Handmade Baby Blankets: 14 Cozy Gifts Inspired by Julia Roberts’ Knitting Hobby

Handmade baby blankets are one of the most loving gifts you can give, and this week a big movie star reminded everyone why. Actress Emmy Rossum shared on TV that Julia Roberts has knitted personalized blankets for her children, and the sweet story spread across news sites within days. There is something special about a blanket made stitch by stitch for one little person. It gets carried, cuddled, dragged on adventures and saved for years. You do not need to be an expert to make one. Some of the ideas below need only two needles and one stitch, and some need no needles at all. Here are 14 cozy blankets to knit, crochet or sew for a new baby, a holiday gift or a family keepsake..

Handmade Baby Blankets Make the Coziest Gifts

A stack of soft blankets in gentle colors is a happy sight for any new parent. Knit, crochet and sewn blankets each have their own charm, and most can be finished in a few weeks of evenings. Choose soft, washable yarn or fabric, since baby blankets get washed often, and pick colors you love working with, because you will be looking at them for many hours. One friendly note: blankets are best for cuddles, stroller rides, tummy time on the floor and play, and they should not be left loose in a baby’s crib. Pick the style below that suits your skills and your time..

You will need: Soft washable baby yarn or cotton flannel, knitting needles or a crochet hook to match the yarn, a tapestry needle, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Choose a pattern that fits your skill level. 2. Pick soft, washable yarn or fabric in two or three colors. 3. Knit, crochet or sew a test square first to check the size.

A Knit Blanket With a Personal Label

This is the kind of gift that started the buzz. On The Jennifer Hudson Show on October 22, Emmy Rossum said Julia Roberts has knitted personalized blankets for her kids, each with a little tag that reads From the Knitting Needles of Auntie Juju, as People reported. You can do the same with a name, an initial or a sweet message. Knit a plain blanket, then add the words in duplicate stitch or sew on a small fabric label. It becomes the one blanket a child always reaches for. What would your label say? Want more like this? Try our julia child kitchen ideas.

You will need: Soft baby yarn in two colors, knitting needles, a tapestry needle, graph paper for planning letters, or a plain cotton label and a fabric pen.

How to make it: 1. Knit a plain stockinette or garter blanket. 2. Plan the name or message on graph paper, one square per stitch, or write it on a cotton label. 3. Stitch the letters on in a contrast color, or sew the label neatly to one corner.

Handmade Baby Blankets for Beginners: Garter Stitch

If you are brand new to knitting, start here, because this is the easiest of all handmade baby blankets. A garter stitch blanket uses only one stitch, knitted on every row, and it lies flat with a soft, squishy texture. It is very forgiving, so small mistakes disappear into the bumps. Choose a cheerful color or alternate two colors every few rows for easy stripes. Many knitters say their first blanket is their favorite project ever. Will this be your first?

You will need: Soft chunky baby yarn, size 8 to 10 millimeter circular needles, a tapestry needle, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Cast on about 90 stitches for a stroller size blanket. 2. Knit every row until it is as long as it is wide. 3. Bind off loosely and weave in the ends.

Handmade Baby Blankets With No Needles

A chunky blanket knitted by hand, using only your fingers and thick chenille yarn, can be finished in a single afternoon. The big loops look plush and modern, and the yarn feels like velvet. It is a great gift when the baby shower is this weekend and you need something fast. Keep the loops snug so little fingers do not get caught. Which color would you choose?

You will need: Two to three skeins of jumbo chenille yarn, scissors, a large flat table.

How to make it: 1. Make a row of loops along the yarn for the first row. 2. Pull a new loop of yarn through each loop on the row before. 3. Keep going until it is the size you want and tie off the end.

A One Row Repeat Crochet Blanket

Easy crochet blanket videos have pulled hundreds of thousands of views this month, and the one row repeat is a big reason why. You learn one row, then repeat it all the way up, so you can crochet while watching a movie. Many of these patterns make a soft, textured fabric with tiny holes that keep it light. It is one of the most beginner friendly handmade baby blankets you can make. Would you try it in one color or many?

You will need: Soft baby yarn, a crochet hook to match, a tapestry needle, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Make a starting chain as wide as you want the blanket. 2. Work the pattern row and turn. 3. Repeat the same row until it is square, then add a simple border.

A Granny Square Baby Blanket

Granny squares are small, quick and easy to carry anywhere, which makes them perfect for busy people who want to make handmade baby blankets on the go. Make a stack of soft pastel squares, then join them into a patchwork blanket with a white border. It is also a lovely group project, where friends or family each make a few squares for the baby. The result feels both classic and fresh. Who would you ask to make a square with you?

You will need: Soft baby yarn in three or four pastel colors plus white, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Crochet squares of the same size in your chosen colors. 2. Lay them out and plan the color pattern. 3. Join them with white yarn and crochet a border all around.

Handmade Baby Blankets With a Heart

A corner to corner crochet blanket is built from little blocks that grow diagonally, like pixels in a picture. That makes it easy to add a big heart, a star or even a first initial in the middle. Plan the picture on a grid, then follow it block by block. It is a happy project for a Valentine’s baby or any little one who is very loved. Once you learn the method, you can chart almost any simple shape you like. What shape would you add? Pair it with our famous stars who ideas for a full set.

You will need: Soft baby yarn in two colors, a crochet hook, a printed grid chart, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Draw your heart on a grid, with one square for each block. 2. Start in one corner and crochet blocks on the diagonal, changing color where the chart shows. 3. Finish with a simple border.

A Striped Blanket From Leftover Yarn

Every knitter and crocheter has a basket of leftover yarn, and striped handmade baby blankets are the best way to use it. Work a few rows of each color until it runs out, then start the next. Random stripes look cheerful and modern, while planned stripes look neat and calm. Just keep the yarn weights and fiber types close so it washes evenly. How many colors are in your basket?

You will need: Leftover soft yarn of the same weight, knitting needles or a crochet hook, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Sort your leftover yarn by color and weight. 2. Work four to eight rows of each color. 3. Weave in the ends as you go so the finish is quick.

Embroidered Initials on a Plain Blanket

Not a knitter? Handmade baby blankets can start with a store bought one. A soft plain cotton or fleece blanket with hand embroidered initials is just as heartfelt. Draw the letters lightly with a washable fabric pen, then stitch over them in a simple backstitch or chain stitch. Add a few little flowers, stars or a birth date in one corner. It is a perfect project for a quiet evening. Which letters would you stitch?

You will need: A plain soft cotton or fleece blanket, embroidery floss, an embroidery needle, a hoop, a washable fabric pen.

How to make it: 1. Draw the initials in one corner with the fabric pen. 2. Place the area in a hoop and stitch over the lines. 3. Rinse away the pen marks and let it dry.

A Blanket With a Satin Ribbon Edge

A soft fleece or flannel blanket with a wide satin ribbon edge has a sweet, classic feel that many babies love to touch. It is a great sewing project for beginners because the ribbon hides the raw edges. Pick a ribbon in a matching or contrast color and miter the corners for a neat finish. It sews up in about an hour. For more yarn ideas, see these easy crochet projects. What color would your ribbon be?

You will need: A one yard piece of soft fleece or flannel, wide satin blanket binding, pins, a sewing machine or needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut the fabric into a neat square and round the corners slightly if you like. 2. Fold the satin binding over the edge and pin it all around. 3. Sew close to the inner edge of the ribbon.

A Patchwork Flannel Quilt

A small patchwork quilt made from flannel squares is soft, warm and full of color, and it is one of the most treasured handmade baby blankets a family can pass down. Many parents keep one for years and later hand it to the next baby in the family. You can use new fat quarters or scraps from old shirts and pajamas for a memory quilt. Simple squares in rows are all you need for a beautiful result. Tie the layers with yarn knots instead of quilting if you want to finish fast. Which fabrics would you include?

You will need: Flannel squares, a soft backing fabric, thin cotton batting, a sewing machine, pins, yarn for ties.

How to make it: 1. Sew the squares into rows, then sew the rows together. 2. Layer the top, batting and backing and pin them. 3. Tie yarn knots at the corners and bind the edges.

A Bobble Stitch Blanket With Tiny Hearts

Little bobbles make raised dots you can feel, and they can form hearts, stars or simple patterns across the blanket. Babies love the bumpy texture, and grown ups love how special it looks. It takes a little more time than plain stitches, so it is a great second project. Keep the bobbles tight and secure so they stay in place after many washes. Will you try hearts or stars? You can mix it with our DIY wearable blankets for extra charm.

You will need: Soft cotton baby yarn, a crochet hook, a printed bobble chart, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Practice the bobble stitch on a small swatch. 2. Follow the chart, making bobbles where it shows. 3. Add a simple border and weave in the ends securely.

A Small Lovey Security Blanket

A lovey is a small square blanket, often with a soft animal head in one corner, that little ones carry everywhere. It is quick to make and fits in a diaper bag or car seat pocket. Of all handmade baby blankets, this little one is often the most loved and the most worn. Use the softest yarn or minky fabric you can find, and stitch the animal face with yarn instead of buttons or plastic eyes for safety. Make two identical ones, so there is a backup on wash day. Which animal would you choose? Pair it with our fabric gift bags for a full set.

You will need: Soft baby yarn or minky fabric, a crochet hook or sewing machine, a little stuffing, embroidery thread for the face.

How to make it: 1. Make a square about 12 inches wide. 2. Crochet or sew a small animal head and stuff it lightly. 3. Stitch it firmly to one corner and embroider the face.

Handmade Baby Blankets Wrapped as a Gift

How you wrap a handmade blanket makes the gift even more special. Roll it neatly, tie it with a wide ribbon, and tuck in a small card with the care instructions and the yarn type. A tiny tag that says made with love by you will be kept for years. Add a matching hat or a soft book to make a little gift set. Who will open your blanket this holiday season?

You will need: Wide ribbon, a gift box or basket, tissue paper, a small card, a care label.

How to make it: 1. Fold or roll the blanket and tie it with ribbon. 2. Write a card with the washing instructions. 3. Set it in a box or basket with tissue paper and a small extra gift.