Materials
2 pieces of fleece (depends on the size of blanket or throw you want to make but I usually find 2.5 yards to be appropriate)
Chalk
Scissors
Ruler (or measuring tape, though I prefer the first)
Note: if you want to make a pillow to go with your fleece tie blanket, add some material to the total and pick up a bag of pillow stuffing.
Anyone can make one of these blankets or pillows – it’s so simple! (I promise.) There is absolutely no sewing required, and the most knowledge you need to know about crafting is how to work a pair of scissors and draw a line against a ruler.
Step One
Lay out your two pieces of material on top of each other. Make sure the edges line up with each other nicely and evenly.
Step Two
Take your chalk (I prefer yellow, but the color is up to you, really) and measure several inches in from the edges and mark straight lines. I usually measure in four to five inches. This will be used to create your ties (keep this in mind when picking out fleece – the width of your blanket will be reduced by about eight inches).
After marking straight lines four inches in from all four sides, you should have four small squares marked in the corner where the lines cross each other. Do not make any more marks in those squares.
Now, take your chalk and mark lines perpendicular to the lines you just made. These will be the four-inch strips you will use to tie your fleece blanket. You can measure each one out about an inch or an inch and a half, or you can save time and just use the width of your ruler as a measurement. Personally, I choose the latter.
(You might be wondering why chalk at this point. The answer is simple: it is easy to make marks with and washes right out. It might even brush off, though I recommend washing it, and it doesn’t annoy me or dry out like a fabric marker does. If you didn’t know, they make special markers for making non-permanent marks on fabric.)
This is also the most time consuming step.
Step Three
Cut out the corner pieces, the ones I said not to mark up with chalk. Once again, the corners of your fleece blanket will be the squares where the long marks you made around the edges cross. If you don’t cut these out, you will end up with a misshapen, lumpy blanket.
Step Four
Cut the strips.
Along the chalk lines you made to measure out the ties, cut in to the lines you made four inches into the fabric to mark the edges.
Make sure your scissors are fabric scissors with sharp edges that you only use for cutting cloth and other fabric. Otherwise you’ll fray your strips and end up with choppy, uneven edges.
Step Five
Tie the strips together.
Tie the strip of the top piece of fabric to the strip of the bottom piece of fabric that is directly below the top strip. Use a double-knot to tie them but do not pull the know too tight. You will stretch, tear and bunch up your blanket, resulting in an unattractive, misshapen pile of fabric.
And you are finished making your fleece tie blanket! You now have a brand new fleece tie blanket.
To Make a Fleece Tie Pillow
Follow the same steps as above with two small changes: reduce the fabric size (remember four inches will be cut off from each side, but you still don’t want a pillow as big as your fleece tie blanket!) and leave one end open during the tying process.
Before finishing the tying process, stuff the pillow by pushing the stuffing by the handful into the case. Start with the corners and stuff evenly, or else your pillow will be lumpy and uncomfortable.
Finish stuffing it and tie up the open end. And that is all there is to making a fleece tie pillow!
These fleece tie blankets and pillows make excellent throws or gifts and are extremely warm, soft and cozy, as well as cheap and easy to make. Start making your own easy DIY fleece tie blanket right now with a trip to your local fabric store and see for yourself!
Morgan is a frequent and avid crafter. She has personally made many of these blankets, and through trial-and-error, she has discovered this to be the best method to make a fleece tie blanket and a fleece tie pillow.
