01.26.10
DIY Baby “Taggie” Blanket
I’ve been having fun using up scraps of material and ribbon pieces I’ve collected to make Taggie-like baby toys for friends’ babies. If you haven’t seen one before, check out the professional version here. If you have a sewing machine and can stitch a straight line with it, try making one yourself. I’ve made a couple of small versions as well as receiving-blanket-sized ones for twins born in November.
The tutorial is here.
My creations:
This donkey-covered mini blanket was for friends Meg and Steve’s baby. The fabric is from our old neighborhood haunt, Purl Soho. They’ll let you buy as little as 1/4 yard, which is enough to make three sides of a mini tag blanket {so go ahead and splurge on the fancy designer prints}. Check out the donkey one here.
I like to use at least one side of fleece to create an interesting textural experience, as well as give the blanket some Weight. The back:
I made an almost identical one for Amanda and Jonathan’s baby, only I used a squirrel fabric for the front. I don’t think I have a picture, but here’s the fabric swatch:
Check it out here.
The baby blankets I made for the twins had fleece on both sides:
My biggest tip is to use a variety of widths, lengths, and textures for the ribbon “tags.” So many versions I’ve seen are matchy-matchy and use a lot of pastel colors. In my experience with babies and toddlers, the more contrast the better. Once you start saving ribbons from various places (handles from fancy shopping bags, packaging for household goods, gifts, trim from old clothes) you’ll be sure to have an interesting mix of colors and textures that will hold a baby’s interest. I use satin, velvet, lace, ridged, and sheer ribbons – whatever I have on hand!
Give it a try and let me know if you have one to show off!
Grace said,
January 26, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I recognize the yellow and checked fabric from our epic trek to the fabric store to get buttons! Why didn’t we pick up some of that snake skin???
I LOVE the giraffe print. And I have lots of beautiful ribbon scraps that I hate to throw away… this might make me finally buy a sewing machine and do something.
Also, when you arrive here, I have some wonderful textiles from my mom’s friend Lee. She was getting rid of all her worldly possessions and there are some beautiful things with great possibility. Can’t wait to show you. Mom and I think there are some pretty things that you might like to make something out of or use.
Kimberly said,
January 26, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I love them – and so easy to do! I need more friends to have babies so I can make some!
cecilia said,
January 26, 2010 at 3:35 pm
je veux le même pour Hippolyte!!!!!
J’adore le tissu avec les chevaux!! tu sais comme je suis peu couturière
Si tu as le temps..
plein de bises, Jax est vraiment trop beau! quel regard dans la poussette sur la plage.
rachel said,
January 26, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Mais bien sûr Cécilia! Ce sera pour la Saint Valentin.
cecilia said,
January 28, 2010 at 3:16 pm
merci
tu es vraiment géniale
Kate said,
January 30, 2010 at 11:38 am
Rachel –
Thanks for sharing the tutorial! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fabrics – I visit purlsoho’s website often, and one day I want to visit in person. I love baby gifts that incorporate funky fabrics that moms and dads would like, too. And I needed a homemade idea for a friend’s second baby – thanks for the inspiration! I hope your dissertation is coming along – I’m so impressed by your amazing ability to do all the wonderful things I see on your blog and write a dissertation! I thought I’d never make it to the end of my master’s thesis last year – so Bravo to you !!
Hope all is well!
Kate
Crafty Rachel » Scrappy Flower Tag Toy said,
March 31, 2010 at 10:04 am
[...] as the petals) with a big round of stitches on top. I made the circular pieces in the same way as a tag toy, attaching the ribbon pieces so that they come out of the seam in the [...]