The past few days I have been searching around for an easy no sew blanket to make for the spare bedroom in Cody's house since he is starting to furnish it for guests. I have seen the fleece tie blankets and think that they are cute but whilel I was searching Pinterest I found an even better idea. Thank you to Helping Little Hands.
Today I went to JoAnn's to purchase a nice fleece pattern and was able to stumble upon a great deal on fleece. I decided that I would want the blanket to be able to be used in Fall, Winter, Spring, and cold Summer nights. Therefore, I was only going to use one piece or fabric rather than two to make it a bit thinner.
Items needed for project:
-2 yards of fabric
-Cutting mat
-All Purpose Cutting Roller
-Size J crocheting needle
Before anything cut the annoying and ugly edging off of the fabric.
Second, on each corner of the fabric cut out 2 x 2 squares
I then used masking tape from one end to the other to ensure a straight line and to help with cutting one inch wide, and two inch deep strips.
To cut the one inch strips I laid the fabric (which is folded in half so you can do twice the amount in one sitting) and I using the rotary cutter at every inch mark all the way until the end of the fabric. ONLY cut up to the tape as that is two inches.
This is a picture of the strips cut every inch.
Once all of the strips have been cut, go through and cut a slit into each strip. This works best by folding the strip at the bottom and cutting a little slit. Having the slit at the bottom of the strips makes a better looking braid.
Here comes the braiding! Take one strip and take the one to the left of it. Take the one to the left and slip it through the slit.
This is the strip to the left pulled through. Now, you can use the J crochet hook or your fingers. I found for myself the fingers were the easiest and fastest and good for fine motor skills :) (sorry, that's the teacher in me)
Now that a strip is through a slit, take the strip that you pulled through and the strip to the left of it and do the same.
Strip #2 pulled through. Now just repeat..
And a line of braiding along the edge!
When you get to the corners do the same thing you've been doing and the corner will wrap around naturally.
Once you come back to where you started and have one strip left you need to cut it in half.
Take one of the "half strips" and pull it through the last strip that was pulled through before you came upon the last strip.
Take the "half strip" that is left on the right side and put it through the slit of the beginning of the braid.
Take the two ends and tie them together to make a knot.
And you are finished!
I took a 4 x 6 acrylic frame, some ribbon, and some flower embellishments I had laying around and a fabric swatch that has retired. I cut it out to measure 4 x 6 and I hot glued some ribbon to the top of it. I hot glued some flowers on the outside and stuck some post it notes on top and I have a super cute post it note holder for my desk!
This is one I did with scrapbook paper and some string
