About Shredded Blankets

Shabby chic move over. Shredded blankets are "in" in the world of crafts. Though made from a variety of materials, the most commonly used is fleece. Cute, intimate and leaning towards folk art, shredded blankets are not nearly as difficult to make as you might think. With some fabric, a pair of scissors and a dozen knots, you can have immediate and satisfying results.

Designing

If you're thinking of making your own shredded blankets, the first thing you need to decide is how large you would like your blanket to be. Starting with design in mind, cut a couple pieces of fleece or another favorite fabric with a pair of scissors. Match the fabric to the blanket size you have in your head. Pin the pieces together to make your work a little easier before cutting. Other fabrics can be used, but fleece unravels less quickly and therefore lasts a bit longer.

Cutting

Shredded blankets are put together by lining up the selected fabric so that all the pieces are almost even, and then cutting a 4-inch square out of one corner to start. The cutting is meant to form a sort of fringe. From this initial cut, 4 inches long and 1 inch wide must be measured before a second cut is made. Crafters then continue measuring and cutting until they reach the next corner of the blankets, and the process is continued around the entire blanket. This sort of cutting doesn't need to be picture perfect, and in fact, if it is not precise, it will actually add to the flair of the blanket.

Tying

After you've finished cutting the entire perimeter of the two pieces of fabric, drop your scissors and begin tying the pieces together. There is no specific knot called for, so any knot will do. A square knot, for example, is fine (It is, however, a good idea to tie these knots tightly as they can later become easily untied in the wash). The tying part of this can be very relaxing. If you have a favorite TV show, just plop down in your favorite chair and tie while you watch. The material is generally very forgiving, so if you make a mistake it is fine.

Decoration

Sewing or embroidery isn't necessary in shredded blankets, as they generally hold together well enough on their own. For decorative purposes, however, some crafters try stitching around and just above the cut strips before the pieces are tied up together. Ribbon, embroidery floss (any strand will work well), and a long straight stitch are also used to enhance the look of shredded blankets. For those who can't sew, but would like to add some sort of detail, there's always the option of using an iron to apply iron-on webbing in between the two pieces on fabric. Alternatively, you could just use fabric glue, but make certain the brand you purchase is washable, able to be in the dryer and okay for dry cleaning. Fabric Tac is one such brand.

Use

Shredded blankets are popular as baby shower gifts because they can be easily personalized with cartoon characters, names and specific colors and designs to match the parent's preferences or the room's décor. Because they are quick and easy to make, they are often used by teachers in beginner's crafting classes.