Easy No Tie Fleece Blanket Sewing Tutorial

If you are looking for a last-minute handmade gift, I’ve got an idea and tutorial for you. These no-tie polar fleece blankets are so easy you can make them in an hour!  

Not only are these blankets fast to make, but they also require only 3 yards of fleece (which you can frequently find on sale), so they are inexpensive!  

You’ve got time to whip out a few before Christmas!  They are also great if you want a project that your kids can make with you.

We whipped out three of these on Friday night. My 10-year-old daughter ended up helping with everything except the sewing. It was great to have an extra set of hands to clip all the fringe.

A few years ago, we made knot fringe fleece blankets. The only problem with them was that as you tied your knots, the blanket got all out of square and kind of wonky-looking. I was trying to think of a way to prevent this from happening and realized I could stitch a box into the center of the blanket to keep it squared up.

I made one of these last year for my husband (with University of Louisville fleece), and it’s been a great blanket. It was our “go-to” stadium blanket for football season.

This year I was making them for a few older girls.  I went with solid colors and a simple dot hoping for a more “grown up” feel.

As a finishing touch, I added their initials with applique.

No-Tie Fleece Blanket Supplies

• 1 1/2 yards each of 2 colors of fleece.
• A scrap of fleece large enough for an initial – I just bought 1 3/4 yds of one color of fleece instead of 1 1/2
• Walking foot for your sewing machine
• Sharp Scissors
• Matching thread
• 5″ quilting ruler
• Heat n Bond Lite for the Applique

Step One: Layer the Fleece

Lay out one of your 1 1/2 yd fleece cuts on a large table or the floor. Tape down the corners. Get out all the wrinkles and puckers. (kids are good at helping with this part)

If desired, spray a little spray basting in the center of the fleece.

Lay down the second piece of fleece on top of the first. If you are using a fleece with a “side,” you will have the wrong sides together.

Step Two: Trim to Size

Use your scissors to remove the selvage edges and ensure that the 2 pieces of fleece are the exact same size.

Using your quilting ruler, measure in 5″ from each side of the blanket.  Pin at 5″ in all around to give yourself a stitching line.

Step Three: Sew

I recommend marking your stitching line with chalk if you are new to sewing.

Using the walking foot on your machine, stitch around the entire blanket along the 5″ lines you just pinned.  Try to keep the blanket as flat as possible as you stitch it.

Step Four: Cut the Fringe

Using scissors, trim the fringe approximately every 2″ around the entire blanket. Stop well short of your stitching line.

Step Five: Print the Applique Letter

To create a monogram applique with the fleece, print out your letter.  I used Times New Roman font at 800 pts in Word.

Lay your letter upside down and trace it onto your Heat n Bond Lite (use a light box or a bright window). Your letter will be reversed.

Step Six: Cut out the Applique

Trim around your heat n bond lite and using a pressing cloth, iron onto your scrap fleece.

Lay your letter on your blanket in the corner. Remove the backing of the heat n bond and press the letter onto the blanket using a pressing cloth.

Stitch around the edge of the letter.

If desired, on the back of the blanket, use small scissors. Trim out the inside of the letter you just stitched. Cut out ONLY your blanket’s back fabric, leaving the top fabric showing through.