Selecting birthday and holiday gifts that are both personal and reasonably priced can be a challenging task, especially if the present is for more than one person. Many people, including myself, take the easy way out and purchase gift cards.
However, blanket-making is something I learned how to do recently that is easy and creative. It may sound complicated, but it’s really very simple. There is no sewing, knitting or crocheting involved; all you have to do is tie a lot of knots.
The first think you need to do is visit a fabric or craft store. I like Jo-Ann, but anywhere that sells fleece will work fine. Another option is Hancock Fabrics.
The best part about making these blankets is personalizing them. There is such a wide variety of fleece available, that one can find a pattern that suits just about any personality or hobby. For example, I was able to find fleece with my brother’s favorite football team logo on it.
When choosing your fleece, you will need to select two different designs. I usually pick a pattern and a solid color because it makes the blanket seem less busy and cluttered. It also ties the two fabrics together because half of the blanket is a solid color that is present in the patterned fleece.
After you pick your fabrics, take them to the cutting counter and have a certain length cut depending on the age of the blanket’s recipient. You’ll want to purchase between 0.75 to 1.5 yards of fleece for each side. The fabric prices range anywhere from six to fifteen dollars, depending on the pattern.
To make the process easier, you should also buy straight pins to keep the fabrics together when tying the pieces.
When you have finished buying the necessary materials, spread the first layer of fleece out on the ground and make sure it is flat. After smoothing the first piece, lay the second piece over it. If the edges overlap more than an inch, trim them so that they are even.
Line up the fabric and measure about two inches from the edge and insert a straight pin. Continue to do this until straight pins are inserted around the blanket. The closer to the edge of the blanket you put the straight pins, the shorter the fringe ties on the blanket will be.
Once your blanket is completely pinned together, you need to start cutting strips. Use scissors, preferably fabric shears, and cut strips two inches long until they reach the outside of the pins. Your strips should be about half an inch wide or more. Continue to cut strips along each side of the blanket.
When you have all the strips cut, start tying the strand on the top layer to the strip below it. Just use simple double knots, or any other method of knot-tying that you like. As you tie strips together, remove the safety pins that were holding the two layers together. After you have tied all the pieces together, look over the entire blanket and remove any straight pins you may have missed.
After the pin check, your blanket is complete. The amount of time it will take is completely up to you. If you decide to do the whole thing in one sitting, it will probably take about two hours, depending on how fast you work.
With these steps, one can create a unique and personalized gift that means more than the standard store-bought item.
For more information on how-to articles, visit the Dec. 8, 2009 article, How to: Banana pancakes, more than breakfast.
