On this page are instructions for making fringed, tied, and knotted
fleece blankets that require no sewing.
  You will also find instructions for making fleece blankets that require sewing.
The no-sew methods are perfect for kids who want to help kids!

Click on the pictures to see a larger version.

The following methods will result in a
nice looking, neat and cuddly blanket.

Use at least 1 1/4 yards (1 1/2 yards is even better) per blanket if you
 are making older child and teen sized blankets.  If you use less than that
 and then fringe the edges, you have a very skinny blanket.

One yard of fleece cut in half will make two 30" x 36"
 blankets - just the right size for baby blankets.
(Most fleece is approximately 60" wide.)

Please cut off the selvage on edges of the fleece
 (that's the bumpy, wavy edge) before finishing the blanket.

You don't have to knot the fringe - a neat plain fringe
looks very nice without knotting.

  A note regarding fleece blankets:

  We have received several fringed fleece blankets with the knots tied so tightly that the blanket
will not lay flat - the blankets look more like a bowl or basket than a blanket.

  We have had to take the time to cut off all the fringe which
greatly reduces the size of the blanket and wastes a lot of fabric.

Please do not cut the fringe any longer than 2" - 3" long if you don't knot the fringe.

If you do knot the fringe, fringe should be no longer than 2" - 3" after knotting.

PLEASE DO NOT TIE THE KNOTS TOO TIGHTLY.

 Longer fringe tangles in medical instruments and tubes.
The longer you make the fringe, the less blanket area there is for snuggling.

Please do not sew buttons on blankets - children can choke on buttons.

No Sew Fleece Blanket Methods

(Click here for methods that require Sewing)

This method will help you make fringe that is neat and even.

Cut a strip of cardboard as wide (no wider than 2" - 3") as you want your fringe to be long.
 Line up along edge of fleece.

The longer you make the fringe, the less blanket you have for snuggling.

Line up masking tape with the edge of the cardboard template.

Remove cardboard template.

Draw lines on the other side of the cardboard every 1/2" (or however wide you want your fringe).  Lay this template along the edge of
the masking tape.
 Cut fringe.

Picket Fence & Bunny (or Hounds) Ears:
Cut fringe 1 1/4" wide x 2" long.  Cut ends as shown in picture. 

Optional:  Cut a small slit (no longer than 1/4" long) at the base of the fringe.  Pull fringe through the hole to make a "Bunny Ear."  If you don't make the end pointy - you have a "Hounds Ear."

Jungle Grass:
After cutting straight fringe, cut a corner from each strip of fringe.

Cut with Pinking Shears:
You only need to cut the length of the blade which makes a straighter cut.

Optional:
First trim the edges of the blanket using a wavy blade rotary cutter.  Then cut fringe with pinking shears in every other notch of the wavy cut.

Cut 1/2" slits in pairs along narrow sides of fleece.  Cut 1/2" x 6" strips of fleece, thread through slits and tie as shown.

Added Fringe:
Cut strips of fleece 1/4" or 3/8" x 6" long.  If the stretch goes the long way of the strip, you will have a curly fringe as shown in the last picture.

Cut small slits in the edge of the fleece blanket approximately 1" from the edge.  Pull the strip through as shown in pictures below.  Pull on the fringe to make it curl if you cut the strip with the stretch of the fabric.  You can make this fringe on two ends of the blanket or all the way around.

Please note:  Credit has been given to Project Linus coordinators that sent descriptions and pictures of their finishing methods.  Several different coordinators sent the same ideas for the No-Sew Methods.
Thank you to the many coordinators that sent their fleece finishing ideas.

Single Layer Texas Fleece Blankets (Pat Vanderwater) 

• Most popular size is 54" x 57" (1 1/2" yard cut with the selvage trimmed)

• Trim the selvage off the fleece with a wavy blade rotary cutter & straighten fleece on all sides.  (The wavy edge gives you a guide for cutting the fringe.)  You can use a straight edge blade.

• Round the corners - if you don't have a radial ruler - use a pizza pan as a guide.
  Important - Keep the wavy blade at least 1/4" from the ruler or you will nick the edges of the plastic ruler & dull the blade.

• Sew a zigzag or simple decorative stitch 2" from the edge all the way around the blanket.

• Clip all edges to make fringe.  If you used the wavy cutter - clip in the notch for a perfect 1/2" fringe.
  If you used a straight rotary blade, cut about 3/4" wide for the fringe.

Pat says that the Radial Curve Corner Rule is available at www.katielane.com/Pages/Korners.html.  You can only find these radial curve rulers at good quilt shops.  Pat says she has both sizes and uses them constantly.

Pat's husband made this sewing guide from screen mold that he cut and sanded smooth.  She puts double stick Scotch tape on the back each time she uses it.

You can also use a stack of Post-it Notes, or build up a guide with masking tape.

• Trim the selvedge edges off and even up fleece on all sides.  Round off corners using a Curve Corner Ruler or a plate for a template.
• Modify the machine's standard hemstitch - lengthen the stitch to at least 2 and increase the width as far as possible.  You may need to reverse (mirror image) the stitch so that the zigzag in the stitch goes just off the edge of the fleece.
• This is an especially nice soft finish for a baby blanket.

• Cut out 3" squares from each corner of fleece after removing the selvedge edges.
• Place a strip of masking tape 3" from the edge of the fleece on all four sides.  Turn up the edge of the fleece to meet the masking tape.  Pin & sew the raw edge using a zigzag stitch.  Cut the fringe in 1/2" strips stopping the cut 1/4" from the stitching.
• Optional:  After cutting the loops, make a braided edge by "finger crocheting" one loop through the next loop.  Go all the way around the blanket using a large crochet hook to pull the loops through.  Tuck the last loop into the first one and hand stitch to anchor.
• Another option for the Looped Finish is to sew a 3" piece of contrasting or coordinating fleece to each end of the blanket.  Fold in half, sew down with a zigzag stitch and cut the loops as above.

Any quilt or fleece blanket can be made into a pillow quilt by making the pocket as described below.

For pocket: Cut out two pieces of fabric and one piece of batting approximately 18 1/2” square (Smaller if your blanket isn’t very big - pocket should be about a third the width of the blanket).  Put fabric right sides together and place batting on top of fabric.  Sew all the way around (with batting on bottom), leaving an opening of 4” - 5” on one side to turn - this is the same method used for making quilts envelope style.  Some quilters call this birthing a quilt.

Trim corners of the pocket and turn right side out.  Stitch opening closed.

Place pocket at end of blanket & stitch to blanket on three sides (see diagram).  A zigzag stitch is more durable.

Fold blanket into thirds - pocket will be on top (along dashed lines on diagram), then fold blanket up and insert into pocket as you turn the pocket inside out.

Note:  The pockets can also be made out of two layers of fleece.  We have received some very nice pillow quilts made this way. 

No matter what method is used to finish a fleece blanket, remove the selvage edges first and even up all sides.  The blanket looks much nicer if this is done.  The selvage edges are the sides of the fleece that are usually wavy and have tiny, tiny holes punched along the edge where the fabric was attached to the loom.

Turn up a 1 1/2" fold to the right side.  Stitch along the raw edge with a zigzag or decorative stitch (or sew rick-rack or decorative ribbon - not scratchy) over the raw edge.

Round corners and add a "border" by stitching a decorative stitch all the way around the blanket about 2" in from the sides, or sew rick-rack on with a zigzag stitch about 2" from the sides.

Cut a strip of coordinating or contrasting fabric (not fleece) about 6" wide and the width of the blanket.  Sew to one end of the blanket approximately 2" - 3" from the edge.  Cut fringe, using desired method from ideas above, up to 1/4" away from the strip of fabric.

Fleece blankets can be finished by serging all the way around the blanket (gently curve the corners first).

Finish by crocheting around the blanket edge with contrasting or matching yarn.