How to Make a Fleece Blanket with Binding
A blanket or throw is a great way to add some colour and pop to your home. A fleece blanket is also super cozy and you can snuggle under it with a hot drink during chilly winter nights. Here you’ll learn how to make a fleece blanket with stylish bindings.
In fact, a fleece blanket is also a great present for the young and the old. You can make a fleece blanket with a superhero theme for your kids.
You can also make fleece blankets with holiday themes as presents for your loved ones, colleagues, friends, neighbours and relatives.
Quilting and blanketing is a fun craft and it also allows you to make cute throws that you can take with you on trips or use around the house. Here are all of the steps that you need to follow to make a cute fleece blanket for your home.
Methods to Make a Fleece Blanket With Binding
Contents
Step 1: Gather Everything you Need
The first step is to gather all of the things that you will need while you make the blanket. First of all, you will need around 2 yards of soft and fluffy fleece fabric. You will also need to get some satin blanket bindings.
Next, you are going to need a rotary cutter/fabric scissors so that you can cut up the blanket easily. It is also a great idea to invest in a ruler so that you can cut evenly. You also need a flat surface and a sewing machine to work on.
Step 2: Prep the Fleece before Sewing
After gathering everything you need, you have to wash and dry the fabric properly. If the fabric is creased, then it is a good idea to run the iron over it a couple of times. Then, you need to spread it out.
If the edges of the material are not completely straight, you need to use the rotary cutter and the ruler to cut it evenly.
You will see that a lot of fleece blankets usually come in the shape of a parallelogram. Be careful and ensure that the edges are totally straight.
Step 3: Pin the Binding
You need to choose a satin binding that will suit the colour of the fleece pieces that you get.
Next, you need to pin the binding to the edges of your fleece. Make sure that the edges of the binding are even on both sides.
A helpful tip is to push the fabric of the fleece blanket directly into the binding and then affix the pin.
Doing this will make your job much easier when you proceed to the next step of the blanket making process, which is sewing the satin binding onto the blanket.
Step 4: Wrap Up the Corners
As always, the corners are one of the trickiest parts of the process.
You will need to devote special attention to the corners so that there aren’t any lumps or raised edges. It’s a good idea to pin the corners from the opposite side.
Some parts of the binding are going to be sticking up. So, the best way to deal with this is to fold it down on the opposite side.
Once you have a neat fold, you should stick a pin through it. This will give you a nice and neat corner.
Step 5: Sew the Binding
It is recommended that you use a sewing machine for this stage. If you try to sew using your hands, then it is going to take a long time. Make sure the stitches fall ½ to ⅜ of an inch from the binding’s inner edge.
At the corner, sew ⅜ to ½ an inch past the adjacent side of the blanket. Make sure that the needle is pointing downwards and then pivot the blanket around the needle.
This is a little tricky, but with practise you will be able to sew up the corners beautifully.
Step 6: Apply the Finishing Touches
When you are done sewing the bindings, you can take a close look at the finished blanket and then apply some finishing touches. For example, you can take a look at the corners of the blanket and then make sure that they aren’t lumpy.
There are some alternate stitches that you can look into once you are comfortable using your sewing machine.
Instead of the straight stitches, you can also look into a line of zig zag stitches. These can be very useful, especially while you are quilting or blanketing.
Some Tips to Help You Tackle Mitered Corners
Most people will agree that the mitered corners are one of the most difficult stages of making your own fleece blanket. Here are some helpful tips that will help you attach the binding to your blanket in the fastest and easiest way.
1. Take a binding strip and find the end of one of the strips. You will see that one of the long edges of the strip is going to be shorter than the other. Find this end of the strip and face it at you while you start the sewing.
2. Position this end of the binding near the center of the fleece fabric. Sandwich the fleece in the middle of the two flaps that you have now made with your binding.
Then, you make sure that the shorter edge of the binding is in line with the top side.
3. After you take care of this step, it is a good idea to put a pin in the binding so that it does not slip. Satin is a very finicky and tricky material to sew with, which is why you need to practice a lot and use the pins.
4. Calibrate your sewing machine and set it for a 5 mm zig zag stitch. You also have to make sure that the machine is prepared to handle the fleece and the binding material.
Fleece can be quite heavy and you will need some strength to sew the binding well.
5. After this, you need to zig zag stitch the binding onto the fleece material.
While you do this, make sure that the stitches properly join both of the long edges of the binding material that you use. This will let you handle the blanket corners very easily.
Now let’s move on to some questions and facts that will help you in your journey to make a lovely fleece blanket for your home. It will address all of your doubts and help you to make some amazing homemade fleece blankets.
Why Is Satin Used For Blanket Bindings?
While there are many options out there, satin is the most preferred choice for blanket binding materials. Satin adds a soft and plush texture to the edge of the fabric, which makes the blanket look very pretty. It also has many functional advantages.
Pre-made blanket bindings can be found in any fabric store near you. You can also order it online and start sewing right away.
Make sure you pick a nice colour so that the binding goes well with the colour and theme of the blanket. Satin is the perfect blanket binder.
Can You Use Materials Other Than Fleece?
Yes, you can also use materials other than fleece to make blankets. Did you know that despite its name, fleece is a synthetic material known as PET or polyethylene terephthalate? It is very light and it is the perfect material for cozy blankets.
You can also make blankets, throws, scarves, etc. by using flannel instead of fleece.
Flannel is a woollen fabric and is a very good choice if you want to make something especially for the winter months. Making a flannel blanket is very easy and the sewing technique is the same.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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