How to make a milestone blanket
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I made a monthly milestone blanket for my son so I could have a picture of him each month to see how much he had grown. It is such a great memory to have later, and they grow so fast! (with an AI generated face swap in this image, if you think it looks a little bit weird lol).
I bought a 4 layered white muslin blanket. Mine was approx 37 by 40 inches. but if I have done it again I would probably made it a little bit bigger (this one is 47 by 47 inches). My baby is on the smaller side, and on month 11 and 12 he had to curve his legs to stay inside the blanket. But is still did its job 😊 Another thing is that the nature of the blanket makes it a bit hard to place it straight, so you see that the numbers are a bit skewed on some of the pictures, but I tried to put them straight every time.
If we where to have more kids, I wouldn’t put his name on it either. But I love the way it came out, and it will be a perfect addition to his first year photo book (when I got around to make it lol).
You need:
A muslin blanket
Silhouette cameo or similar vinyl cutter
Black heat transfer vinyl (I use Siser Easyweed)
Black card board for frame
Easypress or iron
How to:
If you use fabric pre-washed it so you will see the size after it is washed. Sew around the edges. I used Silhouette Studio to design the numbers, months (“måneder” in the blanket means months in Norwegian), and I also put babys name on the top right side.
I made the numbers ….. and the I made a square so the number would fit nicely inside, and a two inch larger square to make a frame.
I cut the numbers and text in vinyl on my Silhouette Cameo. I used half the blanket for numbers and the other half for baby ( I used a big teddy bear as measurement 🙈 I use that to set up photo lighting also, so baby don’t get tired before we even start). I also cut the frame, but in black cardboard.
The font you need to use my template are Bebas Neue, if you want the numbers to look exactly as mine.
Normally I press with a heat press, but this is way to big for my heat press (and its too complicated for me to do bits and pieces in the heat press) so I used an iron, but I think a Circut easy press would be perfect for this. When using an iron, you don’t “iron” it on. You need to press it on. Like almost stand on the iron. It doesn’t attach as good as with a heat press, but I never washed it. But if you got spills on it, I would hand wash it if possible.
How to take the best pictures
This might not be the best solution for everyone, and I´m not a photographer, so my advise is a simple setup that does not strobe light the baby too much. The best lightning would probably be two or three sources pointing at the baby from different angels. But a very easy setup is to have one, and pointing it up at a white ceiling so the works as an diffuser and reflects down on the baby. This creates no weird shadows and as a baby mama you don’t have to think to much 😂 I put the light behind me angled slightly towards the blanket, so it hits the ceiling in front of me, and then reflects down on the blanket. If you don’t have extra lightning, take the picture near a large window so you get good day light. Take it in RAW-format, and edit the photo in Photoshop or Lightroom after.
Blanket with anti slip mat and fleece blanket under
If your blanket moves a lot with the baby on, it could be an idea to put a anti slip mat under. I also put a white fleece blanket under so I wouldn’t risk getting the hardwood floor in the picture. I also make sure I take a couple of trial photo first, with the teddy bear. So everything is ready before putting the baby there.
It’s also easier if you are two adults, one to try to entertain the baby, and one to take the pictures. I take them hand held from above (standing on steps), but a tripod with a boom with probably make it easier. Some of my pictures came off uncentered. Like it was the perfect picture except some of the number where cut off or something else.
Make sure baby has eaten and napped, and then you are good to go 😊
This will make a perfect memory keepsake, to be used in baby books, photobooks and presents for grandparents. It can be difficult to follow through when you have a little one. I found it harder with the second one than with my first. But I am really glad we have them now!
I made a template you can get in my freebies section by subscribing to my newsletter!
