My church women’s group got together to do another service project. This one involved making fleece lap blankets for hospice patients. We had a great time making these blankets from fleece scraps before, but a lot of the women don’t know how to sew. For that reason, we decided to make no-sew fleece blankets instead. I’m not a huge fan of the tied-edge blankets, so I figured out how to make them with a braided edge instead. They turned out really nice, so I thought I’d show you how to make them. Be sure to watch the video at the top of this post to see step-by-step instructions to make the blanket. (If you are using an ad blocker, you might need to turn it off to see the video.) If you like this post, also check out how to make a tie blanket from fleece and things to make with fleece scraps.
I wanted to make the no-sew fleece blankets as easy as possible, so we had people bring one yard pieces. We used two, one yard pieces for each blanket. You can make yours bigger, but I don’t suggest going smaller. This is a good size for a lap blanket or baby blanket.
So the blankets don’t end up too long and skinny, I cut each piece to be about 48 inches x 36 inches. Lay both pieces that you are using on top of each other, wrong sides together, and make sure they line up. Next cut a 2 x 2 inch inch square out of each corner.
Now you want to cut two inch long slits that are one inch apart, like the photo below. It helps to have a long yardstick for this part. Do this on all four sides of the blanket.
Fold each of the fringe pieces in half, and cut a small slit in the middle. If you want your blanket to lay flatter and/or have a little bit of a tidier edge, you can also make your slit closer to the end of the tab. Not too close, or it might rip through. I recommend experimenting with the look of the “braid” on some scraps first.
Now for the “braiding” part. It’s not really braiding, more like crocheting, and it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Basically you want to take the fringe piece to the left and put it through the hole on the fringe piece to the right. Pull it though, and that becomes the next hole that you use. Make sure you grab both layers of the blanket and treat them as one. If this is confusing at all, watch the video at the top of this post. It will show you the entire process. (If you are using an ad blocker, you might need to turn it off to see the video.)
When you get to the end, separate the two layers of the last piece of fringe. Put one of the layers through the starting hole.
Use the two layers of fringe to tie a double knot and then tuck it into the inside of the blanket.
That’s it! A completely no-sew fleece blanket with a braided edge!
Take a look at these other posts:
How to make a Fleece Blanket from Scraps
20 Things to Make with Fleece Scraps
How to Make a Blanket for a Baby
How to Make a Tie Blanket from Fleece
Jacquelin Wiggins says
This is brilliant!!! Thank you for sharing
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Thank you! So glad you like it!
Antoinette mcdonald says
What are the measurements for a baby blanket that you would recommend ?.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I think the measurements we used for the lap blankets would be fine for a baby blanket. You could go as big as a yard and a half of fabric, but I wouldn’t go over two yards.
Lov2quilt says
What a great finish. Thanks for sharing.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Thank you!
Christine says
Love this. I will do this for my next blanket! Thanks for this.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Thanks! So glad you like it! 😀
Meridel says
I love this too! Much nicer than the tied ones!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Thanks Meridel! I think it looks much better than the tied ones too! 🙂
Abigail Martinez says
Please email me the directions. It’s a long reason why, just a few problems trying to get the directions the usual way. PLEASE
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Just emailed them to you. 🙂
Pat says
That’s much nicer looking. Going to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Maureen says
Really like this edging. Not a fan of the fringed edge but love this edge. Not sure if I will be making one but am so glad you shared this.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Thank you so much!
Glenda Hyde says
Wow ! This is AWESOME ! GOD BLESS & THANK YOU SO MUCH _ Glenda
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
You’re welcome! Thank YOU for the comment! 😀
Madge says
I have tried this method and had a problem. The blanket pulled up and cupped at the edges. I like the look of these, can you help me to get this finish right, please? Thanks so much.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Mine curled up a little on the edges too, and I was okay with it. I gave the blanket a little stretch, and it layed flatter. I think if you put the little slits closer to the ends of the fringe, it would lie flatter too.
Stacy Foster says
Hello,
I am looking for a craft to do for my son’s teachers. This looks very doable. How does the braid hold up in the wash. I would hate to give this as a gift and it fall apart after a couple of washes.
Thank you,
Stacy
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I didn’t keep the ones I made, but I imagine they would hold up just as well (if not better) than the tied blankets. My kids have tied ones that have been washed a lot, and they are just fine. It’s not really a braid, more of a crochet.
Linda EARL says
Hi,
I use the braid method to make fleece ottoman covers for my daughters 3 cats !
It washes perfectly,
I don’t do the fringe look
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
What a great use for it! I imagine fringe wouldn’t be very good with cats. Thanks for letting us know that it works for this kind of thing.
Natalie says
I’ve been doing this for years as a way to finish a single piece of fleece. I use a button at the end (i decide where the end may be). It makes a really cute decorative edging for a scarf. And while sewing the button in place is sewing, its just a small amount.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Oh, that sounds really cute! Thank you for sharing!
GK says
So excited for this! I really dislike the feel and look of the knitted ones, this is so much classier! Bought fleece today!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Yay! Hope it turns out for you! It looks so much better!
Nokuthula says
I love this and it was quit easy for me to learn. Apparently in Zimbabwe where I am fleece isa bit scarce especially prints.
Would love to have more,
Thank you again for sharing a brilliant idea was actually looking for something to do and raise school fees for my 2 kids
Denise says
Will this work to make pillow covers with fleece?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I’ve never made pillow covers, but if you can do it with the tied blankets, I assume you can do it with this. It’s two layers, and the edges are secure.
Lynda G says
I must be doing something wrong because I can’t get it to work.
Whenever I get to about the 4th loop it comes apart.
Any suggestions?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Oh no, that’s frustrating! It definitely shouldn’t be able to come apart! Make sure you are moving both layers of the blanket at the same time. Once you pull a tab through, that becomes the new one that you use for the hole. I know it’s hard to explain with words and photos. Maybe you can find a video on youtube that can show you how to do it.
Becky says
When do you turn it right side out? I read thru directions couple of times but can’t figure it out. You lay pieces together with ‘wrong’ side facing. Cut slits and start crocheting edges. What’d I miss?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
It should be “wrong sides go together”, so the ugly parts on the inside and pretty parts on the outside. So it should be right side out the entire time. No turning necessary. 😀
Linda Champion says
I love this idea! I have been making fleece blankets for years. I made the tie knots and sewing the edge to make a braided edge. I have made a 2 yd and a I yd blanket so quickly I cant wait to buy more fleee. Thanks again. Nana
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
So glad you like this method! I like it a lot better than tying too. 🙂
Shea says
I tried making this after seeing a little video of it on Facebook. I don’t know what I have done wrong but the braids are messy. Am I supposed to turn them in a certain way to make them neat as I am making it or is it supposed to look somewhat messy?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
I just posted my own video that might help. Watch how I turn the tabs while braiding and maybe that will help. It still turns out a little messy, but you can adjust it at the end to make it better. Keep in mind that it will probably get messy again when washed. You can also try making the slit a little closer to the end of each tab. That might leave less fabric to poke out and make it messy.
Sally E. Goff says
I have a machine,{ Singer treadle} but it needs work. SO this is GREAT no sewing !
Thank you so much.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Yes, so much easier without having to sew! Glad you found it useful. 🙂
Anita Profitt says
There isn’t a video at the top of the page. It is a blank rectangle
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Sorry it isn’t working for you. Do you have an ad blocker on? That could be causing it. I forgot to mention that in the post that you might need to disable ad blockers to see the video. If that doesn’t work, here’s a link to my YouTube channel with the video: https://www.youtube.com/c/cutesycrafts
Diane Quinlan says
I am so happy you posted a video using this method of making the fleece blanket. I want to make blankets for the Linus Project and I know they only allow single layer blankets. Does this work using only one blanket? I bought a lot of fleece last year that was on sale. I don’t mind making two layer blankets, and I should contact them to see if it would be ok. I am curious as to whether one layer would work. Thank you, again, for doing the video. I really appreciate it!❤️
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
So glad you like it. I think this would definitely work for a single layer blanket! I’d do a little test on some scraps to see if you like it first. The only problem I think you will run into is hiding the knot at the end. You could either add a little sewing to keep it secure of just have a knot that shows.
Carla says
Thank you for your detailed instructions! I had looked at several other tutorials, but could not figure out how it was done!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
Oh, that makes me so happy to hear! I’m glad I could help you figure it out!
Ofelia says
Will the braid hold after the blanket has been washed. How are they kept tight? I would think the braid comes apart since the pieces are so short.
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts says
The way it’s done is more of a crochet than a braid. It just looks braided. It should hold together fine in the wash. I might get a little messier, but it shouldn’t come apart.