Sunday, December 9, 2007

Everyone loves a blanket!!!

Hmmm...Let's see what I am doing here.
I saw this fleece fabric at Hobby Lobby and I had to have it. The puzzle piece pattern is the symbol for autism awareness. I though it was appropriate. I am making 2 tie blankets, one for Braden and one for a very special family we know. Hopefully they won't meander over here and see it! I though I would share exactly how I make them in case someone else wants to make one too!! It is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. I bought this fabric for 5.99 and 7.99 a yard.


For an kid/adult blanket you need 1 1/2 yards of fabric in 2 different coordinating patterns. (For a baby blanket use 1 yard of fabric.)

Place the fabric on top of each other with the right sides facing out. Trim the fabric so that it is roughly the same size. You then need to decide how long you want your fringe to be. I think mine is around 3 inches. The most important part of the blanket is making sure you cut a "square" out at each corner. (Shown above.)


After you cut the square on each corner you need to go around the entire fabric cutting your fringe. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can make the fringe as wide/narrow as you like. The wider, the less cuts and ties you have to make. (brilliant!!) Although, I think the narrow ties better. It's your choice. To keep up with the length of the fringe, (that does need to be about the same) I made a mark on my scissors to use as a guide. Start at one corner and go all the way around the fabrics (they are still on top of each other) so that you are cutting both pieces of fabric at once.
Once you get done cutting the fringe, it is time for the tying. Start at one corner and take a piece of fringe from both fabrics, one on top of the other, and tie a knot.


A single knot, not a double. Tie the fringe tight the first time around so you don't have to go back over it.

You will want to make sure that you tie each knot the same way. You want the fringe from the top pattern to be on the bottom side, and vice versa. (see above pic.) It doesn't have to be this way, but I think it looks much better like this.

This is how the fringe will look as you are tying it. Just go all the way around the fabric tying the knots in the same way.

This is what your finished product will look like!! It only takes an hour or so to do.

After you finish roll it up and use a scrap piece of fabric to tie it with.

I had so much fun making this!! I love that it is no sew!!

Ready for giving!!!!!!!!!!!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

that is so cute and you are so talented!!

Shannon's Stuff said...

Thank you for this idea. I have been thinking of something I can get my 4 month old twin nephews for Christmas and this would be perfect.
Happy Holidays!

Alison Cummins said...

Michelle,
I am not sure if you remember me from school or not, but anyway, I linked to your blog from Shannon's and am sooo glad that I did. I have received such a blessing from reading your posts today. First of all, I want to say how amamzing you are!!! I have an autistic nephew, well he is acutally my cousin, but his mom and I are like sisters so he is more like a nephew, so when I read your blog, I immediately felt connected. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you are truly a hero in my eyes. Any mother of an autistic child has to be sent from God to be able to handle the day to day challenges that come with autism. My nephew is 8 years old and still doesn't speak, but we are hopefull that one day he will. I am so glad that I stopped by! Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

stopped by to take a look and just love love this suvvy! We call soft warm cozy blankets suvvy's in our family lol! Your fantastic!~lisa

Rachel said...

You are very talented!! I dont see how you find the time to do all of this cute stuff!!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this, I have many friends who have children who are affected by autism, what a neat idea. How much do you think you spent in fabric?

Great detail in showing craft too!

I'm trying to get on this blogspot, have a site but am having a horrible time arranging it the way I want. I am so use to HTML on Myspace and this is a tad bit different isn't it?

Hugs,
~Rennie~

Anonymous said...

I want to say thank you so much for this blanket, Michelle. You don't know how much this meant to Chris and I. Of course, the kids loved it as well! This blanket was simply the best gift I have received in a VERY long time. Thank you for making me feel just a little less alone in this crazy world of autism:)