Minkee fabric is very popular for baby blankets. My DD is expecting a baby in a few months and it made better sense to buy solid color receiving blankets and add fabric applique of her choice of color and shapes. It may be better for you to buy ready made receiving blankets and add applique designs and your friend can then add the embroidery designs to customize those. If you sew blocks you have to have backing to hide the seams, then it wouldn't be a receiving blanket.