I figured with spring here it's time to get rid of the heavy down comforters and resort to something with a little less material. So, why not use this opportunity to craft with your kids? Tie blankets are the perfect kinds of blankets for this volatile weather, and they're very simple to make. And although they are great to have around the house, they are also great gifts. It might be nice to show your child how to make one of these blankets and encourage them to make one as a gift for a holiday such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, or even a birthday. Whether they are making one for themselves or for somebody else they will have fun choosing a fabric, so don't forget to take them to the store with you!
What you will need:
Two pieces of fleece. For an adult size blanket- 54in. wide, 2 1/2 yards long. For a child size blanket- 42in. wide, 1 3/4 yards long.
Fabric cutting scissors
Ruler
Directions:
1) In a large, clear area lay the fabric down, one piece on top of the other. Make sure the fabric is even. If it's not, cut it so that it is. (Note that the shape of the fabric is a large, even rectangle.)
2) Measure 5in. in from any corner. Make a cut here that is 5in. deep.
3) Move over 1in. from the incision and make another 5in. cut. Keep doing this until you are 5in. from the opposite end.
4) Once you've finished on one side, use the same instructions for the adjacent side of the blanket. Make sure you remember to make your first incision 5in. from the corner, this way the cuts are even on both sides.
5) After finishing the second side, follow the same steps on the remaining two sides of the blanket.
6) Remove the 5in. pieces of fabric from all four corners.
7) Once all cuts are made, take the two strips of each cut and tie them in a knot.
8) Enjoy your blanket!
I found these pictures online. This is a child-size Cars blanket. That's what is so great about these, they have so many fabric patterns.
I included this picture of my own tie blanket so that you could see a close-up of the knots. They're very simple, just a single knot.
These blankets are fun to make and are very durable, but you need to watch out because the fleece fabric can be pricey. I like to purchase fabric from Joann Fabric stores which are located in many areas. They have all kinds of prints and frequent sales. Listed below is their website.
http://www.joann.com/fabric/fleece-fabric/
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