I wish I could sew well. Honestly, I’ve tried but the results never seem to work out. Methinks it’s mostly due in part to my lead foot using the sewing pedal as I would with a racecar during a quarter-mile race.
While browsing the web and day dreaming of a sewing adventure actually turning out awesome for once, I found a no-sew pattern for a baby blanket. After a few size modifications, I was able to make one that actually fits a king size bed.
It’s incredibly cuddly and very easy to make. The project takes about an hour and a half (without any kitty interruptions) and it can double as a homemade gift for friends.
Materials:
- 2½ yards of anti-pill fleece fabric in one pattern/color
- 2½ yards of anti-pill fleece fabric in another pattern/color
- Fabric scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
Directions:
1. Wash the fabric. I suggest washing it in cool or cold water and a low dryer setting. This isn’t completely necessary, but being the fabric has been through warehouses, trucks, boxes and what have you, it’s just nice having it cleaned right off the bat. Plus, it sometimes makes the material softer, which ups the cuddly factor.
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2. Lay the first piece of fabric on a large surface, right side down. For the fabric newbies: patterned fabrics will have two sides to them.
The right side will have the pattern showing very brightly and easy to see, while the wrong side will show a reverse of the pattern in a more dull view. Place the pretty and bright side facing the ground.
3. Lay the second piece of fabric on top of the first piece of fabric, right side up. This piece will have the side that you want to see facing you.
4. Cut a 4″ square from each of the four corners of both of the fabrics. Personally, I measured one set of 4″ squares and used that as a template for the rest.
5. Now, hold both fabrics together and cut strips of fringe down each of the four sides. Cut each fringe 4″ deep and 1″ wide. This doesn’t have to be exact! It’s pretty easy to just wing it after a while.
6. After the fringe is cut, tie double knots using the strip of fringe from fabric #1 and fabric #2.
Et voila! Now, you have a cuddly blanket perfect for snuggling or giving away as a gift.
Please upload pics of your cuddly adult fleece blankets! I would love to see what ya’ll come up with.
I’ve used this idea before for my arthritic dog, only with his old worn pet mattress stuffed inside the 2 layers. I used a couple of those scratchy blankets that had been collecting dust in the cupboard for years (my old boy doesn’t mind the scratchiness, he has far too much fur). Now he has a much thicker, warmer bed to sleep on, we don’t have such an eyesore in the living room and there’s more space in our cupboards. Win, win, win!
That’s an awesome idea. =)
I received one of these as a Christmas present 2 years ago, and it is my all-time favorite couch cuddling blanket. Absolutely a wonderful gift.
Aww, glad you liked it! I might make some this week to give away as quick gifts for Christmas. ^_~
Ditto…my friend gave me one for Christmas in college and it is my warmest and most favoritest blanket!
Love these! Got one as a present in high school 8 years ago and I still love it to death.
I love these too! Especially when it starts getting colder for winter.
I saw this picture and was like “Woah… who stole my cat!” and also.. I was just thinking of making one of these… motivation, acquired.
Aww, my kitteh has a clone!
By the way, for some odd reason cats love these blankets. It’s like a magnet for instant kiity cuddle action. tehe
I also wondered if someone had stolen my cat! Adorable! (unbiased opinion)
A good tip is to use painters or masking tape to mark the 4″ line, so you don’t have to worry about the measuring tape flying ou of the way. I tend to do mine a little differently. I have one of thise rolling cutters, a self-healing cuttin mat, and a large plastic cutting guides. I line up the guide and can easily cut strips. It doesn’t have to be perfect, as the material is very forgiving.
Love the painters tape idea. I’ll definitely try it out next time.
I love that fabric! I haven’t checked out the fleece selection in a couple of years. I guess they’ve branched out from the solids, plaids and baby prints that used to dominate.
The one I have is actually brown fleece with embroidered flowers…way fancier than plaid!
Sounds pretty!
They have definitely branched out from plaids. My local crafts store had a ton of fabrics from Dias de los Muertos patterns to paisley prints.
Just make sure to get anti pill, or else you’ll have a snow storm of fuzz to deal with. lol
Made one of these for my father-in-law for his birthday. He was always complaining that their throw blankets were too small so I made one with three yards of fabric (I chose a USMC patter as he is a Vietnam vet). He loves it. Totally worth using the extra fabric for a super snuggly blanket!
I got one of these as a gift last year; sadly I’m between homes at the moment and the blanket is in storage, or I’d post a picture. But it’s black on one side and has a gray skull pattern on the other. It’s the perfect little gothic-cute touch for my living room without being creepy. And it’s really soft and cuddly and great for cold mornings. I love the idea of stuffing the inside of one to make a pet bed, too!
I used to have one of these as my sofa blanket and I loved it.
I then discovered that it I unknotted the bottom, a small gap in the center top, and a small gap at the top of each side I could wear it like a giant blanket coat snuggle monster thing
Snork – this image had me laughing out loud. ARGH a “giant blanket coat snuggle monster thing” is on my sofa…
I LOVE my fleece blanket. Got it as a present from my step-mom a few years ago and I use it all the time.
I have always wanted to make one of these but have been too lazy to find out how. Perfect timing with this post!
Making one!
Yay! Please upload pics to the flickr photo group once you are done. I’d love to see the variations that people come up with. =)
(this goes for everyone else posting on here too. tehe)
This. Is. BRILLIANT. I despise sewing and suck at it anyway, and was dubious about a no sew blanket…must buy myself some fleece ASAP.
When I was in high school I made a huge one with my mother to fit on my bed – as my regular blanket. Then when I went to college we made me another one. They are so nice and warm in the cold northern winters! Our fabric store is practically half filled with polar fleece! (frustrating when you need something more delicate though)
I’ve also made wrist warmers using this method (only much smaller tabs) and throw pillows. You just need to leave enough room to go around the curve of the pillow – like you need to leave room for the edge of boxes when you wrap them as gifts. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of my fleece tie-pillows that I’ve made folks.
We received one of these as a wedding gift, and another when our daughter was born. These things are super warm, but I had to do surgery on mine because I found the fringe at the top of the blanket really annoying. If you’re making one of these to use as bedding, i would suggest sewing one end (or you can use those iron-on strip thingies). I found I slept much better once I was no longer arranging and rearranging the fringe.