How to Make a No-Sew Baby Blanket with Minky Fabric
After I wrote my post on how to make no-sew fleece blankets, it got me thinking about what other fabrics I could use to make baby blankets. I’ve always loved the look and feel of minky fabric for babies, and I discovered that it is also a type of fabric that doesn’t fray. Perfect for making a no-sew baby blanket! The minky fabric is so soft and warm. I love it! Be aware that it will shed a lot when you cut it. I recommend giving it a good shake after you do all of your cutting. Aren’t the elephants cute?!
To make a no sew baby blanket, you’ll need:
- 2 yards of minky fabric (1 yard of each color)
- sharp scissors
- ruler or yard stick
These are all the same steps I used in my post on how to make no-sew fleece blankets with a braided edge. I created a video that you can watch below. If you are using an ad blocker, you may need to turn it off to watch it. In the video I cut the slits more in the middle of the tabs. You’ll want to cut closer to the end of each tab. See my instructions below.
So the blankets don’t end up too long and skinny, I cut each piece of fabric 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 up about 1/4 of the way, and cut a small slit in the middle. Don’t get too close to the end of the tab.
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.
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.
And you’ve got yourself a nice no-sew baby blanket made from minky fabric! These would make such wonderful DIY baby gifts!
I hope you enjoyed learning how to make a no-sew baby blanket with minky fabric. Check out all of my other baby crafts. If you can sew, you’ll also want to take a look at my post on how to make a baby blanket from flannel. Also take a look at these other easy homemade blanket tutorials.
Check out these other posts:
How to Make No-Sew Fleece Blankets with a Braided Edge
Easy Baby Quilt from Receiving Blankets
You’ll Also Like:
So I’m planning to make one of these, but throw size. Do you think it’d be necessary to spray an adhesive to the sides I’m sticking together?
I’m wanting to make 3 of these braided now-sew blankets. I have pretty much zero experience with projects like this except for making the no-sew pillows made from rugs using gorilla hot glue. The fabric I found is called “BUBBLE Microfiber Fleece Fabric”. Can I use this fabric to make the minky blankets & if so should I use the same fabric for both sides (which sounds expensive) or do you recommend a different fabric for the backside?
I just now found this kind of fabric at Hobby Lobby, it’s on sale ( reg.$9.99 a yard for $5.99). I don’t even know if this is a good deal or not. It’s on-line & I don’t see if it comes off a roll or not. Do you mind this beginner out?
I’ve never heard of that fabric before. This method will work on anything that doesn’t fray, so maybe test that first. You can use a different fabric for each side if you want.
Excellent video. About to make my first braided baby blanket 💕
Minky 100% frays and falls apart! I do Sew Lush fleece on one side which is minky and I do Luxe Fleece. I braid it and literally have to hand sew the braid. However it is worth it! The Sew Lush (minky feeling side) NEVER EVER gets old and not soft! It’s a lot of work but it is worth it!
Can you use Fleece and regular Minky for the braided blankets ?
You can use either. Not sure if you can use them together, but I don’t see why not.
Hi there. I’m about to make a no sew blanket using soft minky fabric. I’m going to braid for the first time and I’m going to use your instructions. =)
I’ve done the tied knots before, but never braided. Worst case scenario, I’m wondering if I HAVE TO do the braiding method, or can I also do the tie method with the soft minky fabric?
I know you said it doesn’t fray except for when it’s first cut, so is that why braiding is better than tying?
I think you could do it either way. The only thing I can think of is the minky is less stretchy and a little more slippery, so it might be harder to tie and stay tied. Maybe experiment on a scrap first.
So excited to make some of these blankets. So cool. Thanks!!
I wanted to make this for my 1 year old with some cuddle luxe minky fabric I found. Is there any other type of fabric you recommend I could put with this to make it a bit more breathable? Or do you recommend both pieces to be minky?
You can only use fabric that won’t fray. The only other fabric I’ve tried is fleece, but I don’t know if that would make it any more breathable.
I was gifted some fabric that I thought was minky, but I am not so sure anymore. It’s super soft and you can see the pattern on both sides (one more vibrant than the other), but when I tried to make a blanket using this method, the printed side tabs just kept falling apart…. (I backed it with some minky solid material). Any idea what I’m working with so my second attempt can be more successful?
Like the fabric shredded and fell part. Maybe it wasn’t minky? It has to be a fabric that won’t fray.
I’m having a similar problem and the tabs that I cut to make the braided edge are ripping and the small cut. Not sure that I have a solution and hate to waste the fabric.
Are you using fleece or minky?
Can you mix regular fleece and minky fleece? I found two patterns I like but one is minky and one is not.. I haven’t been able to find any information on this.
I think you should be able to. I would probably pre-wash and dry before cutting anything though. That way if one shrinks more thank the other, you don’t end up with a mess.
@Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts,
My husband and I just finished watching your video. Hopefully we’re successful in doing the no sew baby blanket for my cousin’s baby girl to arrive in October. We’ll get materials tomorrow. Thank you for the video.
Good luck!
I like the elephant blanket
Hi ibknow this post is from January last year but would you happen to remember where you got the elephant print from?
It was from Joann Fabric
Could you do this with fleece? Do you think it would come out S nice?
Yes, I originally made blankets like this with fleece. Here’s the link: https://cutesycrafts.com/2018/01/how-to-make-no-sew-fleece-blankets-with-braided-edge.html
Very cute? But does it fall apart in the washer or dryer?
It shouldn’t. That last knot secures it and minky doesn’t fray.
Where did you find the elephant minky?
Joanns
Wash before cut or no?
I usually don’t, but you can. I feel like it’s easier to cut and line everything up correctly before you wash.
This is some cute dial where did u get both of the fleece material at. I’m doing my baby’s room in this
Thank you! I got the elephant minky fabric from Joann Fabric.
That’s what I thought too! LOL. And I was looking at your fabric thinking those are elephants not monkeys. Do you think this technique would work using just one layer of fleece?
It would work, but it might not look as nice. I’d try on a scrap of fleece first.
Love making blankets
Can I use any kind of material to make the braided blanket with monkey material?
It has to be material that won’t fray when cut. Minky or fleece work best.
Thank you! I’m glad you knew I meant Minky not monkey, I just seen that! Autocorrect got me again!
I admit, I thought you wanted to make a monkey print blanket out of some other fabric at first. Haha!
Does it unravel when washed though?
It shouldn’t. Minky doesn’t fray, and that last knot keeps it together.