Quick and Easy Throw Blanket!

Do you need a quick and easy gift for someone or do you need something to keep your hands busy while you're watching TV? I have the perfect project!

It's an Organic Sherpa and Cotton Couture lap blanket (which, I think, would make an amazing baby gift).

What you'll need:

• 1 1/4 yards of Organic Sherpa (Organic Fleece would also work)
• 1 1/4 Yards of Cotton Couture- I used Bright White and Starfruit but I wouldn't be opposed to a print!
• Embroidery Floss- Get a bunch of colors because you can never have too much embroidery floss hanging around :)
• Embroidery sewing needles  
• A sewing machine and thread

And now, the great debate...

 ...to pre-wash or not to pre-wash??

I didn't pre-wash. (Actually, here's my little secret- I never pre-wash.) This time, I wanted to find out what would happen if i sewed up the blankets and then washed them. I was hoping to get a really "organic" look and that the Cotton Couture would bunch up a little around my embroidery floss stitches. My other reason for never pre-washing is just convenience. Laundry in my building is in the basement and I'm always waaaay too excited to get started!

Craftsy weighs in on this debate as well...if you'd like a second opinion :) 

Sewing Instructions: 

1. Cut a Cotton Couture square: 42" x 42"

2. Lay the Cotton Couture square on your Organic Sherpa, right sides facing.

3. Refer to Diagram A: Pin around the perimeter and then sew around the perimeter using a 1/2" Seam Allowance leaving a 6" opening. Clip the corners. 

4. Turn your throw right sides out through your 6" opening.

5. Slip stitch your opening. Slip Stitch video tutorial here.

6. Spread the throw on a flat surface and smooth out the wrinkles so both layers are flat.

7. Now, it's time to mark out your embroidery lines- they can be straight parallel lines or lines that cross over in a plaid pattern, it's up to you! I used parallel lines that were spaced about 5 1/4" apart- they definitely weren't perfect! See diagram B for my pinning pattern.

8. Measure out a piece of embroidery floss that is at least 18" longer than your throw. I split the floss and used three threads. Click here for a tutorial on separating floss.  

9. Tie a knot in the floss and start hand sewing a Running Stitch along one of your pinned lines. You'll want your knot to be hidden so check out Anna Maria Horner's blog post about doing just that! 

10. Repeat step 9 for all of your pinned lines and don't be afraid to use several different colors of floss! Anna Maria's post covers tying off your sewing line as well.

11. And, you're finished! Unless, of course, you need to post-wash.

........ 

 I didn't want to leave out the Organic Fleece so I did a quick photoshoot with Little Miss E as a bear and Little Miss O as a bunny!

 The bear hat pattern is by Living DIY Style. I altered the pattern just a bit for the bunny ears.

Have a great weekend and happy Easter!

xo,

kait