Let's Get Cozy - Bend Nest

As the leaves change and the chilly wind begins to blow, now is the perfect time to cozy up to a fall craft that the whole family can make and enjoy together. And what better project than a warm fleece blanket? This sewing-free fleece tie blanket is super kid-friendly and easy to make! All you need are two pieces of fleece fabric, a pair of fabric scissors—or a rotary cutter and cutting mat—a ruler and pencil and a little patience.

STEP 1 – FIND FABRIC

First, go to the fabric store or order online and select two different fabrics to layer together, front and back. These days, fleece fabric comes in so many interesting colors and textile patterns, from playful puppy dog or cartoon characters to colorful shapes and fun graphic designs. You may wish to get complementary colors or just ones that your child loves, like pink and purple or themed colors such as yellow and green for the Oregon Ducks. It’s extra fun to take the kids to the fabric store and let their inner fashion designers run wild as they choose their favorites in person!

You’ll need 1½ yards of fabric per side (3 yards total) for a smaller, child-size blanket or an adult lap blanket, and 2 yards per side (4 yards total) for an adult-size blanket. The technique is the same regardless of the size, so it’s up to you how big you want your blanket to be. You can also purchase an extra ½ yard of fabric to make matching throw pillows—or go big with 2½ yards per side for an oversized blanket that fits a king-size bed.

HOT TIP: avoid choosing overly thick fleece fabric, which will be hard for tiny fingers to tie. “Anti-pill polar fleece” is your best bet!

STEP 2 – TRIM THE FABRIC

Fleece fabric purchased by the yard usually needs to be trimmed and straightened. The selvage edge—a self-finished edge that prevents it from unraveling and fraying—will also need to be cut off. While fabric scissors can work for this project, a rotary cutter will make the job quicker and easier, so it’s worth the small investment. Be sure to pick up a cutting mat, too, which protects your work surface from damage.

Start by laying one of your fabrics on the floor or kitchen table and smooth it out with your hands. Then layer the second piece of fabric on top and line them up as closely as possible. The two pieces of fabric won’t be exactly even, so this is where you trim around all four edges to better line them up. It’s OK if your cuts aren’t perfectly even, you won’t likely be able to tell once the blanket is complete.

HOT TIP: Keep in mind when cutting that the finished blanket will be about 10-12 inches smaller than the original size due to the fringe.

STEP 3 – CUT CORNERS

It might look funny at first, but the next step is to cut out a small square in each of the four corners of equal size. The cut-out square will serve as a guide for the size of the fringe, so if the edge of your square is 5 inches long your fringe length will also be that size. The square space also helps make the corners nice and neat when the ties are finished.

First, use your ruler to measure the square size in each corner and mark it with a pencil. You can make your square between 4-8 inches long, with 5-6 inches being the standard size. Next, use your handy fabric scissors or rotary tool to cut them out. Be sure to cut through both sides of the fabric!

STEP 4 – CUT THE FRINGE

Next, start cutting fringe strips along each edge of the blanket, cutting through both pieces of fabric at the same time. Each strip should be the same length as the starter square and be about 1-2 inches wide. Adults can probably just freehand cut the strips without measuring each one, but kids may need each fringe piece to be measured and marked with a ruler.

HOT TIP: as you near the end of an edge, you might end up with too little or too much fabric to make a full fringe piece that’s the same size as the others. Once you get about 18 inches from an end, you can measure the remaining space to see if it divides evenly. If not, simply adjust the size of the remaining fringes slightly to accommodate, such as making 1.4-inch fringes along the end so the final piece is neither too wide nor too narrow. (If you end up with uneven pieces at the end anyway it’s OK, the blanket will still be beautiful!)

STEP 5 – TIE THE FRINGE

Now here’s where the fun really begins–tying the fringe! Take each pair of fringe pieces, front and back, and tie them together with a simple square knot. Tie them tightly enough that it doesn’t come undone, but not so tight that the fabric pulls or scrunches. Double knots will add extra security, especially if you plan to throw the blanket in the washing machine rather than hand wash it. Continue tying knots around all four sides, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly it comes together! The satisfaction of tying that final knot will be so worth it when your kid excitedly shows off their brand-new blanket—made exclusively by them!

HOT TIP: If you want to personalize your blanket even further, consider adding fabric paint, buttons, embroidery thread or even heat-activated crystals. All of these are just fun extras if you’re feeling fancy!

If your kiddos absolutely love this project and want to make more blankets, consider donating them to charities in need. The animal shelter always needs more cozy blankets for the animals in their care, and donations can also be made to women’s shelters or to people experiencing houselessness. This is a great way to strengthen their crafting skills while helping others!

This article appears in Bend Nest Fall 2026.