How to make a no sew blanket with knit fabric! No sew blankets are popular because they’re quick and easy to make, but they tend to be in thick fleece. If you prefer more natural fibers to cuddle, I have just the tutorial for you! This is easily made in a day (could be shorter except for drying time) and makes for a quick way to add holiday decor or a fun gift!
This post was sponsored by JOANN, which means they supplied some of the materials and compensated me for my time, but all opinions are my own. Bonus, they have curbside pickup these days!
Why would anyone glue the trim on instead of sew, you say? Not everyone has a sewing machine but everyone loves crafting with fabric! I will be honest, of course, it definitely makes for a less durable blanket. I would not recommend this treatment for a kiddo’s blanket that needs to be washed and dried every few days because I simply don’t think it will hold up well. However! It is perfect for less heavy usage or draping over the back of a couch for decor.
If you’re reading this and thinking sewing would be a better fit, never fear, you can follow the same tutorial and simple sew instead of glue. Knit fabric doesn’t fray so there’s no need to worry about raw edges. Pom pom trim by itself actually washes & dries decently; the package says to baby it and air dry but my daughter has worn this Christmas dress for the entire year washing and drying it without issue!
I absolutely love these jolly holiday dogs and this blanket was super fun to make. My kids are fighting over it but I think it will be all mine; I’m hoping my kittens will curl up on my lap and bat at the balls while I work on my laptop (one of them kept photo bombing me so I thought I’d include her! This is definitely big enough for an average sized adult; if you’re looking to make a blanket for a kiddo who still chews on stuff, you could consider using ric rac or bias trim instead and avoid the poms. You could also make a matching mini book pillow to go with the blanket!
Step 1- First and foremost, PREWASH your fabric. Knit fabric in particular tends to shrink and you want it to do all the shrinking before you attach any trim! Next, carefully trim off the selvage edges on both long edges. Then fold it in half to make sure the top and bottom are cut straight (so where the fabric shop chopped it from the bolt) and trim if necessary.
Step 2- Fold your blanket in half lengthwise, then in half widthwide, giving you a square-ish shape with all raw edges aligned. Use a plate or other circular object on top and use as a guide to round the corners.
Step 3- Use a lighter or fray check to treat the short, raw edge of the pom pom trim! I don’t like the smell of fray check so I used a lighter. This prevents it from fraying.
Step 4- Use a paintbrush and smear all over the back of the pom pom trim for an inch or two.
Step 5- Press the glue-d trim down along the edge and put pressure to smoosh it down. Wonder clip every few inches and leave to dry for several hours. Then unclip, check for any gaps, and add more glue in any bare spots, reclip, and let dry for 24 hours (or whatever the bottle recommends). You’re done! Snuggle up and follow your glue’s instructions for washing & drying.