Hey everyone. Today we're sewing a sweet little baby lovey, and you'll learn how one plush, textured fabric makes a simple square feel special.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Aquarius Luxe Cuddle Hide 58/60" Fabric per yard from Shannon Fabrics. It's a Cuddle Fabric in the Luxe Cuddle family.
First things first, folks. That "hide" name is just the look. Worry not — this hide isn't made with real animal hide at all. It's made with plush 100% polyester fibers.
Here are the real numbers. It's 58/60" wide. It has a 10mm pile height. That's a cozy pile — soft, but not so long that a little lovey feels bulky.
The surface is textured, too. It features a chic animal hide embossed design. That texture adds depth you can see and feel. It's as soft as it looks.
The colorway here is Aquarius. The embossing does the decorating for you. No busy print to match up at the seams. Shannon calls Luxe Cuddle Hide cozy and surprisingly versatile, sewn into baby blankets, apparel, quilts, and home decor. So a baby project? Right in its wheelhouse. Here we go.
The project: a simple baby lovey
A lovey is a small comfort blanket — a baby blanket's little sister. We're finishing ours at about 17" by 17". Big enough to hug. Small enough for little hands to hold.
Why does this fabric suit it? A lovey gets loved hard. It gets squeezed and carried everywhere. That plush 10mm pile gives little fingers something soft to hold. And that embossed texture gives them something interesting to feel.
We're making ours double-sided from this same fabric, with a few short ribbon loops tucked into the seams. Babies love a loop to grab. Super duper cute.
Materials list
- 1/2 yard Aquarius Luxe Cuddle Hide — enough for both sides of one lovey, with scraps left over
- About 12" of smooth satin or grosgrain ribbon, cut into four 3" pieces
- Matching polyester thread
- 90/14 stretch or ballpoint needle
- Walking foot, pins or clips, a long ruler, and a point turner
Brief steps
First, let your fabric relax flat. Cut two squares at 18" by 18" each. That wide 58/60" cut means both squares sit side by side across the width. Cut from the back side when you can. Your lines stay visible. Then shake both squares outside, folks. Cuddle fluff gets everywhere. Just like that, your table stays cleaner.
Second, fold each ribbon piece in half to make a loop. Pin the loops to the right side of one square, spaced along the edges. The loop points inward. The raw ends line up with the fabric edge.
Third, lay the second square right side down on top. Pin all the way around, every 3 to 4 inches. Cuddle can shift as you sew, so don't skimp on pins here. Leave a 4" opening on one side for turning.
Fourth, sew around all four sides with a 1/2" seam. Use that walking foot. Lengthen your stitch to about 3.0 to 3.5mm. Backstitch at the start and finish. Slow down at the corners, pivot with the needle down. Slow down here, or a shifting layer can pull your seam off line.
Fifth, clip the corners at an angle. Don't clip into your stitching. Turn the lovey right side out through that opening. Push the corners out gently.
Sixth, tuck the opening edges in and pin them closed. Topstitch around the whole lovey, about 1/4" from the edge. That closes the opening and helps it lay flat. Or hand stitch it shut for an invisible finish. Completely up to you.
Practical tips from my table
Keep those ribbon loops short. Three inches folded, so about 1 1/2" sticks out once sewn in. Sew them in secure, with backstitching. Give each loop a firm tug when you're done to check it.
Check your pile direction before you cut. Run your hand across the fabric. One way feels smoother. Make both squares run the same way, so front and back feel the same.
Your lovey does not have to be perfect. If one corner is a little rounder, it's a little rounder. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race.
I'll admit my own mistake here. I once forgot to leave that turning opening. Sewed all the way around, neat as you please. Then I stood there holding a sealed square. The fix was simple. I took out about 4 inches of stitches, turned it, and topstitched it closed. No drama.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. A really really sweet first baby gift.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aquarius Luxe Cuddle Hide 58/60" Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
