I’m Anneliese and my blog, Aesthetic Nest, journals all the creative things I enjoy. I love nothing better than making something for one of my wee muses: my three little girls. And the opportunity for hand me downs helps me rationalize spending the resources on fun things for them!
Because I am a “finisher,” meaning that the satisfaction of crossing off a project on my list (and posting it on my blog) far outweighs the enjoyment of the process, I love things that can be done quickly. This Luxe Lovey is just such a project. It’s perfect for an assembly line approach to making a bunch at once. And great to have on hand for baby gifts. When Kari asked me to be a Creative Guest on Ucreate I thought it would make the perfect tutorial. I’m so happy to be here today to share it.
When my daughter, Scarlett, was born, a friend gave her a “lovey.” I wasn’t familiar with the concept, just thought it was a cute, portable, baby-sized blanket. But she explained that the mother is supposed to sleep a couple nights with the lovey to imbue it with her scent, and then give it to baby so that baby will be comforted by it when mommy is in the other room sleeping, or away for an hour or two. So it’s soft and cuddly and portable, and smells like mom–perfect!
I love that these minky and satin loveys are luxurious. A little bit of luxury goes such a long way! And if you make a batch of them the price per lovey is scandalously low–such a nice secret for a luxe baby gift.
The potential combinations are endless, but I picked Retro Dot in bubblegum pink and Dimple Dot in white for one lovey, and
…Minkee Tween Fresh Flowers in mandarin orange and Minkee Tween Cheetah in mandarin orange for the other. This would be a fun group project–split the bill to buy minky for a multitude of different combinations and go home with a variety.
To make your own Luxe Lovey you will need:
-1/3 yard each of two coordinating minky fabrics (with 60″ minky you will actually have enough fabric for 6 loveys!)
-1 package Wright’s Satin Blanket Binding (1 package is enough for 3 loveys; buy two packages to make 6 loveys)
-Matching thread
Luxe Lovey Tutorial
To start, cut 10″ squares of each of your minky fabrics (1/3 yard of 60″ minky is enough for 10 squares).
Then, round the corners. I much prefer the rounded look and it makes adding the satin ruffle much easier. I used a small tin as a template for the curve on one corner.
You can trace the curve on the wrong side of the fabric and cut, or use a rotary cutter to cut around whatever you are using for a template.
Once you’ve established the curve on one corner use it as the template for the remaining three so all are identical. Repeat this for each minky square you are using.
for the satin ruffle: Take your packaged binding and cut it in thirds. You will have three pieces, each about 58″ in length. Take a length of binding and sew the ends right sides together to form a ring.
Press the seam open and then fold and press the entire length of the satin binding to remove the packaging creases.
With the binding folded in half, as it came, gather along the open edge. Stitch 1/4″ from the edge (aligned with your foot as shown above) using your longest (basting) stitch and with your tension set at the highest (9 on my machine).
I found I didn’t need to pin the binding to do this but since the satin will inevitably creep you can make a small pleat in the top layer occasionally to compensate. It will blend in with the gathering.
Now divide the binding in four, mark with pins, and pin right sides together to the centers of each side of your minky, as shown above.
Pull your thread to adjust the gathers and pin the binding all the way around the edges of your minky. Baste stitch the ruffle in place with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Now you will take your coordinating piece of minky and pin it right sides together with the ruffled piece, being careful to fold in the satin ruffle so it’s lying flat and clear of the edges. (The satin ruffle is “sandwiched” between your two pieces of minky with edges of the the two minky pieces and satin binding aligned.)
Leave a two inch opening to turn right side out, as shown above between the red and blue pins.
Stitch on top of the basting to avoid having to unpick any basting stitches (which is impossible to do on the satin without pulling up extra threads).
Turn right side out (so cute!) and stitch the opening closed as close to the edge as possible. The minky hides the stitching rather nicely, especially if it is patterned.
And there you have it: your Luxe Lovey!
It’s hard to stop with just one. You’ll want to make them in all sorts of combinations. And why not give away two at a time–it’s great to have a backup of your child’s comfort object as you know what a nightmare it is if it goes missing.
Oooo, I love love love these and will for sure need to be giving this tutorial a try! I especially LOVE your fabric selections!
ashley
http://www.littlemissmomma.com
thank you so much for posting this! it was divine intervention because i was about to rip apart some satin binding from a quilt i’m working on and trash it because it wasn’t cooperating (i think i must need a walking foot or something). i had to trim down the quilt, the binding is all a mess, etc. BUT now, i can cut the quilt down into 10″ squares and salvage the binding to make some cute quilted luxe lovies! perfect solution!!! thanks again!
my kids love “little silkies” and these are to die for cute!
oh my gosh!! so adorable! and i think i just found a new favorite website to buy fabric! thanks for the tutorial!!
Adorable! I love this idea… I might just give it a try. There’s alwaya a baby to sew for!
I love these! I have serious minkee sewing issues. Maybe these little guys will hide some of it. 🙂
Thank you for providing such a detailed guide. I am excited to try this out!
– Jane
Anneliese’s blog is one of my absolute favorites! I actually just posted some baby hats that I made from one of her tutorials. Thanks so much for sharing her and her lovely tutorial.
Have a great night,
Lindsay
So cute! I was just looking for baby shower ideas for 2 friends. I think these are in order! 🙂
What a great tutorial! I’ve seen these in boutiques and always admired them. Now I can make some of my own.
I wonder though if you can do the silk edge without a ruffle? I am having a boy and a ruffle seems too girly for my son.
justenoughstyle.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tutorial! My five month old just started chewing on everything, and I was thinking about making something like this for her. Now I have a tutorial…thanks:) By the way, I love your blog. I wish I had your artistic talent. Your paintings are amazing!
That looks so soft and snuggly!! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing.
–Anne
Any new Mom would love one of these for her baby! I purchased one ($24!) but my girl didn’t take to it as a ‘lovey’ but now uses it as a blankie for her dolly’s!
How do you get 10 squares from 1/3 yard of 60″ fabric?
@ Anonymous: That’s what I get for making this tutorial a week after I had a baby! You get 6 squares (10″ each) from a 60″ piece. Sorry about that!
LOVE these! I’ll be linking today!
I love it Annelise! How lovely. Thanks so much for this, I’ll be linking.
Is it possible to make the ruffle and attach it to the top layer with a ruffler??? I am having a little troubles with my ruffler right now and was wondering if there is some trick that I’m just not getting? Thanks Jennifer
Just lovely! Great tutorial!
Thanks so much!
My daughter is having surgery next week and I wanted to make her a special blanket to take to the hospital. I love this tutorial and had never used satin binding. I linked my finished blanket to your tutorial. I posted some pictures of how it turned out. 🙂 Thank you for your time in posting all the steps!
http://ohsewnice.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-baby-haley.html
I made a blanket from your tutorial for two babies i only took a picture the one with the brown trim, the other had blue trim, and that baby is happily wrapped in it today. Thank you for this idea everyone loved it. I did however make mine a little bit bigger. I love your site, i follow you on GF, FB, and e-mail. i wanted to send a photo to you on here but there isn’t an option for it.
I have to share how ADORED these lovey’s are !! I made 3 of them for my granddaughter, and they are so popular (seh is 6 mth) that another baby tried to steal one of hers from daycare! My daughter told me she was screaming last night because she woke in the night and they had forgotten to give her one of the loveys.
Thank you for your great tutorial!