When my DGD was born--oh my gosh almost 10 years ago--I made flannelette receiving blankets. But I found that I needed about 1 1/4 yards. I washed and dried the flannelette first and it always shrank up and went a little 'off'. I needed the extra to make a nice square which I hemmed. My DD loved them and ever since, when one of her friends or co-workers is expecting, she asks me for a couple of receiving blankets that she swears will fit a baby until it is over 10 pounds!
But, DD and SIL took baby with them to Mexico when she was just 8 weeks old. I made some receiving blankets out of 'cheap'--as in very light weight--cotton. DD said they were just enough to keep DGD cosy in the shade while she napped. She still preferred the flannelette ones in the room because the air conditioning made things chilly for baby.