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HELPFUL LINKS
Email us below!
Members:
Linda & Judi
Judi & Linda 
FLEECE BLANKET PATTERNS
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Please click on How to Make a Blanket at left for sizes and additional information.
IMPORTANT!!! Fleece Blankets are made by serging, hemming or cutting a fringed edge.
Safety policies are in place to insure that blankets are safe for the children. They include-no smoking around blankets, no pins, no pet dander or hair, no buttons or attachments to blankets (choking hazard) and NO peanuts or peanut butter near blanket production!
How To Finish a Fleece Blanket
Single ply fleece blankets are lighter and easier for the children to handle.
Thanks so much for remembering these guidelines when making your blankets!
Below, find links to a demonstration utube video starring our own Blanketeers, Karen Grage and Penny Gidd. Copy and paste each address into your address bar to find great illustrations of how to make a fleece blanket as well as how to make a crocheted edged blanket!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv4WVOiUpYc
crochet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO3Jye7HIr8&feature=channel_page
A skip stitch blade is used to punch holes on the edges of the fleece in order to work the crochet edging. To purchase this blade, which is used with a standard rotary cutter handle, here is the web address www.skipstitch.com
No matter what method is used to finish a fleece blanket--
Remember, the longer you make the fringe, the less blanket area there is for snuggling.
**PLEASE NOTE THAT DIAGRAM ABOVE HAS 6" marked BUT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE THE FRINGE 4" or less.
Method 1) Cut a strip of cardboard 1" wide and no longer than 2" - 4". Line up along edge of fleece, cut and continue by moving cardboard down side of fleece.
Method 2) Line up masking tape along side from corner to corner of fleece, 3"-4" from edge, depending on the length of the fringe. Using measured tape or masking tape with 1" intervals marked, cut fringe at each 1" marking.
Picket Fence & Bunny (or Hounds) Ears:
Cut fringe 1 1/4" wide x 2" long. Cut ends as shown in picture.
After cutting straight fringe 2" long, cut a corner from each strip of fringe.
One Inch Mini Fringe
Pinking Shears Cut:
You only need to cut the length of the blade which makes a straighter cut.
Optional:
Fleece Blanket with sewing:
• Round the corners - if you don't have a radial ruler - use a plate or pizza pan as a guide.
• Sew a zigzag or simple decorative stitch 2" from the edge all the way around the blanket.
Shell Stitch:
Looped (or optional Braided Finish)
• Cut out 3" squares from each corner of fleece after removing the selvedge edges. Please note-- when knotting the fringed edge, please take care not to make the knots too tight!
IMPORTANT!!!!
REMOVE THE SELVEDGE EDGING-OFTEN ANOTHER COLOR, IT HAS wavy sides with small holes punched all along the edge.
Even up all sides-MAKE SURE THAT THE BLANKET IS CUT EVENLY AND NEATLY.
We prefer single layer polar fleece blankets. Double fleece blankets are too heavy and bulky for children to carry. These blankets are also difficult to store.
NOTE:You do not have to knot the fringe - a neat plain fringe looks very nice without knotting.
Do not cut the fringe any longer than 2" - 4". Longer fringe tangles in medical instruments and tubes.
When measuring the size of the finished blanket, the fringe must be taken into consideration. If the fringe is 3 inches, that is deducted from the actual size of the blanket!
Use this new item, a measured masking type tape, available at our meetings or by mail.
The tape is $4.00 for 150' plus $1.00 shipping. Email Linda at Linuschicago@aol.com to order or plan to purchase at our next meeting.
OR
If you want fringe on all four sides, cut a 3" or 4" square (depending on how long you want the fringe)from each corner.
If you want fringe on two sides skip this step.
The following methods can all be used to make a no sew blanket.
When one side is finished, lift masking tape to the next side, cut and move again until all four sides have been cut.
Bow Tie
Make small slits a few inches from edge of fleece.
Cut 1/2" slits(DO NOT MAKE LARGER THAN 1/2") in pairs along narrow sides of fleece. Cut 1/2" x 6" strips of coordinating color fleece, thread through slits and tie as shown.
Optional: Cut a small slit (no longer than 1/4" long) at the base of the fringe. Pull fringe through the hole to make a "Bunny Ear." If you don't make the end pointy - you have a "Hounds Ear."
Jungle Grass:
Cut fleece with pinking shears. Cut one inch square from each corner. Cut tiny fringe, 1/2" X 1" as above. 
First trim the edges of the blanket using a wavy blade rotary cutter. Then cut fringe with pinking shears in every other notch of the wavy cut.
Added Fringe:
Cut strips of fleece 1/4" or 3/8" x 6" long. If the stretch goes the long way of the strip, you will have a curly fringe.
Cut small slits in the edge of the fleece blanket approximately 1" from the edge. Pull the strip through. Pull on the fringe to make it curl if you cut the strip with the stretch of the fabric. You can make this fringe on two ends of the blanket or all the way around.
Single Layer Texas Fleece Blankets
• Most popular size is 54" x 57" (1 1/2" yard cut with the selvedge trimmed)
• Trim the selvedge off the fleece with a wavy blade rotary cutter & straighten fleece on all sides. (The wavy edge gives you a guide for cutting the fringe.) You can use a straight edge blade.
• Clip all edges to make fringe. If you used the wavy cutter - clip in the notch for a perfect 1/2" fringe.
If you used a straight rotary blade, cut about 3/4" wide for the fringe.
The Radial Curve Corner Rule is available at www.katielane.com/Pages/Korners.html. You can only find these radial curve rulers at good quilt shops.
You can use a stack of Post-it Notes, or build up a guide with masking tape.
• Trim the selvedge edges off and even up fleece on all sides. Round off corners using a Curve Corner Ruler or a plate for a template.
• Modify the machine's standard hemstitch - lengthen the stitch to at least 2 and increase the width as far as possible. You may need to reverse (mirror image) the stitch so that the zigzag in the stitch goes just off the edge of the fleece.
• This is an especially nice soft finish for a baby blanket. 
• Place a strip of masking tape 3" from the edge of the fleece on all four sides. Turn up the edge of the fleece to meet the masking tape. Pin & sew the raw edge using a zigzag stitch. Cut the fringe in 1/2" strips stopping the cut 1/4" from the stitching.
• Optional: After cutting the loops, make a braided edge by "finger crocheting" one loop through the next loop. Go all the way around the blanket using a large crochet hook to pull the loops through. Tuck the last loop into the first one and hand stitch to anchor.
• Another option for the Looped Finish is to sew a 3" piece of contrasting or coordinating fleece to each end of the blanket. Fold in half, sew down with a zigzag stitch and cut the loops as above.
1.Approximately one inch from the edge, cut one-inch slits every inch around the entire blanket. Thread a one-inch wide grosgrain ribbon through the slits and tie in a bow at each corner.
2. Approximately 1/2 inch from the edge, cut one-half inch pairs of slits every inch around the entire blanket. Cut 1/4 inch x 12 inch pieces of coordinating fleece and slip through each slit and double-knot each fringe.
Cut top and bottom sides into 1" x 6" strips (cut toward center of blanket to make fringe).
Remove masking tape.
Tie overhand knot on each strip to create a finished fringe edge.
Remember that cotton fabric does not make a successful fringed and knotted blanket.
A GREAT IDEA!
A fleece blanket made with pieced fleece squares sewn together with ricrack.
