No Sew Fleece Blanket
You will need:
Polar Fleece: 1 1/2 yard piece or choose your own custom size. (Fleece is usually 50-60" wide)
"Ruler or Shape Cut Ruler and Rotary Cutter" works best to create neatly cut fiinge. If you are using scissors, please make sure your cuts are clean, even and straight with no frayed edges.
This blanket is simply made in 5 easy steps.
Step #1: Before you begi~ trim off selvage edges and square uneven edges as needed. (Fig. 1)
Step 2: (Fig. 2)
Cut a four inch square from each comer of the fleece.
Remove selvages & square up
fleece
Step #3: (Fig. 3)
Cut 4" xl" wide fringe around blanket
Cut a four inch square from
each comer and discard.
(See tip below)
Figure 1
Figure 3
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Figure 2
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Tip: Cut a 4" piece offabric or batting to use as your comer template. (Fig.2) It won 't slip and it will make cutting easier. Usingyour ruler and rotary cutter cut vertically and horizontal/y-(arrows} AlMOST to the comer
(red circle) but NOT QUITE. Then use your scissors tofinish the comer cut. This will give you a crisp, clean cut
and you won't cut into the neighboringfringe. NOTE: Fringe may be cut in 1/2" or 1" increments.
Step #4:
Step #5: Feed the end of the fiinge through the back side of
Using a seam ripper, make a tiny slit
the slit you just cut and pull through to create
in the top of eacl1piece of fringe
a neat and secure fringed edge.
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NO-SEW
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POLAR FLEECE
BLANKET
Copyright 2003 Project Linus Cincinnati
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Supplies:
Fleece fabric: 1% yd fabric
SHARP scissors
=child's blanket;
2 yd
=teen's
blanket
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Maskingtape and rulerforcuttingguides.
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Cut off selvages (thick,curled edges) from both sides (Fig. 1). Square up each side by trimminguneven edges.
Directions:
1Y:zyard panel
1% yard panel
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Fig. 1
Fig. 2
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Use maskingtape to marka lineon each side, 4" fromthe edge (Fig.2). Cut out the 4" corners markedby the
tape. (Please save the squares for Project Linus for patchwork blankets.)
The masking tape is your 'stop cutting' line when cutting fringe. Carefully cut the edges into Y:z"to %" wide fringe
pieces, stopping at the masking tape line. Each fringe piece should be 4" long. Pull off masking tape after cutting
.
fringe.
Tie a knotineach pieceoffringe,gentlypushingthe knotup to the edge ofthe blanket.(Fig.3)
Close up of blanket
edge, with tied and
Fig. 3
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untiedfringes.
Fringe tied correctly, knots at blanket edge
Fringe tied too low
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TYing1:heAeece
.J- The slipknot takes more practice for some than others.
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.J- Slipknot too hard? Tie two fringes together. We call this a "friendshipblanker-tying twofriends
together. Tie them in a double knot. Start tyingat one end, not in the middle. Cut mate-less fringein
half and tie together. Be sure to cut them THIN- 1/2" to %",no thicker,for the softest fringe,smaller
knots,easiest tying.
J- Be consistent-don't switchtyingmethodon a singleblanket.
"Qh, HELPf Wha't Did I Do Wroog??"
**PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING FLEECE BLANKETS!!!
"Whydoes my fringe look rough and choppy?"
Very sharp fabric scissors are the key. Cut fringe with one long cut versus chopping through the fleece with short snips.
Fiskar brand scissors work nicely on fleece.
"Whyare the ends of my fringe curled up when they should lay flat?"
The selvage edges of the fleece (the thick edges across from the fold filled with small holes and a rough edge) must be
trimmed off before measuring and cutting fringe.
"Whydo the sides of my blanket look uneven?"
Always use masking tape to create a cutting guide for the depth of the fringe all of the way around the blanket. We
recommendrunningtape4 II fromthe edgesand cuttingup to the tape,but not throughit.
"Why are my knots so big? I'm afraid the big knots will make the blanket uncomfortable for
the childwho wraps up in it."
Knots are big when fringe is cut too wide. We recommend cutting fringe no wider than one inch.
Also, measuring your fringe width as you cut to keep it all the same size really renders a nicely finished edge.
"Whydoes my blanket look so long and narrow?"
Remember, the fringe uses up 8 inches of width and length, so you have to allow for it. If you start with a piece of fleece
that is only one yard and fringe all 4 sides, it will end up being too narrow for a comfortably sized blanket. Recommended
purchase sizes for fleece panels are 1 1/2 yards for toddlers and young children and 2 yards for teen blankets. If vou
have one yard Danels of fleece. frinae the two short ends onlv. Do not frinae all 4 sides.
"Why doesn't the fringe on my blanket look even?"
You want your knots to line up in a straight row when the blanket is finished. As you make a knot in a strand of fringe,
push the knot up to the edge of the blanket before tiahtenina it. This will give you the finished look you were expecting.
"Why does my blanket look all curled up after I have knotted the fringe?"
When you tie knots in the fringe, it tends to gather the fleece together. Once the knots are all tied, aentlv stretch the
blanket sides back out until you have square comers again and then your blanket will lay nice and flat and rectangular.
"Why do you request single layer fleece blankets versus double? lUke to make the doubles."
Single layer fleece blankets only cost 1/2 as much to make, so you can help 2 kids instead of just one with the same
money. Single layer fleece can be used at most of our locations; doubles can be used at fewer locations.
The double layer fleece blankets are so warm and insulating that they are too heavy/warm for many of our donation sites,
particularly hospitals, where rooms are kept quite warm. For some children, the doubles are too heavy or bulky for them
to carry to the playroom or treatment center.
We have a huge demand for single layer fleece blankets created from 1% or 2 yard panels. Since we never have enough,
the singles are always greatly appreciated.
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