Need to make baby quilt
 

Is there a certain size for baby quilts? There was a picture posted for one made of the very hungry caterpillar which I really loved but can't find the picture, went all thru the pictures to no avail. Wonder if the lady who made it could give me some pointers. Ive never made a baby quilt before. I found measurement of 49x54 on an old pattern but wondered if that wasn't too large. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Baby due in Oct.

36"x45" and up some make them the width of the fabric square or 42"x42" or whatever the width of the fabric is. No specific size.

What would quilt be used for? Just the crib, for daycare or to throw on the floor for the baby to play on? I like slightly bigger/thicker quilts. Then the child will get some extra use from it. My son used the same quilt from the "baby room" straight through his last year in preschool. I also washed it every friday and it really stood up. It was a simple irish chain quilt with a novelty fabric on the back (spiderman). I also prefer square quilts (don't ask me why). I made his about 45x45.

The last two I made were 60" long. Mainly because crib batting is 60" long, so I matched it up with that. It can be any size you wish.

I have seen them from 36" square to my usual size which is 40x54. I plan on a quilt to be used by a child for several years, first in a crib, then as a drag around and TV quilt. The 40" is because I don't want to piece the back. If I have wider backing, I go with 45x54, the size of Thermore crib batting. I have seen my quilts used in the bottom of a playpen. That works too. Sandilee is right that the size is up to you.

I usually buy pre-cut and packaged batting first and use it as a guide to the size of the baby quilt.

I usually make a smallish lap size for a baby quilt
I want the child to get a few years of use before it's outgrown

I make quite a few baby quilts (for friends & also for Project Linus) & I make them a variety of sizes. It depends on the pattern I use. But my feeling is bigger is better because then the baby can use it as s/he grows up.

The hungry Catapillar Quilt is called Inch By Inch and it measures 37 1/2 x 45. The pattern is in a book called Quilting For Baby by Jeanne Stauffer and Sandra L. Hatch.