Make a Tied Knot Blanket
Making a Blanket is Easy.
Do you need a gift for Christmas, a Birthday, a Wedding or Baby Shower? This Blanket make a perfect (cheaply made) gift for just about any occasion. You don't have to know how to sew or crochet or any other kind of skill. The only thing you have to know how to do is use a pair of scissors and how to tie a knot.
This blanket is a perfect project to create with your children. I've seen three-year-olds take part in tying the knots needed to complete the blanket. Lets take a few moments an learn how easy it is to put one of these together.
Step One: Trim Your Two Pieces of Fleece - You can Get These from any Fabric Store
You should have two pieces of fleece. Personally I like the front to have a pattern on it. The second (the back of the blanket) I like to be a solid color that goes with the print on the front. Lay them one on top of the other flat on the floor. Trim any extra Fleece from the blanket so they are both the exact same size.
Step Two: Cut Squares from the Corners
You Need to remove squares from the corners of the blanket. If you don't you will have too much extra fabric after you tie the sides together. It makes the blanket look and feel heavy on the corners and is not really that pretty. You can cut these square anywhere from 4 to 6 inches wide. You want them to be big enough to allow you enough fabric to tie your fringes together.
How Fleece is Made - You Might be Surprised
I love the Discovery Channel Show called "How Its Made". This show tells you exactly how they make fleece. It is an amazing thing to watch the machines do all the knitting for you, how it goes through the washing and dying process. Then there is a process they show where the loops of the fabric to make the fuzzy texture of the fleece.
Step Three: Cut One Inch Strips - They Don't have to be Perfect
Now that you have the Corners Cut out, you will need to cut strips on all four sides of the the Fleece. The strips will be as deep as the squares you cut out of the corners. Use those corners as a guide for how deep you will cut your strips. Feel free to use a ruler, but you don't have to. The little imperfections will be hidden by the knots.
You Can Purchase a Kit - But I Like to Make My Own
There are several different kits out there, usually made for children, that you can buy. They make it extremely easy for kids to start tying knots and getting an almost immediate result. These can be fun, but you are usually limited to the colors and patterns the kit provides. If you want more choices, then we will have to pick out our own fleece.
Step Four: Tie Your Strips Together - This is what is going to hold your blanket together
Starting at one of the corners, start tying double knots into the strips. The idea is to tie the top layer of fleece to the bottom layer of fleece. As you tie the knots, make sure you pull out any bunching that may occur when you tie the knots. Learn how tight they should be tied and you will end up with a nicer finished product.
