How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket (3 Easy Ways)

To make a no-sew fleece blanket, stack two pieces of fleece, cut a square out of each corner (3 inches for the slit method, 5 inches for the knotted ones), cut 1 inch wide tabs up to that same depth all the way around, then tie each top tab to the one right under it. For a throw, buy 2 yards of each fleece.

This is the gift I make when I want something that feels handmade but I only have a Saturday afternoon. It is great for birthdays, the holidays, the beginning of football season, or just as a thank you. No sewing machine, no pattern, no experience. If you can use scissors and tie a knot, you can make one, and nobody opening it on Christmas morning will believe it only took you an afternoon.

In the video I show three ways to tie the edges: slit and pull through, the balloon tie, and the double knot. Every blanket starts the same way, but the tie you choose decides how deep you cut the fringe, so pick your method before you cut. Below you will find the yardage for five sizes, the supply list, and each method step by step. Keep it open on your phone while you cut.

I’d recommend grabbing a friend for this one. When I made these, my husband and I traded off. He would cut his way around the blanket and I would tie right behind him. It was faster and a lot more fun, and we made a whole stack for family over the holidays.

• Time: an afternoon for a throw, less for a lovey or stroller blanket
• Skill level: total beginner. Kids can help with the tying.
• Cost: $15 to $25 per yard for top and bottom layer ($5 per yard of solid color and $10 to $20 per yard of print)
• Methods: slit and pull through, balloon tie, and double knot

How much fleece do you need for a tie blanket?

Fleece comes off a bolt that is about 60 inches wide, and you buy it by the yard along its length. That 60 inch width sets the limit for one side of your blanket, which is why every size below keeps one side at 60 inches or under.

You need two pieces at the ordering size, a print for the top and a solid for the bottom. The fabric cut size adds 6 inches to each side for the fringe, and the yardage already includes a few extra inches to square up the crooked cut you always get at the store.

Blanket	Finished size	Fabric cut size	Buy (60 inch wide fleece)	Cost
Lovey or security blanket	20 x 20 inches	26 x 26 inches	1 yard, 2 pieces	$15 to $25
Stroller blanket, lapghan, or small throw	30 x 40 inches	36 x 46 inches	2 yards, 2 pieces	$30 to $50
Throw blanket	50 x 60 inches	56 x 66 inches	2 yards, 2 pieces	$30 to $50
Oversized throw	60 x 80 inches	60 x 86 inches	3 yards, 2 pieces	$45 to $75
Twin blanket	60 x 90 inches	60 x 96 inches	3 yards, 2 pieces	$45 to $75

Trim off the selvages. The two bolt edges are stiff and don’t tie well, so cut them off before you start. That’s why a 60 inch side usually finishes closer to 58 or 59 inches.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to buy fleece online. No fabric store nearby? These shops sell fleece by the yard and ship to your door.

• Michaels for fleece prints and solids by the yard
• Online Fabric Store for a big range of solid and printed fleece, including anti pill
• Big Z Fabric for licensed and novelty prints (this is where the team prints live)
• Pico Textiles for custom and independent designer prints
• Amazon for precut fleece and blanket kits. Check that the listing says 60 inches wide.

What supplies do you need?

• Two pieces of fleece, the same size, using the chart above. A print on top and a solid on the bottom.
• Sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and mat
• A tape measure or tailor’s tape for the corners and the tab depth
• A long straight edge that runs the length of the blanket. A 2×4 or a 4 foot level works great, or use a paper template (see step 4).
• The printable cutting template from my free PDF guide (optional)
• Room to spread out. A clean floor, a big table, or a bed where the whole blanket lies flat.

Scissors work fine. But if you make more than one of these, get a rotary cutter. It slices through both layers at once and the long cuts go so much faster, just make sure you have cardboard or a cutting mat underneath.

How to cut the blanket

Steps 1 to 5 are the same for every blanket. The only thing that changes is the fringe depth, and that depends on how you plan to tie it.

Tie method	Corner square	Tab depth	Tab width
#1 Slit and pull through	3 x 3 inches	3 inches	1 inch
#2 Balloon tie	5 x 5 inches	5 inches	1 inch
#3 Double knot	5 x 5 inches	5 inches	1 inch

1. Lay out the fabric. Spread the bottom layer flat, right side down. Lay the top layer over it, right side up. Smooth out the wrinkles and line up the edges. Also check which side is which, because one side of the fleece is nicer than the other. (Pull on a cut edge and the fabric will naturally curl in one direction. The side it curls toward is the inside, or “wrong” side. The colors will also be more vibrant on the “right” side.)
2. Trim and square. Cut both layers together to your fabric cut size, trimming off the selvages so all four edges are straight and the layers match.
3. Cut the corners. Measure and cut a square out of all four corners through both layers. 3 inch squares for the slit method, 5 inch squares for the balloon tie and double knot.
4. Mark the fringe depth. Lay your 2×4 or level along one edge so its inside edge runs from the inner corner of one cut out square to the next. That line is how deep your tabs go. You can also use the template in our handy PDF here.
5. Cut the tabs. Working around all four edges, cut through both layers every 1 inch, from the outer edge up to your depth line. Each cut leaves a 1 inch wide pair of tabs, one on top and one on the bottom.

No long straight edge? Make a paper template or use ours from our PDF or use the image below on a regular 8½ x 11 sheet. You can also make your own by drawing a line 3 or 5 inches in from the long edge, then mark 1 inch spaces along it and cut the tabs. Lay it on the blanket edge, cut along each pre-cut mark, and slide it down as you go.

Method 1: slit and pull through (3 inch corners)

A flat, tidy edge with no knots at all. It uses the shortest fringe, so the body of your blanket stays the biggest.

1. Hold a pair of tabs together. About ½ inch from where the tab cut ends on the inside, cut a small ½ inch slit running lengthwise down the center of the tab, and through both layers.
2. Fold the top tab back toward the blanket and push the end of the bottom tab up through the slit in the top tab, then fold both tabs back down flat. Do it one more time: fold the top tab back, push the bottom tab up through the slit, and fold both flat again.
3. Pull it snug so the tab lies flat against the edge. Repeat for every tab.

Best for: a clean edge that looks store bought. Trade off: cutting all those slits adds time up front.

Method 2: the balloon tie (5 inch corners)

You tie it just like the end of a balloon. One quick, rounded knot per pair, and it goes fast once you get the rhythm. This was honestly my favorite tie. I think it looks the nicest, it is not as involved as the slit and pull through, and it shows the bottom color on top, so it looks much cleaner than the double knot.

1. Hold a top and bottom tab together as one strip.
2. Wrap the strip around your index and middle fingers to make a loop.
3. Bring the tab end back up and into the top of the loop where your finger is sticking out.
4. Tuck the ends of the tabs through the loop, slide your finger out, and pull it tight against the blanket edge.

Best for: making a stack of blankets in one sitting. Trade off: the first few take some practice before your fingers figure it out.

Method 3: the double knot (5 inch corners)

The most secure tie, with a full, fluffy fringe. This is the one I’d pick for a blanket that’s going to get washed a lot.

1. Take the top tab in one hand and the bottom tab in the other.
2. Cross them and tie a single knot, like the first step of tying a shoe. Pull it snug against the blanket edge, but not too tight or the edge will get uneven and bunchy.
3. Tie a second knot over the first and pull it tight. Repeat around the whole blanket.

Best for: first timers, kids helping, and blankets that live in the washing machine. Trade off: the knots are bulky, so it’s the least tidy edge of the three.

Method	Fringe depth	Edge look	Speed	Best for
Slit and pull through	3 inches	Flat and tidy	Slowest (extra slit cuts)	A store bought look
Balloon tie	5 inches	Rounded, clean knots	Fast once you get the rhythm	Gifts and batches (my favorite)
Double knot	5 inches	Full, fluffy, bulky	Steady and easy	First timers, kids, and lots of washing

Which one should you pick? First blanket, or making it with your kids? Double knot. Want a flat edge that looks like you bought it? Slit and pull through. Making five of them for Christmas? Balloon tie.

Finishing tips

• Tie opposite sides first. It keeps the layers from shifting. Then fill in the rest.
• Keep your tension even so the edges don’t pucker.
• Always tie a top tab to the bottom tab directly under it, and stick with one method all the way around.

Fixing common tie blanket problems

• Your edges are puckering or wavy. The knots are too tight. Loosen them so each tab sits snug against the edge without pulling it in.
• A tab ripped at the slit. The slit was too long or too close to the end of the tab. Keep slits to ½ inch. You don’t need a bit cut to smoosh the tab through. If one tears anyway, tie that pair with a double knot and nobody will notice.
• One layer has an extra tab. The layers shifted while you cut. Trim the extra tab off and tie its neighbor a little looser to cover the gap.
• The fleece pilled after washing. Look for anti-pill fleece when you buy, and wash the blanket on cold with a gentle cycle.
• You want to use cotton or flannel. Skip it for this project. Cotton and flannel fray, so the tabs fall apart over time. Stick with polyester fleece.

Turning it into a Christmas gift

Roll the blanket up tight from one short end, then tie it with a big velvet ribbon. I have a whole post on tying double bows with velvet ribbon that is perfect for this. Tuck in a mug and some hot cocoa and you have a gift that takes up a whole lap and costs a fraction of a store bought throw.

Want to make a batch? Buy all your fleece in one trip and cut every blanket before you tie any of them. Cutting is the boring part, and tying goes fast in front of a Christmas movie.

No-sew fleece blanket FAQ

How many yards of fleece do I need for a tie blanket?

You need two pieces of 60 inch wide fleece. Buy 1 yard of each for a lovey, 2 yards of each for a stroller blanket or a throw, and 3 yards of each for an oversized throw or a twin.

What is the biggest no-sew blanket you can make?

A twin, about 60 x 90 inches finished. Fleece only comes about 60 inches wide, so one side of the blanket can never be wider than the bolt.

How big should the fringe be?

Cut every tab 1 inch wide. Make them 3 inches deep for the slit and pull through method and 5 inches deep for the balloon tie or double knot, with corner squares to match.

How do you wash a fleece tie blanket?

Machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Fleece doesn’t fray, so the edges don’t need any finishing. You can skip prewashing too, since polyester fleece barely shrinks.

Is a tie blanket safe for a baby?

Use the lovey or stroller size for tummy time, the stroller, or the car seat while you are watching. Safe sleep guidance says no loose blankets or loveys in the crib for babies under 12 months, so it is not a crib blanket for a newborn.

Every week I send one email with the project I am working on, what it actually cost, and what went wrong so you can skip my mistakes. It is the stuff that never makes it into a blog post.

Rather watch than read? This whole blanket, all three tying methods, is on my YouTube channel, along with the rest of my Christmas DIYs. Subscribe so you catch the next one.

Questions about your blanket? Email me at hello@selenebuildsthings.com.

Read Next

• Tiny knit hat ornaments you can make without knowing how to knit
• How to tie a velvet double bow for wrapping gifts
• A bottle brush advent calendar to count down to gift day

Until next time,

Selene