Year of the Blanket

YEAR OF THE BLANKET

Over the years, my passion for making crafts has resulted in many creative projects, but once I mastered the skill I would get bored and move on to something else. For several years I took a break until last year, when something fell into my path that sparked that passion again.

My sister had gone to a baby shower and raved about a no-sew fleece blanket that someone had made. When I saw the pictures she had taken, I thought, I could make that. How hard could it be?

I searched the Internet and found all kinds of information. My first blanket was going to be for my daughter-in-law’s birthday, so I bought fleece with a pattern of green leaves and trees. For the contrasting back piece, I chose a soft cream colour.

I spread the two pieces of fleece on top of the other with right sides facing out and cut off the selvages, ensuring both pieces ended up exactly the same size. Then I pinned the fleece together and made chalk marks on it as a guide, using a tape measure to get the right measurement for the fringes. I cut a 5” template from cardboard, which I used as a guide to cut out the four corners of the fleece. This was, apparently, a necessary step to avoid bulky corners.

Now I was ready to cut the fringes. It took longer than I thought because I was a bit nervous. I also found it frustrating as the fleece kept sliding around on the table. Finally I was ready to begin tying two fringes at a time into an overhand knot, one from each piece of fleece, all around the blanket. The result was pretty impressive, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it again.

A few days later my car somehow ended up at a fabric store and I exited much poorer, but rich in fleece. This time I had a plan. I spread the fleece on the living room carpet where it stayed put, instead of slipping and sliding the way it did my dining room table. I didn’t bother with tape measures, pins, and chalk; instead I just eye-balled it. So what if the fringes were not quite the same width, or didn’t look perfect? With dozens of fringes around the blanket, who would notice anyway? I was so pleased with the second blanket that I kept it for myself.

I was hooked. When I exhausted the fleece in the local fabric stores, I ordered on-line and even went to the States one weekend for a fleece run! I made blankets for every member of my family who wanted one -- for birthdays, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, and Christmas. I was in blanket heaven.

All told, I made 24 blankets in nine months and I’m not done yet. They are easy to make and I have it down to a science. Less than two hours from start to finish, and you can have a blanket that is perfect for gift giving, or to cuddle in. Just see what I have made, and try one yourself!

Maria Harden

Picture #1 - Laying amidst a blanket collage!
Picture #2 - A loon panel for my father-in-law
Picture #3 - A truck design to delight a little boy
Picture #4 - Under the sea
Picture #5 - Galaxy

Note: If you want detailed instructions on how to make these blankets, send me an e-mail and I will be happy to provide you with the info and a diagram. mharden@mts.net

Story ID:	3404
Written by:	Maria Harden (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Things to do
Location:	Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Longitude:	97 degrees 8 minutes West
Latitude:	49 degrees 54 minutes North
Year:	2007
Person:	Maria