recommend the batting step as I ended up with a couple of lumpy spots. But overall, the technique worked for a larger size! Hope your small one works too! You can always preview the small one by putting the small rectangle in Center of the large one and just folding over the overlap. If it’s too much binding, you could cut some off the big one. Best wishes!!

[@biomedlib]

Hello, as you measured the 2 1/4" border, you said, sometimes the numbers match up, some times they don't why? Uneven borders occur when I create a blanket. I don't understand why? Please advise. Thank you.

[@binkjo]

Great tutorial, love all the detail! If I want to make a larger, more of a lap size blanket do you recommend adding some quilting in the center or tack it down maybe? Thank you!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Joan! You could do either of those it just depends on your personal preference.

[@sherylclark5414]

What about batting? Is that an option? Same size as front piece yes? Would you sew I into the seam?

[@monicamulder6903]

Can you use flannel? Your video is great.. Thank you

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Monica! Yes, you can use flannel.

[@harrietteaertse7417]

love this idee, but want to now if You can put batting in it

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

We have not tried this technique with batting. I don't think it would be possible because of the mitered corners. You might try it with flannel fabric if you want a fuller feel. Thanks for watching!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hi Linda, if you used batting for the center, it should still work, but I imagine you would need a bigger center square to account for the bulk, and would need to have the quilting and batting end well before the adjoining seam, so you have flat layers to work with. Perhaps not batting, but a thin piece of flannel would work better.

[@backyardbros4825]

I have question? The table you are cutting on is that a cutting mat laying on the table or is that how your table was made? I'm looking for a mat to fit my whole table. Any insight where I could find one at a reasonable price?

[@GrandmaPatty49]

Instead of the Purple Thang, try a chopstick, works great!

[@DebsDitties]

Where do get your very large cutting mat?

[@TheAgeofFabulous]

I do 30" x 40" for my self-binding baby blankets

[@TheAgeofFabulous]

Also, I love to embroider the baby's name and birthdate. Then I take the blanket to the hospital (already washed in dye free detergent) so the parents have a personalized item to take baby home in.

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Great idea!

[@conniewetz1617]

Looks great:) Was the outer fabric cotton as well? What pad do you have that you can iron on table? I need one! Do you recommend putting stablizer down for the decorative stitches? TIA

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Connie! Yes, all the fabric is cotton. Here is a link to the Cut N Press www.fatquartershop.com/quilters-cut-n-press-ii. We do not have a recommendation about the stabilizer for decorative stitches.

[@houstontx456]

Very cute! What kind of thread did you use for your decorative stitching?

[@sharonedwards7821]

Karen Misner Love this way, will be using it soon. Twin nieces on the way!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Aurfil 50 wt thread found here: www.fatquartershop.com/aurifil-thread/aurifil-50-wt-thread

[@MaybeLoveIsReal93]

I made this blanket and I absolutely love it! The only problem I'm having is when I wash it after the inner 24" square doesn't stay flat it kind of folds up...I'm not sure if that makes sense. But it's almost like I need to put adhesive spray or something doing so it doesn't shift. Any advice?? Thanks!

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hi Kelly - we have not noticed this problem but maybe if you add more quilting lines to keep the fabric in place it would keep the fabric from folding. We hope this suggestion solves this problem. Thanks for your question.

[@MaybeLoveIsReal93]

Fat Quarter Shop thank you so much for answering! I really appreciate it! 😊

[@kathymomofmany]

I was thinking of top-stitching along the outer seam...stitch in the ditch. That should keep the smaller square in place.

[@louisanerssessian4698]

disappointing that don't get to see a proper camera shot of the finished items x but great tutorial x

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Sorry about that. Is there anything in particular you would like to see that wasn't shown?

[@kathymomofmany]

I know...me too. At the 10:55 mark, I'm lost as she flips the mitered corner out of camera shot.

[@brendamashburn5101]

Louisa Nerssessian (

[@raynellebyerley9529]

I have tried so many times to do the mitered corners and it turns up instead of laying flat. I used panels. What am I doing wrong.

[@suehanmore4210]

What cutting mat are you using please and where can I get one

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

It's called a Mega Mat and you can check them out here: quiltersrule.com/ProductThumbs.php?category=15

[@bobbiekay1108]

Are you using flannel for both pieces?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hi Bobbie! Both of the fabrics are regular cotton.

[@mmreis7939]

Does the blanket have to be a square? Would a rectangle work?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Monica! You can make it any shape that you want.

[@delanedelk5517]

How do you keep it from bubbling up in the middle

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Delane! The fabric tends to cling to itself, but if you wanted you could add some extra quilting or knots in the center to give it extra hold.

[@annshepard795]

Is there any way to add a thin batting for use on premie babies that have to maintain a good heat in order to keep from using their energy to keep warm instead of feeding well???

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello Ann! Yes, you can add batting to your quilt if you'd like.

[@annshepard795]

@@FatQuarterShopTX so if I add batting to these small receiving blankets / quilts which size do I need to cut it to??

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

We recommend using crib size batting. Depending on what size you make the blanket you may be able to get two blankets from one piece of batting www.fatquartershop.com/nsearch/?q=crib

[@cherieiduke1723]

Is there a tutorial on doing this for a quilt with batting

[@marfred4802]

Cheri Eiduke there is a tutorial at Tiffany's Stitchery that incorporates batting in a self binding blanket. I used her video to make my first self binding blanket with Minky! It turned out great. She's a lovely girl, too.

[@1018sewingforfun]

Does the Fat Quarter Shop sell the T shirt you have on?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Certainly! www.fatquartershop.com/impressions-t-shirt

[@sharonrandall6395]

Sharon Randall I love your tutorial on self-binding blanket. I have only one thing that I felt that might be changed. Your back ground is to busy. For me makes it hard to see what you are making. Or is distracting for your project. Thank you for your tutorial Sharon

[@kerranky]

what is a receiving blanket?

[@FatQuarterShopTX]

Hello kerranky! It's a little blanket for babies that you can use to swaddle them and keep them warm.

[@ellenhofer3343]

Lots of wasted time & fabric. Lots more room for error using this method of sliding a ruler up for the 2nd cut. If you are careful when folding fabric to trim, it cones our perfectly.

[@skinnylittlebitch7479]

This was way more complicated than it needed to be.

[@virginiakey7137]

I appreciate your OCD

[@vogueenvogue796]

VERY Confusing on the cutting.