Owl-shaped tag blanket

tag blanket 022You may be wondering what a tag blanket is. It’s a blanket-like plaything for babies that utilizes soft fabrics and interesting ribbons, cords, lace and other things to stimulate babies visually and tactilely. This one is owl shaped because I was inspired by the owl fabric, but you can easily make one that’s a simple square or rectangle. Use short ribbons, long ribbons, lace, piping, cording, ric-rac — whatever you want! I braided some, twisted some, looped some, doubled some of them up. Just make it interesting however you can. Most sewers can probably find enough scrap items in their cabinet to whip something like this up for a nearby baby. Any baby will do.

 

 

 

Supplies

Hooty Black/White
Hooty Black/White
Minky Dimples Red
Minky Dimples Red
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Ribbons, piping, lace, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pattern

Print out the pattern at full size. It will be half a pattern, so you’ll place it on the fold of the fabric and cut it that way so that it opens into a full piece. Cut two pieces from fabric, preferably one piece being something very soft like Minky. Cut four wing pieces. If you want, you can attach circles for eyes and a triangle for a beak. I decided not to since it would cover up the giant owl centered on mine.

Owl pattern

 

 

The process

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Sew two wing pieces together, leaving the wide end open. Clip the tip, turn and press (if you’re using something like Minky, press very gently). Repeat on other wing.

tag blanket 004Pin wings to sides of one owl piece and baste in place.

tag blanket 005Now, simply start taking various ribbons and pieces of lace, etc., and baste to the edges of the fabric with raw edges aligned.

tag blanket 006Here are a few more pictures of things I attached. I used a D-ring on this piece of ribbon for something to grip.

tag blanket 007The black ribbon formed the legs. This was some old ribbon that was part of a gift wrapping that I saved. See, you can use all kinds of scrap-type stuff!

tag blanket 008Here is my owl front with all the stuff attached. Everything will be facing toward the center for now.

tag blanket 009Attach your other piece — Minky or fleece or something nice and cuddly is great. Pin right-sides together all the way around. Sew, but leave a hole for turning.

tag blanket 010Turn right-side out and hand stitch the opening closed.

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