from Marta with Love

Minky Blanket Tutorial

I just remembered I never posted about this minky blanket I made for a my guild friend, Peg! I was late giving it to her (how late? it’s February in Colorado yet my pictures show green grass –you do the math), so it’s only fitting I’m late to post about it.  Right?  Yes.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

I’m including a little tutorial, since you can never have too many pointers when sewing with minky dot fabric. I learn something new every time I sew with it! If I can save just one person from the cursing that ensues when you sew with this slippery sucker of a fabric, I’ve done my job.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

This is tutorial will help you with the method of construction. Your specific measurements will vary depending on the size blanket you want to use. I simply made a blanket whose length and width equaled the width of my dining room table! Easy, and the perfect size for a little babe.

First and foremost, I highly recommend pre-washing your fabric and minky backing before you begin. Any time you mix two types of fabrics with different shrink rates, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I did not pre-wash when I made Peg’s blanket and unfortunately when I saw it after she’d washed it I was pretty sad –it shrank weird. So sorry, Peg! Like I said, I learn something new with every project. I haven’t yet reached perfect quilter/sewist/crafter (a/k/a alien) status.

Now that we’ve established I’m human, let’s start. Lay your minky backing on your work surface, facing up, and smooth it out completely. Doing this on a table helps because the overhang keeps the fabric taught when you’ve smoothed it out.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Lay your main fabric on the minky, facing down, then lay your batting on top and smooth out all wrinkles so you have a perfectly flat surface. Note: my main fabric was 44″ wide but the minky I used was 58″ so I had quite a bit of overhang. Which is fine, because I’ll cut it off after the next step.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Now pin the living hell out of your sandwich. You will not regret this –you’ll only regret if you don’t pin enough! Treat this like a quilt and really baste it well. Minky shifts like crazy (especially this type of minky with the little knobs), so you need to stabilize! Then trim away any excess minky.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

To make your blanket a perfect square (or rectangle), here’s how you’ll line everything up.

Place your pinned blanket at the edge of your table, with at least 1/2″ hanging over. Notice my minky and fabric aren’t even, or straight, or pretty. The edge looks pretty yucky. That’s okay! Don’t fret.

Take something with a long, straight edge (I used a dowel I had left over from a home improvement project) and line it up with the edge of your table. Mark that line. I was very careful not to move (or roll) my dowel as I marked.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Next you’ll pin along this entire line. You can place pins as close together as you want but I wouldn’t put more than 3 inches between each one. You really want everything to stay put when you sew on that line later on.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Continue marking and pinning each side as you did above. You’re marking your blanket the same way you would cut fabric if you were squaring it up. Use the first line you marked–the one you know is straight–as a reference point to line up your other sides.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Using your walking foot (more stabilization? yes, please), sew on the lines you marked, stopping with your needle down at each corner, turning and going around the entire perimeter of your blanket. Leave open about a 5″ gap on one side through which you will turn your blanket right side out. I leave my pins in and just sew over them, being careful not to hit them with my needle (I read this tip on Kelly’s blog). I find this does a better job of keeping everything in place than if you remove pins as you sew.

Now take out your ruler and trim yourself a beautifully straight 1/2″ seam allowance. This is why I said not to worry if your edges weren’t perfect. It’s so much easier to sew on a straight line and trim later than it is to try to line up MINKY with two other layers of material and maintain a perfect square. Ask me how I know.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Turn your blanket right side out through the gap you left open before. Lay it back down on your table and take care to line up your edges nicely, smoothing out any wrinkles or shifting. Then pin it again, as before! You can still screw up your blanket at this point if you skip pinning because you still need everything stable when you top-stitch.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Done pinning yet? Now you can top stitch around your whole quilt, folding in the fabric at your opening to create a pretty edge. Top-stitch about 3/8″ from the outside of the blanket.

I didn’t quilt this one because I wanted it super flowy and snuggly but if you want to quilt it you can do that now too. Otherwise, take out your pins and you’re done!

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

That’s it for my minky blanket tutorial! Go forth and sew some minky. May the force be with you.

Minky Blanket Tutorial - from Marta with Love

Discussion
Share on

You may also like

Previous Post

Because I wanna...

Next Post

Shout-Out Post

41 Comments

  • Jenelle

    This is fantastic! I need to make a couple of these for a baby shower. I have to admit that Minky has kind of intimidated up to now, but I think I might be able to handle it with your instructions. Thanks for the tutorial. 🙂

    February 5, 2013 at 10:22 pm Reply
  • Catherine

    Thanks for this great clear tutorial – it’s something I want to try and this is going to be so helpful.

    February 6, 2013 at 1:04 am Reply
  • Marit

    I love that flannel print on the front so much! I made a blanket for my little girl out of it. And babies l.o.v.e. minky! So soft to touch:)

    February 6, 2013 at 1:07 am Reply
  • Emily

    Very smart! sewing with minky scares the crap out of me!

    February 6, 2013 at 9:03 am Reply
  • Martha

    Very cute! Too bad it shrank in a weird way. But like you said we learn something everyday.

    February 6, 2013 at 10:28 am Reply
  • nicke

    the the moral to the story is there is no such thing as too many pins right? 😉 minky blankets are always my kids favorites!

    February 7, 2013 at 10:04 am Reply
  • Kelly

    Beautifully written my friend!

    February 9, 2013 at 8:09 am Reply
  • Lynette

    Hey, thanks for working this up. Minky is the best stuff in the world. Gotta make a flowy blanket like this for us!

    February 12, 2013 at 12:42 pm Reply
  • Danielle

    Seriously needed this – I’ve been cursing Minky for a long time now! Xoxo

    June 22, 2013 at 4:56 pm Reply
  • Alice Petagna

    I spray the fabric edges with a temporary adhesive to keep it stable and that works great and keeps the layers from moving and I use a walking foot and I pin the edges, just to be sure. It works great on baby stroller blankets. I cut two from the width of a yard of fabric and it makes a perfect size baby blanket, approximately 30×36.

    August 9, 2013 at 6:26 am Reply
  • sigrid

    I really really have to thank you: I am expecting my second girl, and wanted to sew her something cute (and warm) for the winter… I had seen these minky blankets all over the place and I also ordered some minky fabric, I ended up reading your post just after my fabrics arrived. Needles to say, I had no idea how sewing with minky was going to be and I almost certainly would have made a huge mess if I hadn’t read your advice (boy does this stuff shifts or what!? :-). I did curse a bit (I think I pinned my whole sandwich like 4 times before everything ended up in the right place), but after the pinning part it was pretty much a piece of cake. Made my kokka-matrioshka-minky-blanky in just 2 hours or so. It’s now ready and folded for the baby to arrive, yay!!… Again, thanks for sharing!!

    August 21, 2013 at 3:22 pm Reply
  • Lana

    Can you tell me what batting you used? Would you use batting if you were to make a blanket that both sides of the fabric are minky? I’m also planning to include a ruffle, any special advice with that?

    September 19, 2013 at 10:37 am Reply
  • Danielle

    I also would like to know what type of batting….very new to sewing.

    October 17, 2013 at 7:07 pm Reply
  • sueswordfitlyspoken

    So grateful for this post. I am about to do a Memory Quilt for a customer and for the first time use Minky as a backing. I am now forewarned and forearmed!

    November 5, 2013 at 5:29 am Reply
  • Carol

    I have a question about pre washing minky fabric. Do you stitch the ends or just wash it straight from the store. Does it fray in the wash?
    Great tutorial! I can’t wait to get started.

    November 6, 2013 at 3:51 pm Reply
  • Sheena

    Don’t you have to quilt with batting? I had thought that if you didn’t it would tear inside the blanket?

    November 9, 2013 at 2:20 pm Reply
    • sueswordfitlyspoken

      Sheena, I successfully quilted 3 memory quilts this year for customers. It was new to me, but this blog gave me courage. *smiles* On one, I did not use any batting, but on the other 2 I did, and i quilted about 4″ apart, using Minky Dimple Dot as the backing on all 3 with no problem. One was a round tie quilt, and due to the weight and thickness of the top, I did not add batting to this one. All of the ties came out from the center, with a center top circle of Minky, so I top stitched directly from the center on all of the ties with great success. All batting packs suggest a maximum distance for quilting or tying stitches. I would highly suggest that if you do not want to quilt while using a batting, at least tie the layers to the suggested spacing.

      January 4, 2014 at 5:18 am Reply
  • Stuffed octopus and minky blanket | mystitchnbitch

    […] I really don’t make blankets or quilts so this was new territory for me. I found this tutorial for making a minky backed blanket. I made sure to wash both the quilting panels and the minky for […]

    November 11, 2013 at 3:53 pm Reply
  • kathleen

    Excellent tutorial! I just finished a little quilt top and want to add a minky backing so it is the perfect lesson for me. I have 2 questions:
    1- what type of batting did you use? I am making a very small (doggie) blanket and I want it to be soft and cuddly. Would you recommend flannel instead of batting?
    2- If I wanted to do a little quilting on the top to the batting and then add the minty, could I do it that way? I don’t know if quilting on minky would be a nightmare!
    Thanks for the great tutorial and for any advice!

    November 13, 2013 at 7:04 am Reply
  • Pamela

    i really appreciate all of your tips! can’t tell you how many times minky has frustrated me but i see a lot of helpful tips in your post that i think will make a real difference! can’t wait to try it out tomorrow! for now, i’m off to wash my fabric!

    January 3, 2014 at 8:51 pm Reply
    • Pamela

      update: i have now made three blankets using your technique and they have all turned out great! i keep getting the hang of it a little better every time. your tips have been so helpful! thank you so much!

      February 28, 2014 at 11:26 pm Reply
  • Rachel

    Thanks for these tips! I just used them to make a blanket with brushed cotton one side and Minky dots the other, that I bought on holiday in the states (I’m from the UK). It was soooo easy once I had pinned the hell out of it as you recommended, I even forgot to use my walking foot and had zero problems. I didn’t use batting this time and the blanket has a really nice weight to it (perhaps because the brushed cotton is a little heavier). I’m already trying to find sources for cuddle type fabrics here in the UK to make some more as it was such a quick baby present.

    January 10, 2014 at 3:50 am Reply
  • Libby Prall

    So glad I found this before I started my minky blankets for my granddaughter & my dog. Thank you!

    January 18, 2014 at 1:35 am Reply
  • Stacia

    Love your tutorial, very clear instructions and funny too! I am pre-washing my fabric now to make my first baby blanket, fingers crossed!!

    January 31, 2014 at 3:05 pm Reply
  • Marilyn Johnson

    I read a comment about pre-washing the minky. I followed this tutorial to the letter (and I agree with everyone here – it is an EXCELLENT tutorial) except that I prewashed and dried my minky and ruined it. I took every precaution – washed separately on delicate cycle. Dried separately in heat and moisture sensitive dryer. Took out of dryer immediately and folded. The whole 1.5 meters was so wrinkled that it looked like I had tied it in knots before I washed it. I was devastated! I tried to lightly iron under a steam cloth. Pressed about 1/3 of the dots out but none of the wrinkles released. Called the shop I bought the fabric from and they couldn’t help me at all; just said they never heard of such a thing and that they would never pre-wash minky because it’s polyester and wouldn’t shrink – the flanellette is the fabric that will shrink and that you have to worry about. Last ditch effort was to try to press all the dots out but that didn’t work either, it was just ruined. Ended up buying more minky. Going to start the project today – hope all goes well. I don’t like the idea of not prewashing fabric that is going to a newborn baby ……… maybe the last time I sew with minky…….. I guess we’ll see. BUT the rest of the tutorial is well written and very helpful. Thank you Marta!

    March 1, 2014 at 9:09 am Reply
  • Christine

    Thank you for this! I’m very new to sewing, and a few weeks ago I bought some dotted minky (same as this but ‘rose’) and cotton fabric with the intention of throwing together a blanket for my daughter. I had no idea what I was getting in to.. I knew nothing about a walker foot and I had no idea what/if to use batting.

    Well, I just finished sewing it and I LOVE it! The lines aren’t perfectly straight but, for my first real project, it certainly isn’t bad, either.

    Thank you for this tutorial, it’s just what this sewing noob needed to get this done!

    March 24, 2014 at 4:12 pm Reply
  • Danielle

    I am in the midst of making a baby quilt and decided I wanted to back it with minky … The problem is, I didn’t prewash. I have used a very steamy iron but am worried about the results you described. Can I wash the top before adding the minky? Maybe stitch around the edges so it won’t fray? Or it it a lost cause, should I just back with cotton?

    July 13, 2014 at 5:38 am Reply
  • Kellie

    Thank you for this tutorial! This was my first project EVER and I sure told my minky fabric who was boss after pinning the crap out of it like you said! THANK YOU! The finished product is stunning.

    July 19, 2014 at 12:00 pm Reply
  • Erin

    What brand of batting did you use? Thanks!

    September 14, 2014 at 4:43 am Reply
  • Christina Sattley

    I knew my neighbor wanted a ” Minky Coutoure” damask style. I was able to find colors and patterns that couldn’t be custom mad( yes even in Utah stores). The price of the Minky new rosette pattern , not the dots, and beautiful flocking damask pattern for the top. The fabric was on sale.. Less than 20.00 for both pieces, batting, and materials. I even had $ left over to buy an updated sewing machine. The same stroller size original ( with a beytig ruffled satin sheer edge, would have cost me at least 120.00 in the boutiques. Thank you for teaching me a new skill and saving me so much $$.. It has been a great experience!

    September 22, 2014 at 3:58 am Reply
  • Mollie

    I am confused about what to do with the 5″ gap after turning the quilt right side out. I don’t need to sew that separately? Did I miss something in the tutorial?

    September 22, 2014 at 1:15 pm Reply
  • BJ evans

    Sewing a large quilt.with minky back.i am a very experienced quilter! However turning out very wonky. Not the fun wonky! Made first no bat. Did not like, so added batt. Cotten dream,best one out there. Still cannot smooth out. Want to machine free hand around large motifs, how am I going to keep smooth, no ripples. Or should I just try big stitch with pearl Cotten . Any advice ? Want ready for Christmas. Please any help. Trying to pin very well. Very difficult . Can you reply ASAP BJ. Gazzee@gmail.com

    December 14, 2014 at 6:29 pm Reply
  • Rebecca Grace

    I know this is an older post, but I just stumbled across it. What kind of batting did you use, if you remember? I know the weird shrinky business you are describing very well — my first Minky backed quilt looked like saggy elephant skin because the quilt top and batting shrunk but the polyester Minky did not. That quilt was tied with yarn. I did more quilting the second time I used Minky backing and prewashed my quilt top fabrics in warm water in hopes of getting them to shrink ahead of time, and that was a little better. This next Minky backed quilt also has prewashed fabric in the quilt top, and I’m using an 80/20 cotton/poly batting this time that is supposed to have next to no shrinkage, and I’m going to quilt it more than I did the last one so that if the Minky backing sags it will be distributed better and less noticeable (hopefully!). Well, the quilt top, batting and Minky backing are layered up and smoothed out on my work table right now and I’m debating whether I should just start pinning or try to spray baste with 505 and THEN start pinning. I wish there were magical quilting fairies who came in the night to baste my quilts for me! Wish me luck!

    February 25, 2015 at 3:46 pm Reply
  • Sheila merk

    Thanks for info. I checked many sites and yours was the clearest and easiest.

    November 6, 2015 at 10:23 am Reply
  • marty

    I am sewing with minky for the first time and a little afraid, ha! I see you use batting, which I am doing as well but what about multiple washings…doesn’t the batting become ‘balled up’ if not sewn down more that just with the topstitching like you did after you turned the blanket inside out?

    January 26, 2016 at 1:03 pm Reply
  • Krystal Wight Armstrong

    Thank you so much for this helpful, encouraging post!

    I’m about to embark on my first blanket ever, with flat/smooth minky, batting inside, and cotton backing. I’d also like to add a ruffle trim.
    ~When first laying out the sandwich of layers…where in the sandwich should I fit in the ruffle?

    ~I’m also just hearing that it’s not supposed to be ok to use batting without quilting it…is that really true? I want a smooth, solid block without quilting lines…any tips I need to know to do this and not have problems with the batting during the life of the blanket?

    May 23, 2016 at 10:17 pm Reply
  • Meghan

    I just wanted to say thank you for the tutorial and the humor. 🙂

    July 25, 2016 at 11:44 am Reply
  • Halloween goods - from Marta with Love

    […] minky-backed quilts, it’s super snuggly. Our boys super-duper love it. I referred back to my old minky blanket tutorial and finished this the same way (except: (1) I remembered to pre-wash my fabric; (2) I did quilt […]

    November 3, 2016 at 6:10 am Reply
  • Drapes Blog

    Recommended Quilted Throw Blanket 60 X 50

    […] down on your table and take care to line up your edges nicely, smoothing out any […]

    January 20, 2017 at 3:52 am Reply
  • Garage Blog

    Recommended I Love Lucy Time After Time Fleece Throw

    […] any wrinkles or shifting. Then pin it again, as before! You can still screw up […]

    February 4, 2017 at 6:31 am Reply
  • Elisabeth Mount

    So, I read this tutorial back in June of 2013, and made my almost-born son a blanket. It has become his one security item, and even though he started pre-k last Friday, he still walks in the door and instantly wants his blankey. Sadly, the flannel I used for the one side just has not held up, and it got a MASSIVE rip through it last week. I went back to the store and purchased more light blue Minky, this time with tractor flannel instead of baby tigers, and am ready to make him a new blanky. (I had tried to make him a new one for his fourth birthday, back in July, using a different tutorial. It ended with me in the ER with a sewing machine needle THROUGH my finger. Clear sign that I just had to find YOUR tutorial again, haha!) I searched all over Pinterest and couldn’t find this, and was really frustrated. Then, tonight I was sitting here and realized my old mobile bookmarks had synced over the years, and found this tutorial again. So glad I did! First and foremost, if forgotten to pre-wash the minky, so I’m going to do that tonight and make blanky 2.0 tomorrow. I just wanted to thank you for the easy to follow, simple tutorial. It allowed me to make my son’s most prized possession, and I genuinely am thankful I found your article! Let’s hope he loves blanky 2.0 just as much!

    September 12, 2017 at 3:43 pm Reply
  • Leave a Reply