Fleece Project Instructions

Click the links or play to view video instruction.

How to make a fleece tie blanket Video Links. Written instructions are below.

Some excellent short and simple videos that will walk you through the entire fleece tie blanket process.


Picking Fabric for Tie Blankets


Layout and Trim a Tie Blanket


Cut Corners to Make a Tie Blanket



Cut Slashes to Make a Tie Blanket


How to Tie Together a Blanket


For those who prefer written directions, follow the directions below.

Things you will need before you begin:

2 Panels of fleece of equal dimensions
Sharp scissors or rotary cutter and mat
1 square of Cardboard or fleece (fleece grabs the fabric to help keep from slipping)
Ruler/yardstick or tape measurer

Step 1
Choose two pieces of fleece. You can choose two pieces that are the same pattern, two different patterns, two plain colors or a pattern on one side and a plain color on the other.

Tip & Warning: Polar Fleece fabric has a wicking property which takes moister away from the body and into the fabric. If you have the wrong side as the right side, you could be wicking moisture from the elements towards your skin.

To find the right side of a fleece fabric: sprinkle water on two different areas on the opposite sides of the fabric, the side that absorbs or wicks the water the fastest is the right side.
The selvage edge of fleece will curl when stretched; the side it curls to is the right side of the fabric. If using a patterned fabric, be sure the correct side of the fleece is facing outwards prior to tying your fringe. The outside is typically fuzzier and more colorful.

To keep you from accidentally using the wrong side of your cut fabric, mark each cut piece with chalk on the wrong side. Sale associates should be able to tell you which side is the outside and mark it before you leave the store.

Step 2
Measure off lengths of each panel appropriate for the person you are making the blanket for. Recommended measurements are as follows:
· 1 to 1 1/2 yards of each fabric for a baby or toddler blanket
· 1 1/2 to 2 yards of each fabric for a child's blanket;
· 2 yards or more of each fabric for a teenager or adult blanket.

Step 3
Align one piece of fleece atop the other on a flat surface (wrong sides together). Trim off any selvage so both pieces of fabric match. Try to cut in a relatively straight line (this is where a yard stick comes in handy), but it doesn't need to be perfect.

Step 4
Measure and cut out a 4 X 4 inch or 3 X 3 inch square of cardboard, heavy paper or fleece. This will be the length of the blanket fringe prior to tying. If you would like longer or shorter fringe, use a larger or smaller square.

Step 5
Line up your cardboard square with a corner of your fabric. Using the square as a template, cut through both pieces of fleece around the square. Repeat with all four corners.

Step 6
Lay your ruler or tape measure along the edge of the fleece and mark 1 inch intervals. Use fabric chalk to mark, or cut a little ways through both pieces of fabric at each 1 inch interval. You may also simply eyeball the intervals if you have an experienced eye. Cut the fringe at your 1-inch intervals along all four sides of the blanket. The depth of the fringe should match the depth of the corners.

Step 7
Make the blanket fringe by taking aligned pieces of fringe from each piece of fabric. Tie square knots or double overhand knots. Complete one side of your blanket, and then each of the remaining three sides.

Tips & Warnings
Using square knots or double overhand knots prevents the blanket from coming apart in the wash.

Be mindful not to over-tighten the knots. Tighten each knot up to fabric edge.
If you will have to move your blanket before it is complete, or if you are afraid the fabric will become misaligned, you may wish to hold the fleece pieces together with a few straight pins placed a few inches in from the edges once you have the edges aligned.



How to make a Fleece Scarf – As Easy as 1-2-3
This is a good project to make use of scrap fleece pieces.

Things you will need before you begin:

1 Length of fleece at desired length
Sharp scissors or rotary cutter and mat

1. Cut Polar Fleece into desired length in a 12" wide strip, using sharp scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat.
2. On 12" edge, cut fringe 1/2" wide, 3" long with the "Shape Cut" Board, measuring with a ruler or tape measure.3. Keep yourself warm all winter

How to Make a Fringed or 'Tie' Scarf

These are can be made up as "No Sew" or knotted together like tie blankets.

1. Using at least 2 different pieces of fleece (8" to 12" wide and a minimum of 36 inches in length), place one on top of the other.
2. You may sew lengthwise right down the middle through all thicknesses. If you are sewing by hand, you can sew with embroidery floss and they look pretty. You may also pin the two pieces together before going onto the next step.
3. Cut strips horizontally through all layers, making fringe, about 1/2 inch apart to almost the center stitch line being careful not to cut into your stitch line.

4. From here you can be done or you can add some embellishment. You can slide pony beads (the big fat plastic ones you can get at WalMart or DollarTree cheap) onto each fringe and knot or you can knot the layers together to make it knotted like the tie blankets.
   These are fun, fast, easy to make and a good use of scrap fleece.