How to Make a No Sew Fleece Blanket for Kids (Easy & Fun!)

How to Make a No Sew Fleece Blanket for Kids

To make a no sew fleece blanket for kids, you buy two pieces of fleece fabric, layer them together, cut fringe strips around all four edges, and tie each pair of strips into knots. That's genuinely it. No sewing machine, no needle, no thread. Start to finish, it takes about 45 minutes, and kids as young as seven can help with the tying part. I made three of these last December as holiday gifts, and they were the most-loved things under the tree.

These blankets are warm, durable, and completely washable. The tied fringe actually holds up better than you'd expect through countless wash cycles. Pick the right fabric and you'll have something that lasts for years.

What You Need

Gather everything before you sit down. It makes the whole process faster.

• 1.5 yards of fleece fabric (top pattern, like animals or stars)
• 1.5 yards of coordinating solid fleece fabric (bottom layer)
• Sharp fabric scissors (the sharper the better)
• A ruler or quilting ruler
• A fabric marker or chalk
• A cutting mat or cardboard to protect your table
• Binder clips or straight pins to hold the layers together

For a lap blanket or a toddler blanket, 1.5 yards works great. For a bigger kid or a throw-size blanket, go up to 2 yards on each piece. Fleece typically comes 60 inches wide off the bolt, which gives you plenty of room.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Wash and dry both pieces of fleece before you start. Fleece doesn't shrink much, but washing removes any sizing from the store and softens the fabric right away.
• Lay the solid fleece flat on your work surface, wrong side up. Place the patterned fleece on top, right side up. Line up all four edges as evenly as you can. Clip the layers together along the edges with binder clips so nothing shifts while you work.
• Cut a 4-inch square from each of the four corners. This removes the bulk so your corner ties sit flat and look tidy. Use your ruler to measure and your fabric marker to mark the squares before you cut.
• Along one edge, cut fringe strips that are 4 inches deep and 1 inch wide, all the way across. Work through both layers at the same time so each top strip lines up with a bottom strip. Repeat on all four sides.
• Remove the binder clips as you go around each side.
• Starting at any corner, pick up the top and bottom strip in the same position, hold them together, and tie a basic overhand knot. Pull it snug but not so tight that the fabric bunches. Move to the next pair and repeat all the way around.
• When you finish the last knot, give the blanket a gentle shake and lay it flat. Check that all the knots are snug and none of the fringe is twisted.

That's your blanket. Seriously, it's done.

Tips for the Best Results

Use sharp scissors. Dull scissors drag through fleece and make your fringe strips uneven and ragged. If you're cutting with the kids, let them handle the tying while you handle the cutting.

Cut your fringe strips slightly wider if little hands will be doing the knotting. A 1.5-inch strip is easier for small fingers to grip and tie. Keep the depth at 4 inches so there's enough length to work with.

Fleece is a knit fabric and it doesn't fray, which is why this project works without sewing. Don't use woven fabric as a substitute. Woven fabric will unravel at the edges without a sewn hem, and you'll end up with a mess.

If your fleece pieces are slightly different sizes after washing, trim them down together so they match exactly. Mismatched edges make uneven fringe.

Fun Variations to Try

Once you've made one, you'll want to make more. Here are a few ways to switch it up.

Personalized blanket: Use a fabric marker made for fleece to write the child's name along the bottom edge before you tie. Iron-on letters on the top layer also work well.

Theme blankets: Match the fabric to the kid's current obsession. Dinosaurs, space, unicorns, sports teams. Most fabric stores carry licensed character fleece in the quilting section.

Matching set: Make a smaller 1-yard version as a doll or stuffed animal blanket to go with the full-size one. Kids love that.

Double-knotted fringe: Instead of one overhand knot, tie two. It creates a chunkier edge and holds more securely through washing.

Great for Gifting

A no sew fleece blanket is one of the best handmade gifts for kids because it looks polished and feels genuinely cozy, even though it takes less than an hour to make. Pack it into a basket with a small stuffed animal or a book, roll it up and tie it with a ribbon, or just give it as is. There's no wrong way to give something this warm.

If you're making several at once for a class gift or a craft night, cut all the pieces first in a batch, then move to the tying. Assembly-line style cuts your total time down significantly.

These also work well as a group craft project. Birthday parties, scout troops, and classroom holiday parties are all good fits. Set out pre-cut fleece pairs and even younger kids can tie the knots with a little help.