hem finishes for baby receiving blankets

I'm guessing you are going to use double-napped (napped on both sides) outing flannel. Have you tested a serger-rolled-hem on this fabric? In my experience, heavier fabrics do not "roll" well. And if IIRC, only one of the looper threads really

*shows*, the other one has very tight tension, and disappears in the edge, so it wouldn't matter if it were wooly or not.

If you do get a good result rolling the hem of your fabric when you test it, then you can use many different threads. Rayon embroidery thread might give a very nice look. And some of them are available in variegated "baby" colors, too.

Beverly

Personally, I would never have an exposed overlocked edge on anything an infant or toddler might put in his or her mouth. Thread gets wet repeatedly, begins to fray and pretty soon we have a little one choking.

Phae

This is my first post here, although I have been lurking for a long time. I too have always disliked the small commercial blankets, especially since I had large babies.

I just this morning decided to make a couple for a friend due soon. I have not made a receiving blanket before, but have made a flannel pillow case with a ruffled edge. I did a rolled hem with woolly nylon and it rolled easily and looks fabulous. You only need the one cone for the upper looper(?). The only thing I thought of was having rounded corners so that the corners would not be pointy/sharp.

I also had a couple of receiving blankets with a bias ribbon edge, although these were not made of flannel.

Retreating back to lurkdom.

Larissa

That's a good idea about using the rayon threads. I have quite a bit of rayon embroidery thread and I can play around with it. I was trying to avoid buying another expensive cone of wooly nylon if possible. I roll hemmed one of the blankets I made for my son and just used regular serger thread. I was trying to make these look a little nicer, so the rayon thread may do the trick!

thanks

lisa

Thanks, Larissa. Woolly nylon is a bit pricey IMO for the amount of thread that you actually get on the cone and I just didn't want to spend the money for another cone if I didn't have to. I've got some scrap flannel and I'll experiement with the rolled edge using the woolly nylon.

lisa

Well, the ones I'm going to make are going to be roll hemmed. The ones I made for my kids are just serged and they never mouthed the blankets. The store bought receiving blankets I received as gifts all have rolled hems, too, so I'm guessing that a roll hem finish isn't considered a particular choking hazzard for infants.

lisa

You're welcome. I love the idea of fully 45" square receiving blankets. I always fought with those undersized commercial ones.

Beverly

Larissa wrote: This is my first post here, although I have been lurking for a long time.

Hey Larissa!! Different spelling than me, but still, a wonderful name!! Welcome to the group, and you don't have to stay in lurkdom forever, you know!

Larisa

So I made my boys

A full binding would look "better" ie. a wide satin, acetate or other _comfortable(comforting)_ feeling edge finish. But........

I'm not trying to start a flame or disparage anyone or their opinion this is just my experience.

It doesn't really matter what kind of edge finish is used. If the child sucks, chews, rubs,etc. his/her blanket the edging it is going to fray and threads will come lose and need to be trimmed. My son had a waffle weave blanket that originally came with a real satin binding. It (the binding) became so worn it had to be replaced. We couldn't find any real satin binding (didn't think of getting yardage and making a binding) and it was replaced with the prepackaged wide acetate binding (he never really liked it). It too, over time, frayed to the point of having to cut it off. After that we didn't try to re-edge the blanket. We just let the edge fray then cut off the strings daily. Eventually the blanket became too small and was abandoned in favor of a stuffed dog that took the place of a real dog that died. He still gets sad over the thought of that dog. Yes, I do too. AK in PA

Hey thanks for the welcome! I agree a great name, whatever the spelling.

I actually tried to change my profile to say Larissa in Aus, maybe it will work this time?

Larissa a sewing newbie, constrained by the needs and wants of 3 little people

The name change took. But not to worry, I use the same screen name here that I use in my quilting newsgroup - off kilter quilter....don't ask, just know it's appropriate . I can understand about time constraints. I have 2 small ones, though 1 is in school full-time, the other only goes once a week. However, I manage to get some sewing done when she is down for naptime and when they both go to bed at night....probably the only times I can get work done uninterrupted!!

You will find the time you need to get some sewing done....even if it is only for 15 minutes at a time...that's how I started after having my first...worked around naptimes...lol.

Stick around! Barring the annoying trolls and bothersome spam, we are a good group with an unlimited supply of knowledge!!

Larisa