Minky Blanket Tutorial

Someone recently asked me if I had a tutorial for my minky blankets so I thought I'd write one up as I make my next one.  When I say minky blanket I mean a small 32- 36" x 32- 36" patchwork top with minky on the back.  Here are some examples of ones I've done:

In this tutorial  I interchange the words "quilt" and "blanket".  I used 6 fabrics from the Fairy Lights Collection.  My daughter gave me these fabrics last year and I'm just now using them.  Neither one of us knew that this was "glow in the dark" fabric which makes the fairies look very cool at night.

The first thing I do is cut my squares.  I've done 6" up to 9"squares.  For this blanket I will be using 6" squares in a 6 sq. x 6 sq. array.  I thought I would do a diagonal design which is easier for my brain but my daughter didn't like that and suggested I do a random pattern. Here is a guide if you are using 6 fabrics to make it sudoku random (thanks to my other daughter).

Step 1:  Layout your fabric so it is pleasing to your eye.  (It's always a good idea to take a picture of your layout because you can always refer back to it if the pieces get jumbled.)

Step 2:  Sew each row together using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seams and then iron all seams to one side.  Do this for all the rows but alternate which side you iron to.  Row 1 left, row 2 right , row 3 left and so on.

Step 3: Pin two rows together matching the seams.  The seam allowances going in opposite direction will help. Once the two rows are pinned at the seams, sew down the length backstitching at the beginning and end. Press seam and iron open. I usually make two rows then sew those together. Sew all your rows together.

Step 4:  Measure your sewn quilt top and decide on what color minky will look best.  For this quilt I chose Pastel Turquoise from Joann Fabrics.  1 yard is all you need for this size blanket and you will have some leftover minky for other projects. 

Step 5:  Lay the minky out right side up and lay your quilt top right side down on top of the minky.  Smooth both pieces the best you can. 

                                                

Pick a square that you want for the opening on the side or at the bottom of the quilt top. (I picked the light green square 3 down on the right side.)  Start pinning below that square and pin very closely all the way around to the top of that square to leave an opening.  The pins should be about 1" above the fabric edge and they should stay in place all the while you are sewing.  You don't want that minky to move!  I used 82 straight pins on this!

   

Step 6:  Trim the minky.  Leave about a 1/4 inch over the side of the quilt top.  At the open square leave about a half an inch. This will tuck inside when sewn. Turn over and check the back to see that the minky is nice and smooth with no bumps or fold overs.  Adjust if necessary.

Step 7:  Starting at the bottom of the open square begin sewing around the perimeter backstitching after the first few stitches.  I line my foot up with the edge of the quilt top fabric.  Don't sew all the way to the end of the fabric but turn at the corners so you will have about a 1/4" seam around the whole quilt (except at the open square.)  When you get the the top of the open square back stitch to lock the seam.

Step 8:   Very carefully press the perimeter seam without touching very much of the minky.  The minky dots will flatten with ironing so be very careful.

Step 9:  Clip the corners of the blanket being careful to not cut into the seam. Take all the pins out.  Next turn the blanket right sides out through the open square.

Step 10: Very carefully press the seams again.  Refer back to Step 8!!!  The open square will have a lip of minky fabric.  Carefully tuck that inside the blanket and pin so it looks like the rest of the seam.

Step11: Topstitch around the  perimeter starting at the pinned area. When you go all the way around sew back over the pinned area to secure.  I like to then sew another perimeter seam to give the blanket a nice finished look.

Step 12:  You can give the seams a quick once over with the iron if you'd like.  Refer back to  Step 8!!!  If your cotton fabric has gotten wrinkled there is a way to iron but I would try throwing it into the dryer or use a steamer first.  If you want to try ironing you would fold the blanket in half and then in half again.  Open to the middle and stick a multi-folded towel in between the folded layers of blanket.  Gently run the iron over the top cotton section.  Do that for each section.

Congratulations! Your minky blanket is done! That wasn't so hard.  Or was it? 

Blanket in the dark