Introduction: Easy Fleece Blanket With Satin Edges

About: I'm just a lady who likes making stuff. I got my degree in engineering but also enjoy cooking, sewing, knitting, gardening and backpacking, among other things.

This is a super easy way to make a finished looking blanket or throw similar to this.  You can really customize your color scheme for any decor and is also a great way to make blankets for new babies for a personal touch and kids have a lot of fun picking out their own blanket and binding colors to express their personal style!  As for me, I just found this super soft mustache fabric and bought all that was left on the bolt to make this blanket!

Step 1: Things You Will Need

You will need:
-fabric, however much you want depending on the size of your blanket.  I like to use polar fleece types of fabrics, but I have also used flannel for thinner blankets.
-Blanket binding, enough to go around the entire edge of the blanket.  You should be able to find blanket binding at fabric stores, but if you can't find any, you can use satin ribbon, at least 2 inches wide.  Iron the ribbon so it has a crease down the center and it becomes blanket binding!
-scissors
-sewing machine (I guess you could do it without a machine, but it would take ages)
-pins, lots and lots of pins

Step 2: Prepare Your Fabric

First, wash and dry your fabric according to the instructions.  If it is wrinkly and able to be ironed, you should probably iron it.
Sometimes when you buy fabric, it can be cut at an angle or it gets stretched out and will not be in a perfect parallelogram.  If that's what you're going for, then go ahead to the next step, but if you want a square or rectangular blanket, take the time to make sure all the sides line up evenly.  Do this after you wash (and iron) your fabric.  Give the cut off pieces of fabric to your cat.

Step 3: Pin on the Blanket Binding

Pin the blanket binding to your fabric around all the edges.  Try to make sure each of the edges of the binding around even on each side of the fleece fabric so when you sew it down you get both sides of the binding.  I've found that pushing the fabric all the way into the binding so it hits the crease of the blanket binding makes it easier to line up the edges.
To wrap around the corners, pin the binding close to the corner, then pin it on the other side of the corner, as you have been pinning the binding to the blanket.  You will have some parts of the binding sticking up, so fold it down on either side of the fabric and pin it down for a nice, neat corner.

Step 4: Sew

Sew all the way around, about 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch from the inner edge of the binding, making sure you are sewing both sides of the binding and the fabric in between.
To turn a corner, sew 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch past the next side, make sure the needle is down and all the way through the fabric, raise the presser foot and pivot the fabric around the needle until it is facing in the direction you now want to sew and then continue.

Step 5: Finish!

After you have sewn all the binding down, you can go back and sew the folds on the corners down as well.  I don't always do this, it depends how neat they are and if they are looking a bit too puffy for my taste, I sew them down.
And then you're done!  Enjoy your snuggly new blanket, or give it as a gift!

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