How to Make a Fleece Knot Blanket and Pillow

Fleece material is available in many colors and patterns.

A fleece knot blanket and pillow make a great gift idea for new additions to the family or for older children. The most common width in fleece material is 60 inches. The full width makes a throw for an adult, or 1/2 the width is a nice size for a baby blanket. Fleece is available in thicker varieties for colder weather and thinner types for year-round softness and comfort. There are thousands of prints in all colors to match all types of decor.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard fleece, 60 inches wide
• Cardboard
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Pillow form

Instructions

Fleece Knot Blanket

1. Wash and dry the fleece to set the color and prevent it from shrinking after the projects are complete. Cut off the selvage, if there is one on the fleece. This is the bumpy edge along one side of fabric.

2. Cut a piece of cardboard 3 inches wide. Lay the cardboard on a table or other flat surface. Lay a ruler next to the cardboard and make 1/2-inch markings down the length.

3. Fold the fleece in half and cut along the fold to form two pieces that are 36 by 30 inches.

4. Pin both pieces of fleece together with sewing pins about 4 inches from all four sides.

5. Lay the cardboard on top of one side of the two layers of fleece, with the edge aligning on the edge of material. It will cover 3 inches of the edge of the material. Stick a piece of masking tape onto the material so it touches the edge of the cardboard. Continue this process to apply masking tape down the length of the fabric. This gives a visual line on how deep to make cuts for fringes.

6. Lay the cardboard just above the masking tape line on the material. Cut a slit in the fleece at each line on the cardboard 1/2-inch apart, so both layers of fleece are cut. Cut the depth to the masking tape line.

7. Repeat this process of marking the fleece with masking tape and cutting the slits on each of the other three sides of the material.

8. Remove the masking tape by pulling it off the material with one hand while holding the material with the other hand.

9. Lift a fringe section of the top and bottom layer of fleece and tie them in an overhand knot. Pull the knot medium tight. Continue around the circumference of the blanket until all fringes are knotted. Remove the sewing pins.

Fleece Knot Pillow

1. Make the fleece knot pillow in the same manner as the blanket.

2. Add 3 inches to each of the four sides of the pillow form, and cut the two pieces of fleece to this size. This allows for 3-inch knots on each side of the pillow.

3. After tying knots in three sides, remove the pins and slip a pillow form into the one remaining side that forms an opening.

4. Finish by tying knots in the remaining side.

Overhand Knot Instructions

1. Hold both fringes in the left hand on top of each other.

2. With the right hand, make the bottom ends of the fringes into a loop by passing the end up and crossing the top near the top edge of the fringe.

3. Pass the loose end through the circle, and pull medium tight while supporting the fabric on a table with the left hand.

Tips & Warnings

• When pinning two pieces of fleece together, make sure the backsides face each other inside the pillow or blanket.

• Adding sewing pins stabilizes the fabric so it does not move while the knots are being tied.

• Use 2 half yards of coordinating material for a two-sided reversible blanket and pillow.

• Do not over tighten knots, or the fleece will pull and become lumpy. This will not enable the blanket to lie flat.

References

• Project Linus: How to Finish a Fleece Blanket

Resources

• I Will Knot: The Overhand Knot