A fleece tie blanket is one of the easiest no-sew crafts for kids, teens or adults. It's a simple, inexpensive project made by cutting, tying and knotting together two pieces of fleece.
If you're looking to exercise your creativity, add this tie blanket to your list of DIY projects (it also makes a great homemade holiday gift!). Whether you purchase a kit or start with your own fabric, the end result is a soft, cute and warm blanket.
Materials
- Two coordinating pieces of fleece (1 or 2 yards of each color)
- Ruler
- Fabric scissors
- Yardstick
Fabric Requirements
For this project, we used two yards of Rainbow Blizzard Fleece and Mint Blizzard Solid Fleece from Joann Fabrics. This fleece is soft, warm and manageable for cutting and tying. Heavy fleece, like anti-pill polar fleece, may be too thick for this project. Two yards is ideal for adult-size blankets and one yard works for child-size blankets.
How to Make a Fleece Tie Blanket
Step 1: Measure and cut 5 x 5-inch squares.
Start by layering the fleece on a desk or craft surface. Make sure both coordinating pieces are correctly aligned on top of each other. Cut a 5 x 5-inch square out of each corner of the blanket. These cut-out squares help make the corners neat once the ties are finished. Plus, they'll help you create the lengths of fringes around the blanket.
Expert tip: Make sure you cut through both layers of fleece.
Step 2: Cut five-inch slits, every one inch.
You want to make a 1 x 5-inch fringe around the entire edge of the fleece blanket. This means that each strip should be the same length as the starter square (5 inches). Use a yardstick to space out the cuts every inch. The yardstick will also help to keep the cuts straight. You want to cut five-inch slits on all four sides of the blanket.
Step 3: Tie the fringes.
Here's how to tie the fringes. Repeat this process for every cut.
- Pull the fringe over your finger.
- Push the fringe through the loop.
- Pull the end through to create a knot. Continue pulling until fully tightened.
Optional: Tie a double knot if you think your basic knots won't hold.
Step 4: Continue tying the fringe.
Keep tying the pieces of fleece together until you finish all four sides. Then, your new tie blanket is done!
Looking for even more DIYs for beginner and expert crafters alike? Check out the GH Stitch Club, where our experts show you how to crochet, knit and more!
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
