No Sew Blanket {Tutorial}

Hey everyone!  It's Day 13 of WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd!  In 8 EASY steps you can make a blanket too!  Check it out!

And this is the ONLY little mess that will be made!

So, my daughter was busy again tonight.  She has learned how to make a Super Easy Blanket and is now ready to take over the World with them!  She's made them for friends and relatives, and has plans to make them for homeless and little old ladies in the nursing home.

The perfect beginner blanket to make.  This is an easy handmade gift for the "non-crafty" type or for teenagers to make for friends.

STEP 1 -   Start with 3 easy items and you are ready to go!

     Fabric - Fleece!  This fabric is easily available to buy in fabric stores.  There are so many great color choices out there now for fleece so you will have fun choosing.  You will need two yards of two different fabrics to make one blanket.  One fabric will be on front and one on back so coordinate however you want.

     The only thing else you need are scissors and straight pins.  How easy is that?!

***NOTE*** Find a large area with a hard flat surface to make your blanket.  

STEP 2 -   Cut Selvage edges off.

     Lay each fabric down (one at a time) and cut the selvage edge off.  The two sides that were cut at the fabric store are already done.  The selvage edge will be the other two sides and will have a thicker or stiff edge.

***NOTE *** When you go to tie the fabric on these two sides it will be stretchier so don't pull too hard. (This is easy so don't worry.)

 
STEP 3 -   Laying out fabric.

     Lay one fabric down ...

     and then lay the next fabric on top of the first fabric.

***NOTE***  I believe that all or most fleece is double-sided (which means you see the same print on both sides and there is no wrong side of the fabric and no right side of the fabric).  If your fabric did happen to have a wrong and right side then you would place the fabrics down so the wrong sides are both together and the right sides are both out.  (Easy enough!)

STEP 4 -   Even out the fabric so that the edges match up.  If for some reason the don't quite match then just trim a little bit off and you are good to go!  Easy!

STEP 5 -   Cut a 4 inch square out of each corner.  Simple!

STEP 6 -   Place a few pins (about 6 or so) approximately 4 or even 5 inches away from the edge of the fabric, all the way around the blanket.  This will just help to keep the fabric in place while cutting and tying.  Helpful!

 STEP - 7   With scissors, cut a 4 inch length slice (through both thicknesses of the fabric) spaced about every 2 inches apart.

She doesn't measure exactly with a ruler.  She uses her fingers as she goes.  She lays her left hand down and cuts with her right hand.  So she measures her hand length for the long slice and then cuts every 2 finger widths apart.)

 STEP 8 -   Tie knots!  Perfect!  You can do that!!

To tie the knot you only need to take the two end (one of each fabric)

Cross over and under and  pull through!

When you pull through you tighten (just a little) without stretching!

You do this step twice to each set of strips so they are double-knotted!  Easy enough!

Now just do that on all four sides of the fabric you have laid out on the floor.

Before you know it your EASY blanket is finished!  She started and completed this project in just over an hour!  I think it took her longer to pick out the fabrics!!  Didn't she do a great job too?!  The solid deep burgundy she chose really looks great with the plaid on the other side.  She has made bright ones and fun ones but for this one she needed the dark colors to go with something  (to match it for a gift she is giving for someone).

Of course she had to test it out!  Hardest part of the job!!  Great job Chelsea!

So there you have it!  Easy huh?!  Who would have known that slicing and knotting fabric could be so cute and functional?!  Have you been afraid to make a homemade gift because you thought it was too hard?  Do you have a child who needs a great first project?  Do you have a teenager who wants to be creative and make things for friends?  Well then I think this "No Sew Blanket" is just the project for you!  What do you think?

P.S.  If you get in a bind I can send over Chelsea or she will take a special order and make one for you, just let me know!