Fern & Nest — Blankets

Every blanket on this page is printed with a name, and the artwork is painted watercolour rather than embroidery — butterflies, wildflower wreaths, hydrangea, sage and blue florals, pink bows, farm animals and a woodland hunting scene. Some are milestone blankets, with the months of the first year marked around the border; the rest are plain name blankets meant to be used rather than photographed. All of them are soft velveteen, and the preppy hydrangea design prints on both sides.

Which size should I choose?

Every design comes in 30" x 40" (76 x 102 cm), which is pram and car-seat size and the one most people buy for a newborn, and 50" x 60" (127 x 152 cm), which works as a cot throw first and a toddler-bed blanket later. Eight of the thirteen also come in 60" x 80" (152 x 203 cm), a full throw a child keeps well past the nursery. If the blanket is mainly for photographs, take the 50" x 60" — a 30" x 40" leaves very little margin around a baby once they can roll over.

What is a milestone blanket actually for?

The numbers printed around the border give you a fixed frame for the same photo every month, so the growth shows by itself without any editing or props. It is worth choosing a design whose colours suit the room you photograph in, since that background will be in twelve photos. The wildflower, butterfly and purple floral designs are the milestone ones here; the bow, farm animal and hunting blankets are name-only.

How is the name printed on?

The name is printed into the design itself, not stitched on afterwards, so the spelling and capitalisation you enter are exactly what arrives. Check accents and double letters before you order. Longer names sit smaller on the 30" x 40", which is another reason to size up if the name is more than about eight letters.

For the prints that match these blankets, see Baby Girl Nursery and Baby Boy Nursery, or browse everything gift-ready in Baby Gifts.