Hobbies And Interests
Fabric Choices
Tag blankets can be made of any soft material, such as polar fleece, flannel or minky fabric. Choose two fabric pieces, as the blanket is made by sewing two squares of fabric together with the ribbons protruding from the seam. Pair a solid color fabric with a coordinating baby print, colorful stripes or even bold graphics. You can also use a flat cloth diaper for one side to make an absorbent tag blanket that doubles as a burp cloth.
Tags
Choose ribbons of various colors, sizes and textures. The silky feel of a satin ribbon contrasts well with the ribbed surface of grosgrain ribbon. Some babies prefer to slide their fingers through 1/4-inch wide ribbon, while others prefer to chew on wide, 2-inch ribbons. For visual interest, include black and white ribbons, bold colors and patterned ribbons. The tags are made by cutting the ribbons into 6-inch strips and doubling them over to make 3-inch loops.
Embroidery
Tag blankets can be further customized by adding embroidery. Personal information, such as baby's name and date of birth, make the blanket a keepsake to be treasured for years. Embroider holiday graphics, such as a candy cane or pink heart, with a coordinating message as a gift for baby's first Christmas or Valentine's Day. The fabric pieces should be embroidered before sewing them together, so the finished blanket conceals the backside of the embroidery between the two fabric pieces.
Blanket Construction
The perimeter of these blankets must be sewn twice. The double stitching secures the ribbons firmly in place, preventing them from becoming a choking hazard. You can add a crinkle feature to the blanket by inserting a square of cellophane plastic wrap before stitching the fabric pieces together. The edges of the cellophane must be included in the stitches to prevent it from slipping and gathering in the middle of the blanket.