Improved! Cross-Stitch Baby Blankets

33 responses to “Improved! Cross-Stitch Baby Blankets”

1. I started one of these printed cross stitch baby quilts probably 30-40 years ago. (Oh my, can it really be that long ago! Giving away my age!) The operative word is started! It has been languishing with the cross stitch UFO’s since quilting took over as my passion. I love your idea for the new backing and binding. I have looked over your new book and can tell I will love it once tax season is over and I have more time to devote to my passion. Your tutorials have freed me to have more confidence in my free-motion quilting. Thank you, Lori!

2. Ahhhh I have a couple of these, unfinished, in the back of my closet. I think I may dig them out, finish them in the evenings and do what you just did to yours!!! Thanks for sharing – I love re-purposing.

3. I finish projects for people so, yes. I have done exactly what you did–take the original binding off, add a back, quilt around the cross-stitch and put on a new binding.

4. What an excellent idea! I’ve been tempted to make one of these, but knew I’d be unhappy with the appearance of the back when completed….perfect solution! Thanks!

5. Perfect way to finish it up!

6. I have some cross stitched bibs that my Mother stitched for my daughter. She put extra labor into the stitching when she made them. She buried the knots and slid the needle between the quilted layers for each stitch. No messy back, but such a hard way to cross stitch.

   1. I bet it is lovely! But you are right–a painstaking way to work!

   2. That’s how I’ve done in the past. More work while stitching but a clean back!

7. My mother made many of these cross stitch blankets and afgans for future great grand babies to come. Since she has passed, I am the keeper of her handmade gifts. When someone has a baby, I wrap one of each up for the new baby. I love this idea for finishing the back of the cross stitch and I’ll now do this before presenting the gift. Thank you for such a nice finishing touch. Mom would have loved this idea.

   1. How lucky that you have a collection of them!

8. I’ll bet you anything that this would be much easier on an embroidery machine!!! just sayin’…… 😉 and I’ll bet you that you have one of those machines to do it for you…. 😉 again–just sayin’

   1. No embroidery machine for me! My daughter stitched the cross stitch and I think she really enjoys hand work.

      1. I agree with Lori! I love to hand embroidery and am making dish towels this year for my daughter and her daughters. They don’t use paper towels and love the old fashioned flour sack towels. I love the stitching so it is a good combination.

9. My husband’s Aunt made both our girls these types of baby blankets. I still have them and the girls are 27 and 30. The Aunt did a great job of hiding most of the knots. I can’t wait to pass the quilts on to the Grandkids whenever they start arriving.

10. I’ve done a few cross-stich baby quilts but always did blocks then sewed them together in the usual fashion. I do know that many embroiderers use an “away knot” that gets cut off after the motif piece is finished. But you would still have to work the stitches between the layers. Your technique is a lot easier!

11. I did one of these back in the 1970’s, finished just in time for my son’s birth in 1980. I “popped” all of the knots through the top and stitched only into the top, so the back of my quilt was “clean” I just pulled this quilt out again this past week, because my first grandchild is arriving in June! It is as beautiful as it was 36 hears ago..

    1. How nice! And congrats on upcoming grand child!

12. Such a sweet quilt. Your daughter seems to follow in your footsteps with talent. The tutorial seems to have enlightened many of your followers. It always feels good when you know you have helped others. Yet another great idea.
    I enjoyed visiting the ambassadors for today, so much so I have already ordered a book from Joann Sharpe. Have a great day.

13. I guess you can buy software so that your embroidery machine will do cross stitch…my friend who owns our LQS has been doing it and teaching, for those who have the software. Very cool!

14. I just noticed my address is incorrect. But had hit reply before I had glanced at it. I’m going to change it, hope it stays that way. I have changed it one before. Don’t know what is causing that. Do you?

15. This quilt is just adorable. I am utterly speechless… really.
    Happy Monday Lori.

16. I did one when my daughter was born and solved the problem by hanging it on the wall.

17. Lori, I really enjoy your site. I’ve tried free-motion quilting and failed miserably. However, I am determined to succeed with your help. Is there an order that is helpful to follow of increasing complexity of your tutorials? I love your new book and am beginning to doodle. Any thoughts are appreciated. Burchy

18. What a great idea! Thanks! I was taught to embroidery by my grandma many decades ago. She did work that looked so nice on the back and I never achieved that but I still love hand embroidery. Therefore I have never made one of the pre-printed cross stitch quilts. I made a 12 block cross stitch baby animal quilt for my first son in 1957. In 2007, I tore it apart and the blocks were still great – the batting was atrocious! So ugly and bunched up. I had tied it originally so it was easy to dismantle.

    Used new batting, flannel backing and bound it and gave it to him on his 50th birthday. A few tears were shed. His kids said that they wondered which of them would be able to use it first in their lives so I have made enough blocks to make each of the two their own so Dad can keep his. I was so amazed when I saw a baby quilt at a shower around 2010 with the same pattern (Martha’s Transfers) and a friend ordered me a copy. I need to get them finished up and put away with their names on them even though I don’t think either will ever get married. At least they will each have one.

    Keep the great ideas coming. I learn so much from your posts.

    1. What a lovely gift!! Thanks for sharing that memory!

19. Someone gave me a kit, to make a large cross stitch quilt, but, I haven’t even thought about doing it. I’m trying to find someone to pass it on to.

20. That’s genius! I’ve never done a blanket, simply because I couldn’t figure out how the back was going to look good! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that! (It’s been years since I have done any cross stitching)
    I love how the blanket turned out. It’s heirloom quality for sure now!

21. Adorable, I did the same when my wee girl arrived. It also did well with the subsequent two boys that followed, adopted by a cousin who used it for her girl, giving to her sister who had 4 children, finally given to their dog and when he died of old age got wrapped in his favourite quilt and buried in the backyard. So a well used blanket

    1. Well loved!!!

22. I did a pre-stamped Bambi cross-stitch quilt when I was pregnant, finished it about two weeks after my son was born, in 1979. It turned out to be his favorite “banky” and he wore it to a rag. I also added a backing to cover the stitches; I embroidered the alphabet. I don’t remember how I attached the back — that was before I was a quilter. Your results look better than mine. Your grandbaby will love it.

    1. Doesnt it just warm your heart when a banky gets worn to shreds!!

23. I made two of these quilts for my grand daughters and after they had out grown them I made them into patchwork single bed quilts. Not knowing anything about quilting at the time I had no idea of how to start! So I went to Spotlight and bought dress material (polyester cotton) cut it up into 6″ squares put them together leaving a hole in the centre…der…I told you I had no idea about quilting. What a devil of a time I had trying to get an oval centre into a square hole but I did and the girls love them and still have them on their beds. I have come a long way since then..ha ha ha.
    Regards Kay from Oz

    1. What a great idea! I bet they ate gorgeous!