Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy car seat blanket that is small, soft, and just the right size for rides.
Let's start with the fabric, y'all. This is the 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Himalayn Pewter, from Shannon Fabrics. It comes to you as a 2-yard Luxe Cuddle cut.
Luxe Cuddle is the plush side of the family. Folks also call this kind of fabric minky. Run your hand across it once. You will feel why we picked it for a baby blanket.
The colorway is called Himalayn Pewter. Pewter is a calm, neutral name. It feels quiet and goes-with-everything. The plush texture does the showing off all by itself.
This fabric is 100% polyester. Care is simple. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. No fabric softener. That last one matters, folks. Softener can coat plush fibers over time. Skip it, and your blanket stays soft longer.
A 2-yard cut is generous for one small blanket. That is permission, not a problem. Make this blanket first, then use what is left for a gift. Just like that.
The Project: A Car Seat Blanket
A car seat blanket is a small blanket made for on the go. It covers baby's legs and lap in the car seat or stroller. It is big enough to keep little legs warm. It is small enough that it does not drag on the ground.
We are aiming for about 30 inches wide by 36 inches long, finished. That size tucks in nicely. Completely up to you if you go a touch smaller.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? This blanket lives on touch. It sits right against little hands and cheeks. Plush Luxe Cuddle feels good in all those places. It is warm without being stiff, and forgiving to sew, too.
One safety note, and I mean this one. Buckle baby in first, with the harness snug. Then lay this blanket over the top. Never put a thick blanket behind baby, or under the straps. The blanket goes over, not under. Alrighty.
Materials
- Your 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Himalayn Pewter — part of the cut makes one blanket, with fabric left over
- 50-weight polyester thread to match
- A 90/14 ballpoint or stretch needle
- Wonder clips or long pins — plush likes to shift
- A walking foot, if you have one
- Sharp scissors or a rotary cutter and mat
- A tape measure and a marking tool
- Optional: a second piece of the same cut for a self-backed, double-layer blanket
Brief Steps
First, decide your layers. For a single-layer blanket, cut one piece about 31 inches by 37 inches. That gives you room for hems. For a double layer, cut two pieces that same size.
Single layer first. Fold each edge in about 1/2 inch, then fold it again. Clip as you go. The pile is thick, so clips hold it honestly.
Topstitch around all four sides, about 1/4 inch from the folded edge. Go slow here. Plush can creep under the foot, and the seam can wander. Lengthen your stitch a touch, too — about 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters.
For the double-layer version, place your two pieces right sides together. Clip all the way around. Sew with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, and leave about 5 inches open on one side for turning.
Turn it right side out through that opening. Push the corners out gently with your fingers. Tuck the open edges in, clip them closed, and topstitch around the whole blanket. That topstitch closes your opening. Super duper easy.
Give it a good shake outside. Fresh-cut Cuddle makes little fluffy bits. That is normal. Shake it again after the first wash, and you are done.
Practical Tips
Cut with the pile in mind. Lay your fabric flat, and cut one layer at a time. A rotary cutter wants a firm, even surface here. Slow down or the edge gets wavy.
Use a walking foot if you have one. It feeds both layers at the same speed. If you do not have one, use lots of clips, and sew a little slower. Both ways work just fine.
Here is your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. A corner that is a little soft still keeps a baby warm. You are your own worst critic. Take your time. It is not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Wash your finished blanket cold, tumble dry low, and remember — no fabric softener. Shake it out, and the pile perks right back up. We're not reinventing the wheel here. A simple, soft blanket is a really really good gift.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 2 yd Luxe Cuddle Cut Himalayn Pewter at Linda's Electric Quilters.
