How to Make a Tied Fleece Blanket (No Sewing Required!)

Robin lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has three children and loves to share her craft project tips.

Homemade Fleece Baby Blanket Without Sewing

I can barely sew on a button, but I do like crafty stuff. This fleece blanket was easy to create and has a homemade touch without sewing. I made two of them as baby gifts for good friends. Fleece fabric is soft—perfect for baby gifts—and you can adjust the size to fit a crib or bed. Another plus about this project: It's very forgiving of minor mistakes!

What You Will Need

• 2 pieces of fleece fabric (see notes about size below)
• Sharp scissors (they get really dull after this project)
• Tape
• Paper clips

Blanket Size: How Big?

One of the most common questions I am asked about this project is how long to cut the fabric. My recommendation is to go to the fabric store and ask the attendant to cut the fleece to the dimensions you want.

• Standard twin blanket: 66 x 90 inches
• Standard crib blanket: 45 x 60 inches

Note: There are 36 inches in a yard.

Tied Fleece Blanket Tutorial

Below is a complete how-to guide. Read on and find comments from others who have made this blanket. Feel free to leave your own comment with any questions or tips!

Are you ready? Let's do it!

Step 1: Choose Your Fleece

Buy your fabric. You can buy it on Amazon (they have some great fabrics) or go to a fabric store like JoAnn's Fabric. Choose two for each blanket, one for each side. I prefer a pattern and a solid. The two fleeces should have the same texture and thickness. Make sure neither is too thick, or it will be really difficult to cut.

Step 2: Cut Fleece Pieces to Size

If you go to a fabric store, ask the attendant to cut both pieces the same size. I chose to have each piece of fleece cut to one yard in the blankets pictured above. If you want a larger or smaller blanket, cut accordingly. I found the one-yard size was perfect.

Step 3: Clip Pieces Together

At home, lay the fleece pieces down evenly on top of each other, and clip them together so they don't move.

Step 4: Fold Up and Tape

Choose an edge to start with and fold the two layers up about an inch and a half. Use four or five pieces of tape to secure the fold. Make sure that your fold is even.

Step 5: Cut Along the Folded Edge

Begin cutting along the folded edge. Make your cuts about an inch apart and just past the end of the fold. Continue until you finish the entire side. Be sure to cut evenly.

Step 6: Remove Tape and Tie

Remove the tape and begin tying the two layers of fabric together. It's easy to miss a tie, so pay attention so you don't have to go back and re-tie.

Step 7: Repeat on Sides 2–4

Repeat these steps for the remaining three sides. The corners can be a bit tricky. Cut as you did the first side and cut off any corner ties that look awkward so that you have a right angle.

Step 8: Tie a Bow!

Tie a bow around the blanket and you have a great homemade baby gift!

Questions & Answers

Question: Can this be washed without ruining it?

Answer: Absolutely! You can wash the tie blanket, but you may want to wash on cold if the colors are vibrant.

Questions or Comments?

Kari Poulsen from Ohio on September 13, 2017:

My mother made me one of these blankets. I love it! Now I can make some for gifts also. Thank you.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on November 18, 2015:

Robin, no wonder this hub is popular with comments. I love this crafty idea from you. It's so easy to do without having to sew for beginners. It can be used for any kind of blanket to fit your needs, indoors and outside.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on May 25, 2015:

Thanks, Mary! I've heard of people cutting the corners and I'll definitely try it next time. I just bought fleece with SF Giants logo, so I'll be making another soon. :)

Mary Hyatt from Florida on May 24, 2015:

I just finished making two of these blankets for my new great grandchildren who are due just any time! One of my children made a throw for my couch using this method. I just love the warmth of the blanket on a chilly evening. I make mine just like your instructions except I cut out a three inch square on each corner. Fleece now comes in so many beautiful designs now.

Voted UP, etc. Will also Pin to my Crafts board.

Bob Foster from USA on March 08, 2015:

I Have been trying to Print instructions for making a " NO SEW FLEECE BLANKET " I want to start my Xmas Presents soon. But I can not find a site that lets me print the instructions. Please Help !!!! _ - I live in Canada and I want to find instructions for free to print.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 03, 2014:

Great idea, Betsy! I will have to try that! Thanks for sharing.

Betsy Segovia on December 02, 2014:

I use an index card cut the size for corners and strips as a guide and it seems to be quicker and esier.

Goringe Accountants from London, UK on September 21, 2014:

Brilliant hub! Love what you've created here!

Sarah Forester from Australia on February 16, 2014:

Wow this is amazing, can't believe you made that! I wish I had a more artistic side to me.

torrilynn on December 20, 2013:

making a fleece blanket is a fun and simple activity. I once made one for my mom. thanks for the hub. very informative. voted up and pinned.

Addison on March 31, 2012:

Kailey- You knot two strips together twice

L a d y f a c e on March 09, 2012:

I own a small sewing shop and can confirm, fleece indeed does dull scissors. I have one pair for cutting fleece, and my expensive pair I use for cutting other fabrics. Also, just in case anyone isn't aware - the quickest way to ruin your scissors is to use them to cut paper!

:)

bethany on March 09, 2012:

the things you need to make is scissors,ruler and just the fleece

Christina on February 18, 2012:

Actually... the scissors don't become dull if you use fabric scissors. If you use regular scissors then yeah, and if you use fabric scissors on anything besides fabric, they'll become dull and won't be able to cut fabric anymore. I have some and they are zebra:3

Dona on January 21, 2012:

Here is an interesting idea I can up with for using the salvage edges that are cut off on both pieces- I tie 3 strips together on top-braid the strips together, when you get down to the bottom,make a knot. When the blankets aren't used-fold and roll the blanket up like a sleeping bag, wrap the braid around it and tie it in a bow-easy for storing the blanket-it looks like a sleeping bag!

Kailey on January 20, 2012:

How long doe it take? i want to make one today

Kathy on December 28, 2011:

Hi Stacie, I made my first no sew blanket tonight for my great niece she 6 weeks old. my mom said I did a great job. I will tried to make one for her brother he is 10 years old. Thanks for all of the tips .

Pro on December 27, 2011:

I like this idea but what if u don't have the same type of fabric

Melissa on December 20, 2011:

How do I tie the ends together? Is it just a regular knot?

DaisyDuke on December 20, 2011:

I'm planning on making a few of these for the blankets & bears project at my local police station. Thanks for the great instructions!

iJill143 on December 19, 2011:

kaitie, that's a really good idea. im going to try that today. thanks!

Kaitie on December 19, 2011:

My friends and I tried this and found out that it's best to use about 6 feet of fabric, and cut 7 inch squares off the corners. I'm about 6 feet tall, and it's a good sized blanket for me.

Ashleyshumaker on December 19, 2011:

On the corners. If u cut out a square off each corner when u are making your strips, it make cleaner corners

love on December 12, 2011:

I am making two for my nephews so exited to start them tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Ariel on December 12, 2011:

These are really easy to make and very useful Iam making 4 of them for gifts this Christmas..

Also a useful tip: cut 5-10 strips and tie them, then contiue cutting strips stopping every 5-10 to tie again.

This helped me tie the strips that belonged to each other. Hope this helped :]

shelby on December 11, 2011:

I just bought the fabric and i was wondering if i should wash the fabric before i make the blanket or after and will it shrink?

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 07, 2011:

Thanks for clarifying for Ashley, Nancy!

Nancy Caton on December 07, 2011:

Ashley-

When I make these for a twin bed I use at least 2.5 yards of fleece

Alex Moore on December 06, 2011:

Why do you need tape and paper clips??

I never use that stuff for mine...

lost on December 06, 2011:

can i iron [pictures onto the fleece and they stay

welch1233 on December 03, 2011:

I have no little ones around so I use straight pins (5" above each length to hold the material together). I place the pins sideways along all sides 5" from edge, then I cut all sides in 4". I take pins out as I tie. This works great for me. I use approx. 36 pins and count them when the blanket is finished. If one is missing I search the blanket until it is found. I can not tie a blanket in 2 hours and I consider myself fast. I am also very picky about my knots!!! Ok, back to tying!!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 02, 2011:

Thanks, Lynn! That is great advice for my readers. I really appreciate it!

Lynn on December 02, 2011:

I make these for my sons and make them 3 yards long! They are both well over 6 ft and this helps keep them toasty.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 01, 2011:

I just used regular fleece and haven't had any problems with pilling. Good luck!

needs help on December 01, 2011:

I was wondering if you needed to use an anti-pill fleece? I found a blizzard fleece that I was wanting to use. Will it affect my final product? Thank you for your time and help!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on November 30, 2011:

Melissa, I numbered the photos so you can visually see what I mean. Hope that helps!

melissa on November 30, 2011:

I'm making one for my boyfriend, who's 6'1", so I decided to go with 2.5 yards. I never made one before and I just have one question. I don't understand step 4. please help?

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on November 30, 2011:

Lindsey, I have never done one side with silky fabric. I'm not sure it would line up correctly and tie well. You could try it on a very small blanket or piece and see if it works. Let us know; it would be really valuable to the community here! Thanks!

lindsay on November 30, 2011:

hi i was wondering if i could do one side fleece and one a silky fabric? or would it not tie right?

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on November 29, 2011:

Hunter, since it's for your mom, you might want to make it slightly larger. Maybe a yard and a half would be the best. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on November 29, 2011:

Hunter and vballisfun, I used one yard and it is a good size blanket. When you get to the fabric store, pull out a yard of fabric and see if that size looks right. Remember you are cutting the edges and tying them off, so the actual blanket without the fringe will be slightly smaller. Good luck!

Hunter on November 28, 2011:

Ok so if anyone has done one for an adult about how much material would you need. I am making one for my mom and this is very important gift. Please write a comment ;)

Gracias amigos

Vballisfun on November 28, 2011:

Hi Robin,

I was thinking about making one of these for my self and I cant find the material i want. I want to find a cute pattern (i am 12) that has volleyballs on it....ive looked a lot of places. Plz help me find some. :) THANK U

bob on November 28, 2011:

I had trouble at first but then I got used to it

Hunter on November 27, 2011:

Me again,

since mine is for an adult about what size would you think it needs to be. I am a teen and really do not know the size it should be.

Hunter on November 27, 2011:

Hi, I am making this as a Christmas gift for my mom. She will love it.

elsie on November 24, 2011:

what kind of knot is best to use for a tied blanket? Won't a regular square knot sort of "stick out" on either side?

Ashley on November 22, 2011:

How many yards should I get if I want it to be long enough for a twin size bed? 2 yards?

Katie on November 21, 2011:

Im really looking for a great simple Christmas gift for my great grandmother! She loves homemade gifts because she thinks since its homemade she can hold thhe love with her! And I think this a great idea! Im not really sure how many yards to get for this she isn't real big but i want it to be a good size to cuddle with! Im just going to ask the atendent at Joanns or Michaels im sure they might know. GReat instructions on how to make them too! I saw a video on youtube of a lady making them but wasn't to specific. I haven't made mine yet but am pretty Christmas is right around the corner! I have made a sewn blanket already with my grandmom and my friend loved it! Im only 12 years old and really like this! Makes great birthday or holiday giftS! Thanks for the instruction!

erin on November 20, 2011:

Would 1 yard be enough for a toddler and 2 yards enough for kids and teens?

cindy on November 20, 2011:

I am going to make some of the blankets for my sisters and brother for christmas, would 2 yards be enough for each blanket

Crafts601 on November 19, 2011:

Hi! I was wondering what length you would have the blanket be so that it would cover all of/a little bit more than a 5'3" person?

Thanks so much for your help! God bless!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on November 17, 2011:

Hi Kylie,

I think that is a great idea! You can always look at the fabric at the fabric store and see if it works, or you could make two blankets: one for you and one for him! Have fun!

Kylie on November 17, 2011:

I am thinking of making a tie blanket for my boyfriend for Christmas. I was thinking of putting a design of his favorite football team on one side and then mine on the other side. Do you think that this will be too "busy" and not look good?

Miranda on November 17, 2011:

what fabric do you recommend for a lighter blanket...I was thinking of making some for my nieces and nephews in Oklahoma but I don't want a heavy fabric...

Janice on November 14, 2011:

I use a rotary cutter to make mine all the time. It works splendidly! Seems to make things move a lot faster than cutting! :)

Lynn on November 12, 2011:

I think a rotary cutter would work fine based on my experience using scissors when I have made them.

ann on November 10, 2011:

Can you use a rotory cutter for this project?

mmbb15 on November 04, 2011:

hey robbin, do you have a suggestion where to get the best fabric or the cheapest fabric?

Lala on October 29, 2011:

Hi I'm eating to make many of these for Christmas I have to make them for a 10,13,12,20,18 how many yards should I do each oh and a baby Ive never did this but I heard there super easy and I have 2 so I don't know how many yards how many would you recommend?

Kristin Trapp from Illinois on October 25, 2011:

These blankets are really fun to make and even better to use. They are so warm and wonderful for our Chicago winter nights when no matter what, there seems to be a chill in the air. My daughter and I have made quite a few of these tie blankets. And there are a lot of fun fabrics to choose from. For example my mother likes crossword puzzles so we made one with crossword puzzle fleece on one side and black on the other. I see people at high school football games with these no-sew fleece blankets made out of school colors all the time. If they are lucky they might even find a print on a fleece like their mascot (i.e. tiger stripes for the Tigers, or paw prints for the Bulldogs, etc.) Anyway, these are so fun and easy to make.

Rachel xx on October 22, 2011:

I'm 12 and I'm going to make one of these for my one - year - old cousin for christmas :Dx

mckenzie on October 18, 2011:

thanks for the help my grandme is going to love the blanket :)

Emcade on October 16, 2011:

The idea to make a fleece blanket out of material of the Colts was a great one. I love sports and am always trying to find new ideas to show my team spirit. I do not always have the time to do crafts like this though. I did come across a great website that provides fleece blankets for those of us that do not have the time or energy to make one. All-my-sports.com has a vast selection so you can find a fleece blanket for your favorite team. http://all-my-sports.com/

Andi on October 11, 2011:

I was in the store getting material to make my first blanket and when I asked the difference between anti-pill and blizzard fleece a couple of customers recommended the blizzard as it wasn't as "stretchy". However, I noticed that on 2 sides as I was tying the knots the fabric stretched out more than on the other 2 sides. I assumed this was a "with/against the weave" issue. Is that common? Also, is there another type of fleece like fabric I can use? A friend has a blanket that someone made and gave to her mother and it seems different than the fleece we looked at? BTW - it was a very fast and easy project AND very forgiving if your measurements aren't exact.

Jenni on October 06, 2011:

How much does the fabric normally cost to make one 2x2 blanket? I plan to make 5 blankets, but want to make sure it's not too expensive.

Jessica on October 04, 2011:

I just recently made one out of Colts fabric as I'm a huge Colts fan. Several years ago, I made my first one with my Aunt; it was a Care Bears blanket and my cat loved it. He's now deceased and it was hard to see the blanket all the time so I decided to make another one and chose Colts. I'm getting ready to make two for my niece Audrey, who's due to be born in January.

HWirth28 on October 01, 2011:

These blankets are a great idea but there is one thing i am unsure of, or maybe i just missed it. How long should the slits be, I only know the width?

Jacob and his Dad on September 24, 2011:

My 9yr old son and I are making one for my GF. The steps shown above made it simple enough for this bumbling BF to follow. ;) Great project!

My 11yr old niece made one for my 2yr old nephew as a B-day present, and used the same material to make a matching "lovie" (about the size of a hankerchief, with a stuffed animal head sewn on) Cute idea as he does NOTHING without his lovie. :)

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on September 18, 2011:

Great advice, Kathy! Thanks!

kathy collins on September 18, 2011:

Don't forget to buy anti-pill material. I also found that when you make your first tie, do not make it tight. Make the second knot tight and there will be no puckering in the blanket. Don't forget on the 2x2 yard blankets to cut out 4x4 on each corner and do the knots on the corners first or you can run into big trouble-I did. LOL! Isn't this fun. I finished # 10 because that's how many grandchildren and I have together. We have so much fun! So does Grandma!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on September 15, 2011:

Two knots is the best, Dawn! Hope it works out for you!

Dawn on September 15, 2011:

Do you just use one knot to tie or a double knot. I found if i only tie once, it will come loose. Am i doing it incorrectly?

Abby on September 13, 2011:

I received a blanket like this as a gift and I love it! I use it all the time to wrap up when I'm studying! I just purchased the materials to make the blanket as a gift too!

kaite on September 12, 2011:

when making the blanket if you cut out about 3x3 inch squares of each corner it makes the corners perfectly rounded and a lot easier :)

karis holley on August 31, 2011:

hi i was just wondering if i make my blanket in white can i tie-dye it??

Layla on August 08, 2011:

This will be awesome gift for my friend

Matt on July 16, 2011:

lovely hub, my wife would love the idea..

minime on May 30, 2011:

can you wash it when you are done to get the marker off?

Hampers on May 23, 2011:

What a great idea! You have some lovely items on your blog, I have really enjoyed going through them. Thank you :)

Kayla on March 27, 2011:

I am 11 and I know how to do this! Thank you it show my parents how awesome I can be! :)

HRoger from Online where I can be! on March 23, 2011:

Hi Robin, I just watched the video on Youtube that you guys uploaded and used this Hub as an examples. I just wanted to reuse Simone's expression and say : OMG! OMGWTFBBQ!!!!! Well Great Video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaCmdOWNlMU good information! Awesome Hub!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on February 22, 2011:

Hi Nea, How about using the extra fabric for a pillow. You could buy stuffing at your fabric store and give a matching pillow and blanket as a gift. Cheers!

Nea on February 22, 2011:

I LOVE making these blankets! I think I might even be addicted to making them. Haha. Whenever I make one I always have extra fabric (the clippings/trimmings) that I feel guilty throwing away. Do you know any good ideas for what I could do with these extra little pieces?

solange on February 12, 2011:

hey im solange this is a great idea! where did you learn this craft?

Lori on February 03, 2011:

Great directions,I made a decent sized one in 1 hour.A friend told me that fleece was expense in a fabric store so I saw some fleece blankets on sale for $5.00 each they made up beautifully,my nephews birthday is right around the corner and he will love his Winnie the Pooh tie blanket I'm sure. My 15 year old daughter can hardly wait to try one too.

alyssa on January 30, 2011:

Sarah if you want to put a photo on the blanket you could try printing one from your computer to iron-on paper and then ironing the paper to the blanket. I've made a quilt with iron on pictures and it came out great, I've never used fleece before but it should work the same.

rachel on January 26, 2011:

i made four blankets in one week. i made them for my mother daughter husband and myself. I use fleese. they are wonderful and very easy and relaxing to make

sarah on January 25, 2011:

Do you know of a company that could transfer a photo to the material and you can make the blanket?

Linda on January 23, 2011:

Our Optimist Club makes these three times a year and we give them to a local hospital with a pediatric cancer center. When a child is admitted they are given one of our blankets. We have received many wonderful comments and it is such a "feel good" project. Could not be easier.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 18, 2011:

Hi Kathy,

I just tied regular knot, but a square knot would probably look nicer. Good luck!

Robin

Kathy Diethorn on January 18, 2011:

I may be picky but how do you tie he knots? Regular or square or what.It seems tome that that would make a big dif. I am working on one right now.

Michele on January 13, 2011:

I like how u explained this project I can't sew so.... I'm going to try this.

Marissa on January 04, 2011:

Are these fleece blankets machine washable?

Kirstie on January 03, 2011:

Thanks so much for these simple how to directions! :) I wanted to get something special for my boyfriend (for our one year), but thought about doing something crafty since I'm a crafty person but haven't used a sewing machine in like 4 years and this is perfect!

Melissa on January 02, 2011:

Thanks so much. I have fabric and I'm ready to go. I'm going to be an aunt shortly and can't wait to give my neice a blanket when she is born.

hhelen on December 31, 2010:

Great stuff, I was looking for tips on how to buy one and came across your hub.

cool on December 29, 2010:

:D they r so soft

kk on December 29, 2010:

I love making these. I am making one right now!! YAY

Georgann on December 26, 2010:

Do I tie a single or double knot?