What fabric can you use for a no sew blanket?
I love how easy it is to make the no-sew fleece blankets. To make them summer friendly, I used jersey fabric instead of fleece. Jersey is a knit fabric, like what t-shirts are made of. It doesn't fray or unravel like regular cotton fabric.
You will need 2 pieces of fleece, about 1 to 1 1/4 yards each, a pair of fabric scissors (or a rotary cutter - much easier!), cutting board (or some kind of cutting surface) and a ruler or straight-edge.
Polar fleece is also good for no-sew projects (like a flower – get the free tute here) or tie blankets (check out my ultimate tie blanket guide here) . Polar Fleece can be divided in to two categories, anti-pill and non anti-pill.
Cotton. Cotton blankets hold up well when repeatedly washed, reducing the build-up of allergens in the bed's microclimate. Cotton can be lightweight enough to use for summer sleep or heavy enough for winter use. The best qualities of cotton are its breathability and softness, enhancing comfort.
Even if you don't have a no-sew fleece kit you can still use this tutorial to make a no-sew blanket! What is this? For a child-sized blanket, you'll need to purchase two different pieces of fleece fabric measuring 1.5 yards. For an adult-sized blanket purchase two lengths of fabric measuring 3 yards.
So you want to make a cotton blanket, but you don't know how to sew and don't own a sewing machine. Don't give up on the project, because you will still be able to do it without sewing skills or a sewing machine. You just need a few items and the skills to cut a straight line and operate an iron.
I love working with flannel because they work well with no-sew ideas, they are warm and they are super soft. Depending on fabric sales and coupons, this could be a very inexpensive project.
Total Cost: $3.98 for 2 yards of fabric or $7.96 for 4 yards of fabric. That's it! This project was so easy and fun to make. And since this is a no-sew custom fleece blanket it makes them even better because you don't need to pull out a sewing machine to make them.
Step by Step instructions to make a No-Sew Fleece blanket. Fleece comes 60-inches wide, so your blanket should be around 60 x 60 (or longer). Your finished product will be about 10- inches smaller than the fabric you start with.
What is the Softest Type of Fleece? The softest types of fleece are plush fleece, microfleece, and sherpa fleece. For a fabric that you wear close to your skin, these will be the most comfortable in addition to keeping you warm. That's why all of these varieties of fleece are typically used to make blankets.
What is the difference between fleece and flannel?
Flannel is a brushed fabric, typically made from cotton, that's loosely woven and feels lightweight and soft against the skin. Fleece, on the other hand, is a knit fabric that's typically made from man-made materials like polyester. Fleece is made by wrapping threads around each other, which makes for a thicker fabric.
The most common types of blankets are woven acrylic, knitted polyester, mink, cotton, fleece and wool. Blankets also come with exotic crafting and exotic material such as crocheted afghan or a silk covering.
The softest blankets all have two things in common: tiny fibers and a napped (or raised) surface. Fleece blankets get usually made of polyester or a combination of synthetic fibers. Fleece is a lightweight, warm fabric that can be machine washed.
Fleece fabric is usually made from a type of polyester called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other synthetic fibres, woven and brushed into a light weight fabric. Other materials can be used and added when making the fabric, including natural fibres, like wool, or recycled fibres, like recycled PET plastic.
5 to 3 yards (1.3-2.7 meters) of each fleece.
1.5 yards makes a decent size throw, 2.5-3 yards (2.3-2.7 meters) makes a nice twin size blanket.
The techniques are all the same, just the fabric size changes. In fact, you can use the same technique to make a no-sew pillow. This blanket is an appropriate project for ages 8 years and up. It will take only about 30 minutes from start to finish.
| Blanket Size | Width | Yards of Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Baby (Crib) | 29" | 1 yard each (minimum 44" wide) |
| Child | 42" | 1 ½ yards each (minimum 44" wide) |
| Adult Afghan/Throw | 48" | 2 yards each (minimum 54" wide) |
| Adult - Oversized Throw | 55-59" | 2 yards each (minimum 56" wide) |
DIY: Baby Blanket (No Sew) - YouTube
Cut a small slit into each strip, again cutting through both pieces of fabric. Insert the ends of the strip and gently pull through the slit. Be sure to pull the strips through snug (but be gentle as fleece stretches easily). This will make them lay flat, hence no knots!
7 Tips for Working with Cuddle® Minky Fabrics - YouTube
Can you make a no sew blanket with flannel?
To start with, you will need about 2 yards of fabric. I chose several plaid flannel fabrics. I love working with flannel because they work well with no-sew ideas, they are warm and they are super soft. Depending on fabric sales and coupons, this could be a very inexpensive project.
Cut a small slit into each strip, again cutting through both pieces of fabric. Insert the ends of the strip and gently pull through the slit. Be sure to pull the strips through snug (but be gentle as fleece stretches easily). This will make them lay flat, hence no knots!
For a blanket with binding, you will sandwich the batting between two pieces of flannel that are right sides out. Tie the blanket (as explained below) and then add a binding around the edges to finish off the blanket.
Flannel Fabric – You need two coordinating flannel fabrics. I used 1 1/2 yards for most of the blankets. I did use 2 yards for a blanket I made for a 6 foot plus tall friend. Choose the length of fabric based on how tall your gift recipient is.
To make a fleece tie blanket, you'll need:
2 coordinating pieces of fleece (baby: 1 yard of each color, kid: 1.5 yards of each color, adult: 2 yards of each color) ruler. sharp scissors. optional: yardstick and/or masking tape.
The techniques are all the same, just the fabric size changes. In fact, you can use the same technique to make a no-sew pillow. This blanket is an appropriate project for ages 8 years and up. It will take only about 30 minutes from start to finish.
Step by Step instructions to make a No-Sew Fleece blanket. Fleece comes 60-inches wide, so your blanket should be around 60 x 60 (or longer). Your finished product will be about 10- inches smaller than the fabric you start with.
| Blanket Size | Width | Yards of Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Baby (Crib) | 29" | 1 yard each (minimum 44" wide) |
| Child | 42" | 1 ½ yards each (minimum 44" wide) |
| Adult Afghan/Throw | 48" | 2 yards each (minimum 54" wide) |
| Adult - Oversized Throw | 55-59" | 2 yards each (minimum 56" wide) |
Cut out a perfect 4"X4" square from one of the corners. This will prevent bunching in the corners, will make it look tidier, and make it easier to tie. If you have that 4X4 paper handy, it will help. If not, just measure out the square with the yardstick and lightly draw on the square.
You can finish a fleece blanket with a simple folded hem, by adding fringe to the edges and tying it into knots, or by weaving fringe loops around the blanket's edges to create a braided edge.
How do you put fringe on a no sew blanket?
How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket with Fringe by ... - YouTube
A no-sew fleece blanket is an easy way to create a quick blanket by laying two layers of fleece fabric together and cutting strips around the sides of the fabric. Tying those strips together in a balloon knot (just like you would tie a balloon) will give you a finished blanket edge without any sewing!
Fleece — a Less Expensive Choice
The fleece layer replaces both the batting (wadding) and backing layers. Fleece also comes in wider widths than the standard quilter's cotton most often used for backings, so it's often possible to back your quilt without having to piece the fleece backing to make it wider.
How to Sew a Blanket or Quilt with Two Sheets and Some Batting
People have been using flannel, felt, and other heat-retaining fabrics inside quilts for years. However, those fabrics don't provide the same plush feeling as batting. They are either too thin or not flexible enough.