How to Sew a Tartan Fleece Blanket No Pattern Needed
During the winter months, I have blanket throws in every room of our home, the living room, the family room, the craft room, and every bedroom. It’s the time of year when you want something warm and soft to snuggle up into and these cozy fleece blankets are absolutely perfect.
Whether you’re looking for a coordinating blanket, want something extra soft and amazingly warm, or want to make a DIY Christmas gift, cozy double fleece blankets are a great craft project. There are so many fun holiday fabrics in different prints I had a hard time picking the pretty plaid that matches my holiday decor theme.
Besides, the cuddly softness and warmth of fleece fabric it doesn’t fray. Most fabric frays when you cut it or wash it, which means you need to sew zig-zag edges and have a blanket binding. No fraying fleece means you can skip this step, making a DIY fleece blanket quicker to sew. You may have seen the no-sew fleece tie blanket with the tied knots around the outside edge. This is a sew fleece blanket that replaces the knots with a crocheted edge and pom poms. I put it in our granddaughter’s Christmas guest room and will be sent home with them as a surprise for my daughter-in-law.
This throw is extra warm, soft, and cozy with double layers. The patterned tartan polar fleece was quite expensive so I cut the cost by using a cheaper plain red polar fleece for the other side of the blanket.
Double-Sided Fleece Blanket Tutorial
Fleece Blanket Supplies
- 2 pieces of coordinating polar fleece fabric (3 yards of fleece total)
- For a larger blanket – 2 pieces of coordinating polar fleece fabric 4 yards of fleece total)
- Coordinating thread
- Tape measure, and ruler
- Scissors or cutting mat and rotary blade cutter
- Sewing machine
- 2 skeins of Size 5 bulky yarn
- Pom Pom Maker (Optional)
- Clear dental floss.
There are different types of fleece, this blanket is made with polar fleece is the thickest and warmest of the fleece fabrics, having a double layer of polar fleece is what makes this blanket so incredibly warm. It’s luxuriously fluffy on both sides making for a very cozy blanket. If you live in Canada like we do, you will love Polar fleece.
Sherpa fleece is a lighter-weight fleece and fluffy on one side. It’s not as thick or warm as Polar fleece but is still cozy and cuddly making it nice if you want a lighter blanket and enjoy milder winter temperatures.
Cutting the Fleece
The size of your blanket is up to you. Begin by removing the selvage edge, then use a measuring tape and ruler to measure the plaid fabric.
Once you know the size you want for your fleece blanket, cut the fleece material 1″ larger on both sides to allow for seam allowance.
For this blanket 50″ by 60″ fleece blanket, cut the fleece 51″ by 61″.
For a larger 60″ by 72″ fleece blanket, cut the fleece material 61″ by 73.”
Work on a flat, well-lit surface like a large craft table or the floor. You can use a cutting mat, ruler, and a rotary cutter for the fleece, or scissors. While a pattern isn’t necessary, it’s important to mark the straight-cut lines with chalk.
Plaid fleece is especially easy to work with since you can use the printed pattern as a guide. Start by trimming the selvage edges from your fabric. Then, measure 51 inches from one edge using a measuring tape. Mark several points along the fabric to ensure a straight line.
Cut the plaid fabric first and use it as a template for cutting the second piece.
You don’t need a pattern for this but you need to mark the straight-cut lines with chalk Plaid fleece is a nice fabric to cut as you can follow the printed pattern as a guide.
Cut the selvage edges off your fabric first. Then measure from one edge of the fabric (51″) using a measuring tape Do this in several places to create a straight line. Cut the plaid fabric first, then use it as a pattern to cut the second piece of fabric.
Once the fabric is cut, place the layers of fleece together. Lay the patterned fleece good side up on your working surface. Cover it with the coordinating plain fleece wrong side up. Flatten and smooth your pieces of fabric and match the edges of the fabric as much as you can.
Pinning the Fabric
Polar fleece is a stretchy fabric, the best way to work with stretchy fabrics is to ensure the fleece is flat and well-pinned before sewing. Pin the two layers of fabric throughout as this reduces the stretch. Being careful at this stage will avoid the puckering of seams and lumps you sometimes see in polar fleece throws. The next picture outlines the placement of the pins with black circles so you can see how thoroughly I pinned my pieces of fleece fabric.
Sew the fleece blanket together, with a half-inch seam and a straight stitch, do the long sides first. then continue with the short seams. Leave a 12″ gap in the last seam.
Turn the plaid throw blanket right side out by pulling it through the 12-inch gap you left in the last seem. Make sure to push out all the corners. Once turned right side out, line up the unsewn gap, and pin together. To give your blanket a nice finished look, sew a second top stitch seam 1/2 inch from the first one.
After that, you’ll need to top stitch all along the edge. Top stitching is sewing on top of the edge. Sew to close.
You can leave the blanket plain if you like it as is. As this was a surprise gift I added a crocheted edge and pom poms along the two ends of the blanket. Alternatively, you could make four pom poms and sew one into each corner.
Crocheted Ends
Sew a blanket stitch along the short ends of the finished blanket.
Do 1 dc in each blanket stitch all the way across, ch 1 turn.
Do 1 sc in each DC across, tie off.
How to Make a Pom Pom
I originally made these Pom Poms using red wool and my hand, since then I have purchased a pom pom maker, here is how I would make them.
- The Pom Pom Maker in two sizes
- Begin by opening one set of the arms. Wrap the yarn around the two arms of the pom pom maker. Do one then close it. Do the other side and close it.
3 The closed pom pom maker. Insert your scissors and cut all the wool. Keep the maker closed.
Take your yarn and start wrapping it around the two open arms of the pom pom maker.
Wrap the yarn evenly and tightly, add lots of yarn, the more wraps the fuller your pom will be
Hold the pom pom maker and cut the yarn along the groove between both arms. Do one side then flip it over and do the second side. Don’t open the maker at this point.
Cut a 12-inch length of clear dental floss, and wrap the floss tightly around the middle groove of the pom pom maker. Pull the floss tightly and tie two knots to secure i
Open both arms of the pom pom maker, trim the floss, and fluff the pom pom.
Give it a little haircut to tidy up any overly long pom pom threads.
I used up the extra fleece and made some matching pillowcases and a toy cradle bed cover to match. The old teddy bear was given to their Dad for his first Christmas. The bed is his special place every Christmas.
With the rest of the fabric tidbits, I made these Tartan Hand Warmers. They make a great gift for a stocking, but I kept them in a basket by my front door and passed them out as small gifts as guests were leaving.
This year my theme is tartan plaid, I have a few other sewing projects to share with you. I hope you love them.
Plaid DIY Christmas Cushions Everywhere
aStay Warm and Snuggly
This wonderful post is a HOME feature as part of “You’re the STAR” blog hop! : http://eclecticredbarn.blogspot.com/2017/01/youre-star-week.html
Thank you & please link up your most recent posts to the January Linky Party.
Angie
This is so pretty!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Beautiful Afghan! Very festive, and looks so soft and warm. Believe it or not but I use afghans here in Texas as well. May not get to use them as often, but needed one last couple days. Was in the low 20’s with the chilling winds, then today suppose to be in the 70’s. Crazy.
Love the added touch of the pom pom . Bet the girls will love cuddling up in it.
I love that tartan plaid, it’s beautiful, and those pompoms set it off beautifully. I lived up near Canada and Vermont for one winter so I know how important it is to have afghans and throws handy
Thanks for the tips about pinning it all over, that will save some frustrations for sure.
Very Merry Throw, its purely holiday stuff. Lovely bedroom.
Maria
It surely is a Christmas thing Marie. Last year I did the house up in winterscapes, I will need to remove alot more stuff after the holidays then I did last year.
This year for whatever reason I chose red.
I really like your penguin throw, it was my feature on the I am Pinnable link party with Amber. So nice.
Thank you for commenting. Leanna
I really love the look up your tartan fleece. I bet it is an extremely warm blanket. The pom poms make it extra special. I bet the girls will bring it out into the living room, nothing like snuggling in a throw that grandma made for you. Is there?
We will snuggle under that blanket and read together. It makes my heart sing. They have another one I purchased them last year with a big santa and reindeer on it. This year they each get one.
Thanks for commenting Nikki. Love your blog Leanna
Leanna, who wouldn’t want a beautiful and warm throw like that???!!! Even here in temperate Alabama!
Thank you Florence. I bet when it rains you need warmth as well.
I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Leanna
Your afghan throw sure looks super fluffy and cuddly Leanna. I bet the girls love snuggling up with it. Adding all those pins is a great idea. Every time I’ve made a throw I end up with scrunchy bits and mismatched corners, probably because I’m too lazy to do it properly, but looking at how beautifully yours turned out I need to make a plan.
Hi Michelle: I have that problem with stretchy material. I loathe doing something twice or threes time lol.
The pinning and more pinning helped tremendously. Let me know how your next big sewing project turns out.
Thank you for commenting.
This is amazing! Definitely want to try to make one for next year! I love the little pom poms on the end!
Sarah Bell
Trendy & Tidy
Hi Sarah: I think the afghan looks way more fun than functional with the Pom Poms. The poms make it livelier somehow.
Thank you for the thumbs up. I appreciate the comment. Leanna
What a beautiful throw – love the extra fluffy pompoms. Your granddaughters must love their warm and cozy room at Grandma’s. So pretty!
Oh Marie, I don’t know who is more excited they come to sleep over them or Grama. Last year my son took a video of them dancing with me, hilarious I was just doing my thing lovin it lmao.
Thank you for commenting. Your opinion means alot. Leanna
Hello Leanna, Your tartan throw is lovely. The bed looks very festive especially the bear in the bed. Big smile here. It was worth all the work of making the throw.
Happy Blue Monday.
Jeanne
Hi Jeanne: That little bear is very special to me. It was a Christmas gift to my eldest son on his first Christmas from Santa. We call him Grampa bear, he has earned his living comforting children for 37 years now.
My grand daughters know his story that he is old and tired and they must play nice with him. It’s a special treat to play with Grampa.
so pretty! I love red plaid. Especially during the holiday season 🙂 Have a wonderful week.
Hello Joy: This is my first Christmas as a blogger. There is so much to do all the time, but it is exciting and truly makes for very fast awesome weeks. You have a wonderful week as well. Thank you for commenting.
Leanna
This is just beautiful! I think these would be a hit on Etsy. I cannot crochet, can’t sit still long enough .lol
just love it.
Crochet is a great way to force yourself to just sit for awhile. I don’t have the non stop energy I use to have. I wish , because my mind is always planning something.
This afghan is really soft and warm, I am sure the girls are going to love it.
Thank you for commenting. Leanna
I love this! I may see if I can do this during the winter. Nice to chat with you on Instagram too. Sheila
Hello Sheila: I am a huge fan of your work. I absolutely love your blog. I am so glad you popped by to comment. Over the Christmas season everytime I went on Pinterest a pin would dry my eye. So many times it was your blog.
We shall keep in touch. Merry Christmas Leanna
This is so pretty. And believe it or not even living in Florida I love my afghan’s. Yours is so festive and cozy looking. I love it.
Hi Debra; I envision you guys drinking ice tea year around on the deck actually. We have not yet travelled to Florida but its definitely on the list.
Do the evenings get cool?
Well, that is true but in the winter I do wear sweaters and boots. It really is funny because the minute the temps hit 70 you will see us all bundled up. So many of us that live in Florida are from up north and although I don’t miss the snow I do enjoy the occasional cold day. 🙂
I can believe that actually. Canada has a couple of very warm regions. I lived in Kamloops where the summer days can easily be over 100F, I wore a toque in September the first year I moved here. I was so cold. I am more accustomed to it now. I bet you get accustomed to it being warmer.
Sigh someday I will retire south!!!
WARM and super cute! Must try this after the holidays!
Hi Melissa: Winter finally decided to show up and remind us who the boss is today. I made several throws for the winter time and I got a basket of them from previous years as well. They are each well used. You can never have too many throws.
I am glad you liked my version. Thanks for the comment. Leanna
I would love this and I love cozying up on the sofa with a big fluffy warm throw and watching tv in cold weather but we live in San Diego Ca. And it is very unusual for me to need more than a light blanket even in winter. I miss the definite seasons of N Calif but at 70 yrs old I don’t think I want snow either. Have fun with these throws ladies.