Receiving Blankets Baby Wrap

***UPDATE*** Please visit this post for a diagram of each step including the measurements. Use this post for the directions and that post for the measurements. Thanks!

My babies loved to be swaddled tight. But they constantly wriggled out of their swaddling. I made my baby wrap that I used for my boys and I loved it. (You can find it in the tutorials tab) But it's bulky and it's not that cute. I came up with this one in my mind and had to sit down and create it. And I LOVE it. It's functional and so cute. I can't wait to have a little girl. Are you kidding me? She's coming soon right? Alright, enough dreaming...on with the show...

You untie the ties.

Open the side.

Open the side.

And Fold down the bottom. You can then place your baby inside. Fold up the bottom. Fold in the side. Fold in the other side. And tie the swaddle flap.

All you need is two flannel receiving blankets. Take the contrasting blanket that you want to be used in the inside as the actual blanket part and lay it face down like a diamond. You will then cut the corners like so: The bottom corner is just snipped of straight at 2 inches. The one straight across from that, the top corner is cut at 8 inches from the corner and straight across to 8 inches from the other side. The other two corners are cut at 6.5 inches from the corner and straight across to 6.5 inches from the other side.

Fold up all the edges 1/2 inch and pin.

And then fold them under again and re pin into place.

Sew along the edge.

Then take your other receiving blanket and lay it flat with right sides down. Cut the top and bottom of the blanket (the picture is not rotated sorry) 6.25 inches from the corner and straight across to the other side.

Fold the two strips in half with right sides together. Take them to the sewing machine and sew from the fold up with 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then make a graduated point and turn and sew back down to the fold on the other side.

Cut around the sewn line to remove excess fabric. Cut open the fold on the bottom.

Turn inside out.

Top stitch around the outer edge.

Here is an up close view of the top stitching.

With the center of the receiving blanket fold in the sides and pin 1/2 inch.

Fold over again and re pin in place.

Sew along the edge.

Find the half of the short side and fold the bottom corner up 1/2 inch above the half way point. This measurement is 7.5 inches.

Fold the bottom corner down to the half way point. Pin in place.

Repeat with the other side. (Again sorry about the rotation of the picture)

Take one of the straps and put it underneath the point that you created.

Fold the point of the rectangle down until it meets with the sides of the strap.

Take the strap and fold the raw edge under 1/2 inch and put this over the triangle point that you folded down. Pin into place.

Sew around the outer edge of the main piece of the swaddle blanket and across the inside edge. You then need to sew up the middle where the two corners were folded down to secure down. Then sew a rectangle around the strap. (Please let me know if that was way to confusing)

Grab your blanket piece and lay with the top edge towards you and right sides up. Put your swaddling cloth part on top of this piece with the top edges matching. If you have a directional print on your fabric the print will be facing away from you on both pieces.

Pin around the lines that you sewed in two steps above. That means on the bottom of the swaddling cloth and then straight up from the corners to the top. DO NOT sew across the top.

Fold up like I showed you above and you are done.

Did you notice the secret pocket? It's in between the swaddling layer and the blanket. You can add an extra folded blanket or pillow for extra comfort for baby, or you can slip in a burp rag for those just in case it comes up moments.

So what do you think? It's kind of like unwrapping a present each time you get your darling baby out. Let me know if you try it out! And if you want one of your own I sewed several of them that will be hitting my craft store with my grand opening On September 1st!