In my recent search for throws, I remembered that my favorite blanket of all time is one that didn't require a ton of money or a lot of time to make: my giant fleece blanket. It's like a Snuggie, but a smidge classier. Here are four ways to make your own, and one to buy.
When I was in middle school, my mother went to a fleece warehouse and purchased yards of fleece in four colors for my four family members, cut them into good-sized, even squares. They kept us warm when we went boating and camping. The fleece followed me to college, and is still my warmest blanket.
1) Basic Fleece Blanket
• Trim off the salvage edges with a rotary cutter, mat and ruler for even lines.
• Cut about two yards of a bolt to make sure your blanket is an even square &mdash no wiggly edges.
2) Fleece Blanket with Crocheted Edges
Here's a video on how to crochet the edges of your blanket, if you want it to look a little bit more put together.
3) Fleece Blanket with Tassel Edges
This one on About.com looks classy and comfy. The tassel edges are a nice touch.
4) Argyle Fleece Throw
For the more ambitious, we found instructions for making an argyle fleece throw on CraftStylish, taken from the book Dorm Decor: Remake Your Space With More Than 35 Projects by Theresa Gonzalez and Nicole Smith
5) American Apparel
If you want a fleece blanket, but don't want to do any work at all, American Apparel sells one for $28.
Does anyone know of anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic to find fleece remnants or bulk fleece at a warehouse? Otherwise, we recommend searching the Web or local fabric stores for fleece.
(Imagse: About.com and CraftStylish)
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Old Navy has really cute printed fleece throws right now for $10.
love the argyle throw! maybe someone will be getting one for christmas :)
Don't knock snuggies until you try em :) . I have a slanket and love it.
IKEA also has some decent fleece throws and blankets. I don't remember the name of mine but it's under $5 and has cute edging.
I've made the knotted (tassel-edged) blankets - they are a great present! I made one for my grandma a couple years ago in fun colors (2 different fleece - one printed, one solid) for less than $10. Joanne's Fabrics has great fleece for this, very often on sale at this time of year.
I used to work at a JoAnn Fabrics- the amount of fleece we'd go through a day even in the summer was nuts, it outsells almost every other fabric in the store this time of year.
I'm going to save someone working at JoAnn's some time here- if you want to make a tie blanket, here's the yardage(s) you need (X2, one piece for each side)
crib blanket-1 yard
child - 1.5 yards
adult-2 yards
'but they're really tall'-2.5 yards
'will it fit a twin bed?'- the adult one will, yup.
'can I make one for a full/queen/ect. bed." Not without a seam somewhere in the middle.
Also, I love the Argyle one. I havn't seen that done yet, It's great.
Thanks mollynagel! That's so helpful! I actually bought the American Apparel one when it was on clearance for $10 but it would be fun and cheap to make my own!
Some people make the double-layered knotted edge fleece blankets for prayer shawls at the hospital where I work. (As well as the standard yarn ones.)
I LOVE those knotted edge fleece! I have led families in a family "unknotting" event, and then they can give one layer to the patient, and keep one layer with the family. For families where they or the patient are distraught over being separated while in the hospital, it has been a very moving way to maintain a physical, tactile connection.
If you get in the holiday mood, consider making a few of those knotted fleecies to donate to your local chaplain department at the hospital (or whoever does prayer blankets). It's truly awesome.
my mom makes a ton of the knotted ones. I think we have 3 in our place, 1 for the dog, 1 for us, then she realized the one was too short for me, so then made an extra tall one.
If you're looking to buy one, also check out Lands End for many color options: http://www.landsend.com/pp/AntiStaticThermaCheckFleeceThrow~201576_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::CLN&CM_MERCH=SRCH_00001_0000000256&origin=search
The one with tassel edges is super easy to make and perfect for dogs. I use two pieces that are one square yard each. They've held up to weekly washes for years. My dogs love them too!
The tassel end blankets are so easy. The last one I made was a twin size for a tall male friend who always was ridiculously oversized to get any real use out of a throw blanket. They last for YEARS.
Try milldirecttextiles.com for made in America genuine polertec fleece. They sell discounted cut yards and blanket and throws. Polertec quality at a Walmart price.