INSTRUCTIONS FOR WINTER FLEECE BLANKETS
You will need 1 and 2/3 yards of 60" wide FLEECE FABRIC with contrasting thread.
1. Trim selvage edge.
2. Fold the fleece in half and then again into quarters and trim edges. Unfold the blanket and you can use it without stitching as fleece fabric does not fray.
3. The second option is to place a large plate on each corner of the fabric to get a rounded effect. This will make it easy when you use your blanket stich on the sewing machine to finish it off. Contrast color thread can be used again to fancy up the blanket.
4. The third option is to sellect a contrast color embroidery thread and do a blanket stich by hand around the edge of the fleece. This always looks good on a Baby Blanket.
5. The fourth option is to create a Fringe which is a favorite for fleece fabrics.The keys to a professional-looking fringe are straight and evenly spaced cuts. Practice on a scrap piece of fleece to determine how wide you prefer your fringe cuts to be. Keep in mind that the length and width of the fringe cuts should be in proportion to the garment — fringe sections for a toddler’s garment might be smaller and/or more narrow than fringe sections on a man’s scarf. Cuts are generally spaced at 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch intervals. If necessary, adjust the width of your cuts toward the end to avoid an odd width of fringe at the end.
6. The fith option is a Knotted fringe.This is easily created by tying every other fringe section together once they are cut. Note that you might want to cut the fringe longer to allow for the knotting, which will shorten the fringe overall. If the pattern calls only for plain fringe, consider adding about one inch to the end of the garment piece so that you’ll be able to cut the fringe sections longer and allow for knotting, without cutting too far into the garment itself.
Knotted fringe for home decor projects can be a wider look, where the strips are cut wider. Upper and lower layers of the pillow or throw are cut and tied together into a single knot.
7. The sixth option is to buy 1 inch blanket binding and fold it over the edge of the blanket and stich with your machine set on Zig-Zag, width 4, making sure that you catch both the bottom and top of the binding. When purchasing the binding make sure you have enough to go around the entire blanket, if not join the binding first before sewing it onto your blanket.
8. A suggestion from my side: if this blanket is going to be a gift, you can have labels personalized at any sewing shop and stich these onto one of the corners of your blanket.
If you should have any question about these procedures please feel free to email me at support@joyfulchildfabric.com and I will be more than happy to assist you.
Click here for instructions on how to care for your Fleece Blanket.
TIPS FOR SEWING WITH FLEECE FABRICS
Fleece fabric is strong, hard to puncture or tear and doesn't pill. As I mentioned before it does not ravel, so there is no need to finish the raw edges of seam allowances or hem allowance.
Pinning
Short pins get lost in the fleece, so use long ones,the type with bead heads as they are easiest to see.
Stitching
Use a narrow zigzag stitch. Experiment on scraps of the fleece,
adjusting the stitch width and length until you are sattisfied with the seam.
Stitch slowly and carefully. Because stitches are hard to remove, this will actually save you a lot of time.
When sewing around curved areas, stitch slowly and be careful not to stretch the fleece as you guide it through the machine.
Pressing
Do not press with an iron, finger pressing will do just as good a job. If the seam allowance still curls, topstitching can eliminate the problem and add a decorative touch. If pressing is absolutely necessary, use a press cloth between the fabric and your iron.
Hemming
For an easy hem, topstitch ¼” (6mm) from the cut edge of the hem allowance, through all of the layers.
Enjoy and have fun creating your blankets!
