Some things to consider before starting your
No-Sew Polar Fleece blanket
Purchasing Supplies
One yard is TOO small! One yard of fleece creates a long, narrow blanket, too narrow for
comfortable use by a toddler or child.
If you ‘goofed’ and purchased one yard of fleece, fringe the 2 short edges only. Or, (preferred)
cut into two 30”x36” panels for baby blankets. These should be finished with a serged, crocheted or
hemmed edge. NO FRINGE, PLEASE.
Double-layer fleece blankets are popular but expensive. OUR chapter needs the single layer
fringed fleece. Save $$ and create single layer blankets.
Buy your fleece on sale. Use JoAnn’s 40% off coupons and buy fleece by the bolt. Buy it online
from a vendor that will reduce the cost since you are a Project Linus volunteer, such as
www.fleece4sale.com.
Preparing the Fleece for Fringing
Trim off those selvages! These are the curly long sides—thick, rough looking with tiny holes, and
are difficult to cut through. Some selvages show up as a line of white on each end of the panel. Pitch
them. If left on, they make the finished fringe look ragged. The selvages are NOT part of the
panel--they hold the fabric to the machinery during processing.
PRE-TAPE the fringe line: Use masking tape to mark the cutting line 4” from the edges on all 4
sides, for uniform fringe cutting. This will give you an easy 4” square guide to cut out the corners, too.
Save the 4” squares and turn them in with your blankets. We sew them together into
patchwork blankets.
Cutting the fleece
Use SHARP scissors. (Dull scissors create unnecessary problems cutting fringe)
Cut fringe ½” to 1” max. The wider the fringe, the harder to tie, the bulkier the knot (creating a
ragged look.)
Use SHARP scissors.
Try pre-marking the fringe width by marking cutting lines on the masking tape as a width guide.
Or, use a strip of lightweight cardstock (cut to fringe width) as guide for cutting fringe.
Cut using the length of the scissors’ blades. Many short, choppy cuts creates uneven fringe.
Use SHARP scissors.
Tying the fleece
Tie each strip of fringe with an overhand knot.
Overhand too hard? Tie two fringes together. We call this a “friendship blanket”—tying two
friends together. Tie them in a double knot (square knot). Start tying at one end, not in the middle. Cut
mate-less fringe in half and tie together. Be sure to cut them THIN— ½” to ¾” , no thicker, for the
softest fringe, smaller knots, easiest tying. Keep the knot slightly away from the edge of the blanket to
allow the finished blanket to lie flat. If the edges curl, the knots are too tight and/or the fringe is cut too
wide.
Be consistent—don’t switch tying methods on a single blanket.
NO-SEW POLAR FLEECE BLANKET
Copyright 2003 Project Linus Cincinnati
Supplies:
• Fleece fabric: 1½ yd fabric = child’s blanket; 2 yd = teen’s blanket; 1¼ yd fabric = toddler’s blanket
• SHARP scissors
• Masking tape and ruler for cutting guides.
Directions:
• Cut off selvages (thick, curled edges) from both sides (Fig. 1). Square up each side by
trimming uneven edges.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
•
•
•
Use masking tape to mark a line on each side, 4” from the edge (Fig. 2). Cut out the 4” corners
marked by 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 ½”
to ¾” 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 knot in each piece of fringe, gently pushing the knot up to the edge of the blanket. (Fig. 3)
Fig. 3
For specific information and tips for making these and other blankets with groups of children,
please email ([email protected]) us to request our KIDS HELPING KIDS packet.
“Oh, HELP! What Did I Do Wrong??”
**PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING FLEECE BLANKETS!!!
“Why does 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.
“Why are the ends of my fringe curled up when they should lie 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.
“Why do 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
recommend running tape 4" from the edges and cutting up to the tape, but not through it.
“Why are my knots so big? I'm afraid the big knots will make the blanket
uncomfortable for the child who 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 will result in a nicely finished edge.
“Why does 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 less than 44” and fringe all 4 sides, it will end up being too narrow for a comfortably sized blanket.
Recommended purchase sizes for fleece panels:
1¼ yards for toddlers
1½ yards for children
2 yards for teen blankets
If you have panels of fleece 36” - 40”, fringe the two short ends only. Do not fringe all 4 sides.
Or, finish with a serged hemmed or crocheted edge.
“Why doesn't the fringe on my blanket look even?”
You want your knots to line up in a straight line 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 tightening 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, grasp each knot (not
the end of the fringe) and pull gently. This should relax the edges so it will lie flat. If the blanket is still curled, gently
stretch the blanket edges until you have square corners again, and your blanket will lie nice and flat and rectangular.
“Why do you request single layer fleece blankets versus double? I like to make the
doubles.”
We have a much larger demand for single layer fleece blankets than for double.
Single layer fleece blankets only cost half 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.