I make mine 45 x 45 . Because the ones I received for my son were too small. Also you can use them longer. They out grow the small ones so fast.

We have four nieces that are having babies this fall! My sisters and I were talking about making receiving blankets. The ones that were made for our babies were square WOF, which was closer to 45" 30 years ago. The ones that I've seen in the store look so small.

Since flannel and quilting cottons seem to be ever narrower, I'm thinking about some other options. Dharma Trading Company has some heavy cotton gauze that is 50" wide after washing that I may order. It looks like the same gauze used in a popular brand of swaddling/receiving blanket. Since it only comes in white, I could bind or serge the edges in a color.

I make mine sq. also 45x45 0r 42x42, what ever the WOF is.
If i only have a yard i will still sq. it up, then use the piece i trim off as trim for a burp pad(made using a diaper). makes a nice set.

I found a gr8t tute for you. This is so cute...super fast and easy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqwdN...eature=related

What a nifty way to do it!

(I would wash the fabrics first - they don't all shrink at an equal rate)

If one wraps a baby burrito (or papoose) style, the square ones work better than the rectangle ones.

If one uses them just as a cover in bassinet or crib, rectangle would probably be better.

Cute fabric.

When my children were small 50 years ago, the flannel continued to shrink. Glad the quality of flannel is better now.
The 100% cotton was better quality back in the day, at least in my opinion, but the dyes seem better now

I do mine 42 x 42 for two reasons. If they want to swaddle, it is much easier if the blanket is larger and also, later on, they can lay it on the floor while the baby is doing tummy time and such. I love to put decorative stitching around the hems (all sides) and I use variegated thread. My daughter was very impressed, I didn't tell her that the machine did all the work...lol

I use to pieces of flannel square WOF. I round the corners and then envelope them together and top stitch around them. I use my edge foot to top stitch close to edge and this closes up the gap left to turn so no hand whip stitching it to close. My daughter loved this size.

That's exactly how I've always made mine, too. I personally liked square receiving blankets better so i just went with whatever size the WOF was. I also liked mine plenty big... nothing is worse than fighting a too-small blanket!