Crafting for a Cause- Fleece Tie Blankets

Dear Diary,

They say you'll always remember your first time! I have to admit it feels kind of weird that you hardly know me and I am just putting myself out here like this but.... here goes!  (That is What She Said! Kat, I just can't shake the TWSS innuendos.)

I am out the gates with my first blog ever and looking so philanthropic!  Last week, Mea's preschool was having a blanket and slipper drive for Mott/University of Michigan Hospital for children getting chemotherapy treatments.  Apparently after treatments, chemo patients, have a very hard time keeping their temperature up so they love to get wrapped in their very own warm and fuzzy blankets.  Can you think of a better reason to get crafty?!  So as the title suggests, we are talking about "crafting for a cause".

Why is this a great starting craft?

• I am sure there is a hospital near you with a need for these blankets.  If not, they can be made for holiday gift drives, homeless shelters, orphanage etc. It feels great to do good!


• These blankets are great to make as a group project.  4 people can sit in a circle (or square) while they get to know each other better! Everyone makes the cuts along their side and then everyone tie their side...and voila!


• For all of you who are "creatively challenged"  consider the difficulty measure here.  On a scale from 1-10, with 1 being where your 2 year old can do it with their eyes closed and 10 being that Martha Stewart's staff mastered it on the 3rd take, this craft is about a 3.  Easy but fun and a good start if you are just feeling like you want to create something one of a kind.


• This is a great craft to make as a gift for someone you know because you can chose designs that fit their personality (ie. Michigan state, camouflage etc.)  If you've never been to the fleece section of Joann Fabrics, you don't know what you are missing- it is fun!

Without further ado', here is HOW TO MAKE fleece tie blankets:

1. Go to a fabric store to buy the material. My mom (Shout out to MY MOM!) and I went to the fabric store where they have more fleece options than you can imagine! All the fleece happened to be 50% off! (plus you should use coupons).  Each blanket requires 2 pieces of fabrics so chose 2 that you think look cool together.  Blankets can be any size but we decided to make them the width of the material and the length a little longer (2 yards-ish).  Remember, you lose a few inches all the way around for the ties.

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2.Lay the two pieces of fabric on top of each other.  Later we flip the blanket inside-out (which is optional, see step #7) so you should lay the "good sides" of the fabric together and toward the middle (if you can even tell a difference).

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3. Next, you are going to trim off the extra (if one fabric is longer or wider than the other) and trim off any of the "ugly" edges.

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4. Next, you are going to cut out a 4 inch by 4 inch corner from each of the corners of the fabric.

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5. Make cuts around the entire blanket; about the width of 2 of your fingers and as long as you'd like.  The longer the cuts, the longer the tassles will be around the blanket.

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6. Now, you are going to tie each little tail together... tie the top blanket to the bottom one in a double knot (a square knot).  First, make a few ties near each corner to secure the positioning of the two blankets together and then you can move to a more comfortable spot to tie.. tie... tie.

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Like an old man widdling wood, my sister Jill sat on the front porch swing tying her blanket:)  Granny was with us too...  a 4 generation project!

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Mea didn't want to help but she did find some lipstick:)

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7. (optional step)  We think it is more finished product if you do this last step but it is optional.  Leave a half foot section untied. Grab the blanket through the untied section-basically turning it inside out.  Then go around the blanket and pull out all the tassles.  Tie up the half foot that you left open.

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8. DONE:)... Your blanket is ready for cuddling.  If the blanket is a gift, you can fold it in thirds and roll it up.  Wrap some of the extra material that you trimmed off around the roll and it is well presented gift.

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Sisters for Sale!  As with all of our crafts, if you don't have the time or skill, but you have the money, email us and we are happy to take orders for one of a kind items.  If you live near us (Novi, Michigan or Boston, Mass), we'd be happy to arrange a demonstration where we lead others to creative bliss.