Double Layered No-Sew "Braided" Fleece Blanket Tutorial

It's time to make fleece blankets again!  We always choose a child or two from the giving tree at Firecracker's school to provide Christmas gifts for.  I like to include a fleece blanket for each child among the gifts.

My single layer braided fleece blanket tutorial from last year has been so popular that I thought I'd try a new variation.  The biggest question I get asked about my first tutorial is if it works with two layers of fleece.  After a bit of experimenting, I'm happy to say that it does!

And so I present to you...The Double Layered "Braided" Fleece Blanket.

The main advantages to a braided edge on a fleece blankets are:

• The edge looks pretty classy.
• There are no uncomfortable knots to lay on.
• Less fleece is lost to the fringe, so you end up with a bigger blanket

For each blanket, I started out with 2 pieces of fleece that were each 1 1/2 yards.  (Fleece usually comes 60 inches wide on the bolt from the fabric store.)  I layered them on top of each other with the sides out that I wanted to show.

Then I trimmed off the salvages (the part on the edges of the fabric with the printing/weird edge.)

Edited to Add:  I neglected to mention you'll need to cut a 2'' square out of each corner.  (This would also happen naturally as you cut your fringe.  This picture is from doing this for a single layered blanket, but the process is the same for a double layered one.

My favorite way to mark the fringe is using painter's masking tape (available at any hardware store).  Whether I'm cutting the fringe with scissors or a rotary cutter, the firmness of the tape helps the scissors stop and keeps the fringe even.  The painter's tape is also not very sticky and comes off easily.  I tried cutting the fringe 2 inches deep and 1 1/2 inches deep.  They both work well, but I prefer the 1 1/2 inches.

When using the rotary cutter, I use the lines on the mat.  This time I didn't want to pull the mat and rotary cutter out, so I just laid my quilting ruler above the tape and used that for a guide to help me cut the fringe 1 inch wide.

Once the fringe is cut, I folded each fringe a little closer to the end than half-way, so I could cut a slit.  I did this through both layer at once.

It should be about this size.

Now you're ready for the fun part.  You can start anywhere, but I like to start in the middle of one of the sides.  Choose a fringe to start with.  I used a bent paperclip.  A crochet hook will work great too...I just don't have one that's big enough.  Stick the paperclip through the slit of your first fringe.

Now stick the paperclip through the slit of the fringe underneath...

So that it "hooks" the second fringe and you can pull it through the first fringe.

Once you've pulled it all the way through, your paperclip (or crochet hook) should already be through the slit of the second fringe, and you move on to the next fringe on the top.  Put the your paperclip through the next slit to hook the next fringe.  I always moved from right to left on my blanket, but if you're left handed, it might be easier to work left to right.

The most important thing is to ALWAYS alternate between using a fringe on the top and a fringe from the bottom.  Pretty soon it will start looking like this.

When you get to the corners, you just keep doing the same thing.  It will naturally curve around the corner.

Before you know it, you'll be all the way around your blanket and be left with last fringe that you've pulled through the fringe before it.  Here you'll need to cut the fringe in half, though the slit, so you've got two skinny fringes.

And use them to tie a knot around the first fringe.  Make sure to do at least a double knot...triple if the fringe is long enough.  That will be the only knot on your entire blanket.

And that's it!  The look of your braid will vary depending on the fabrics you've chosen...and will even vary on the same blanket, if you've chosen a print.

Click on an image to see a larger version.

Whether you want a single layer or double layer fleece blanket will depend on how warm you want the blanket and the look you're going for.  I decided to make double layer blankets this year because the contrast in the patterns and colors can be fun, and they'll be going to children who sometimes have a hard time staying warm at night.  Double layer blankets are also great for outdoor uses, like stadium blankets and such.  For my own kids, I actually prefer single layer fleece blankets because the double layer blankets can actually be too warm.

The two most common questions I get asked about this are:
Will the edge unravel?  No!  Each fringe is pulled through the fringe next to it, and so as long as you secure the last fringe by knotting it will or sewing it, then the "braid" cannot come undone.  Should the knot ever come undone, it could unravel slowly...but you'd notice that and just reknot it.  I've washed our blankets many times and have never had the fringe come undone at all.  (We also have some of the traditional knotted blanket that we were given by others, and some of those knots have come undone and had to be retied.)

To make a single layer fleece blanket, you use the same method, except that there's only one layer of fringe involved.  I usually make the fringe for single layer blankets about 2 inches deep and 1 inch wide.  You can also see my tutorial for them here.  I have to say that for my kids' own use, I prefer these single layer blankets because my kids get too hot with the double layer blankets.

This method also works for a Braided Fleece Scarf.  Tutorial here...

Or if you're looking for something a little different to do with fleece, you might also like the fleece fitted sheet, I made for my son last year.  I'm in the process of making another one for my daughter this year, so check back soon for a full tutorial for making one.

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