flannel baby blanket
 

I made a double flannel blanket using 3 yards folded in half..French seamed it and then a decorative around it..
my ? is should I tie it or leave it as it is...have any of you gals done this? thanks for help...

You could tie it or quilt it, need to do something to secure the two layers together otherwise it will never lay flat after it is laundered without a ton of ironing.
You could always use your decorative stitching in a grid over the surface of the quilt.

I have wondered about the little baby blankets - not sure what they are called - it is a self-binding baby quilt - and they show all you do after you turn it inside out is sew around the interior edge of the binding to hold it in place. I made one with a friend which was a teaching experience but I didn't know the recipient and have no idea what happened after it was washed. (We did embroider a cute little lion in the corner since it was a baby being born during late July/early August.) Does anyone have any personal experience with them? Do they need more quilting? In the one she taught me does not use any batting, just 2 pieces of flannel.

I made a similar blanket for my daughter many years ago. I just turned it and topstitched around the edges, no quilting or tying. It washed just fine.

ok, I sure don't want that...so I think tying with some embroidery thread will worki...

Jenny Doan's tutorial for a receiving blanket does not use any method of holding the 2 layers together. I recently used this method (self binding receiving blanket) to use a pieced flannel top with fleece as the backing (no batt). Because it was larger, I did stitch in the ditch around the border and tied at the intersections of the blocks more as decoration than necessity. It laundered well.

I've made a number of these which turn out to be about 45" square. I cut a large paper heart, from a brown bag, free form, eyeball it and pin it as close to even center. Then I top stitch all around the outside of the heart. Just unpin the heart, you have an added accent to go with the topstitching around the edge. All babies need heart accents. . Here is one I made my little great nephew a few years back. The heart is hard to see though.
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Someone made a couple self binding receiving blankets for my granddaughter: they used high-quality flannel, just did a 2" border/binding with nicely mitered corners and decorative topstitch to secure the binding. Washes like a dream.

What a great idea, I'll do that next time, darling blanket...

You can also use coloring book figures as a template for the center stitching. I usually enlarge them on my copier to get the right size. You can also go online and look for figures to make templates. I have made a lot of these flannel quilts and usually stitch a bunny, teddy bear,butterfly, etc in the middle. Gives a nice touch to the quilt and helps stabilize the flannel. Moms seem to really enjoy them.

I make them with 2 pieces of flannel, 36 inches square, add some decorative stitching for the quilting, about 3 or 4 rows, mothers love them and they wash well
Ethel

Self Biniding Baby Blanket
 

I have made MANY of these baby blankets with only a fancy zig-zag around the binding edge. My daughter says that have washed up absolutely GREAT---been handed down for 4 boys now so have had many washings. I have made many as gifts also....no problem after washing.

I've also done baby blankets using this method, but I round the corners before stitching, then turn inside-out and hand-stitch the small opening closed. I top-stitched 1 inch from the edge and they wash up nicely. I have also made matching burp cloths from matching fabric to complete the gift set.

I thought receiving blankets were just one layer with a hemmed edge. I'm surprised to hear about the two layers.

Gave the blanket at the shower, well received...another woman made a towel wrap using terry/flannel and a hood...then she serged around the blanket, very good idea, I thought....

I made one many years ago, back when calling such, a "quilt" brought out the "quilting police" to say 'that is a comforter, not a quilt!. Lol. I did tie it with embroidery thread and it got softer, poofier looking after the first wash. The embroidery thread shrinks slightly and that makes the knots stay tied. You can even tie little bows that will also tighten if it is for a girl.

sorry for a stupid question, but what is a French seam?