"We're making these at a women's retreat next month and have foster care agencies in our area that we will donate them to. We love this opportunity!"
Maria, Elizabethtown, KY
What to do with your finished blankets
Exceptional blanket quality guidelines
Fringe cutting template to print
If you can't sew, knit or crochet, you can still make a lasting gift for a child in foster care by creating "no-sew" fleece blankets from our fleece blanket kits. Order kits: To pick up. To be shipped to you.
Video: How to make a fleece blanket
Our kits (shown here) contain pre-measured and cut fleece (1.5 yards) with sample fringe cut at each of 2 opposite ends of the blanket, our special tag already attached to a back corner, a fringe-cutting template and instructions.
Video: How to make a fleece blanket
Our kits (shown here) contain pre-measured and cut fleece (1.5 yards) with sample fringe cut at each of 2 opposite ends of the blanket, our special tag already attached to a back corner, a fringe-cutting template and instructions.
You can make an MVOB fleece blanket with fleece that you purchase and by purchasing our special tags. You will need to remove the selvedges from two sides of the fabric. A little sewing is needed. You will need to sew the tag onto the blanket if you will be donating the finished blankets in your community. Please follow the guidelines below for purchasing fleece and making a knotted fleece blanket.
You do not need to wash your completed blankets before donating them unless they have come in contact with pet hair or were made in an environment where someone smokes.
Guidelines for purchasing your own fleece
Fringe cutting template to print If you're purchasing fleece, this template will make cutting fringe easy!
How to make a fleece blanket from our kit
Oops! Things to Avoid
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR FLEECE BLANKETS:
You do not need to wash your completed blankets before donating them unless they have come in contact with pet hair or were made in an environment where someone smokes.
Guidelines for purchasing your own fleece
Fringe cutting template to print If you're purchasing fleece, this template will make cutting fringe easy!
How to make a fleece blanket from our kit
Oops! Things to Avoid
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR FLEECE BLANKETS:
- Use only one layer of fleece.
- Cut fringe at TWO opposite ends, not all four sides.*
- Use the 1" x 4" fringe cutting template we provide to avoid uneven-length fringe.
Correctly made fleece blanket
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Use our 1" x 4" fringe cutting template to avoid cutting fringe of different lengths.
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- Tie one knot in each fringe. Do not tie fringe together.
- Special tag is already attached when you purchase our blanket kit.
- On the tag, fill in YOUR first name on the SECOND line after "Handmade by."
- On the tag, leave the top line BLANK for the child to complete.
- On the THIRD LINE of the tag, add a short note to the child who receives your blanket. Examples
Our kits contain fleece in a wide variety of colors, themes and patterns appropriate for children & youth.
Blankets should not have any embellishments such as pockets, beads, zippers, buttons, ribbons or other items that are more than 4" long. All blankets should be machine washable and dryable.
Blankets do not need to be washed before you donate them unless they came in contact with pet hair or were made in a home where an individual smokes.
Guidelines for purchasing your own fleece
We use slightly thicker fleece in our kits so that our blankets will hold up to being well-used and loved by a child living in foster care. How thick? You should not be able to see light through it when you hold it up to a window.
A note about kits packaged with thin fleece meant for double layer blankets
These thinner fleece kits may be a good value, but if you choose to purchase one, please remember that the thin fleece must be made into a double layer blanket. The fabric is not thick enough to make into two acceptable single blankets. We are not able to give single blankets made with thin fleece to the children we serve.
We use slightly thicker fleece in our kits so that our blankets will hold up to being well-used and loved by a child living in foster care. How thick? You should not be able to see light through it when you hold it up to a window.
A note about kits packaged with thin fleece meant for double layer blankets
These thinner fleece kits may be a good value, but if you choose to purchase one, please remember that the thin fleece must be made into a double layer blanket. The fabric is not thick enough to make into two acceptable single blankets. We are not able to give single blankets made with thin fleece to the children we serve.
Size, fabric patterns, cutting fringe, attaching the tag
If you purchase your own fleece, please choose from the hundreds of child-friendly patterns, colors and themes that are available. Avoid themes related to violence or war (guns, knives, soldiers, etc.), drugs/alcohol, or logos/images related to causes (such as cancer ribbons).
Purchase 1.5 yards of fleece for one blanket. Use the entire width of the fabric (except for the selvedges) to make your blanket.
To take the guesswork out of cutting fringe on two sides of your purchased fleece, here is a fringe cutting template you can print.
"Almost-no-sew." When you purchase your own fleece and our special tags, you will need to sew the tag to a back corner of the blanket. If you do not have a sewing machine, the sewing can be done by hand.
If you purchase your own fleece, please choose from the hundreds of child-friendly patterns, colors and themes that are available. Avoid themes related to violence or war (guns, knives, soldiers, etc.), drugs/alcohol, or logos/images related to causes (such as cancer ribbons).
Purchase 1.5 yards of fleece for one blanket. Use the entire width of the fabric (except for the selvedges) to make your blanket.
To take the guesswork out of cutting fringe on two sides of your purchased fleece, here is a fringe cutting template you can print.
"Almost-no-sew." When you purchase your own fleece and our special tags, you will need to sew the tag to a back corner of the blanket. If you do not have a sewing machine, the sewing can be done by hand.
Remove selvedges. Before you cut fringe into your fleece, you need to remove the selvedges (machine-finished edges, different in appearance from the rest of the fabric) from two sides of the fabric.
1. Lay the fabric out flat.
2. If you wish, you can fold the fabric in half, aligning the edges so you can cut both selvedges off at once.
3. With your scissors, carefully cut along the inside edge of the selvedge, remove it from both sides of the fabric and discard.
Watch video below, How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket, to see selvedges being removed.
1. Lay the fabric out flat.
2. If you wish, you can fold the fabric in half, aligning the edges so you can cut both selvedges off at once.
3. With your scissors, carefully cut along the inside edge of the selvedge, remove it from both sides of the fabric and discard.
Watch video below, How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket, to see selvedges being removed.
The selvedge on your fabric is a machine-finished edge with a different texture and appearance than the rest of the fabric. It frequently contains printing. The two selvedges need to be removed with scissors or rotary cutter before you cut fringe in two sides of your fabric.
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The selvedges on this fleece were not removed before the fringe were cut, leaving an uneven end on each piece of fringe.
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How to make a fleece blanket -- a lasting gift for a child in foster care
Here are some of our faithful Blanket Angels with the fleece blankets they made.
Special tags – Our fleece blanket kits include a special tag already attached to a back corner of the blanket. If you purchase your own fleece, you can order tags online, to be picked up from our workshop or shipped if you live more than 30 miles from Westerville. You can sew them to the blankets, and they will be ready for you to donate to children in foster care in your area!
It’s simple to do. Here’s how:
Leave the first line BLANK. Sign your first name with permanent marker on the second line of our special tag after the heart that says “Handmade by.” On the third line (My Special Note to You), we encourage you to add a message to the child. This will show the child in foster care who receives your blanket that someone truly made this “just for them!”
IDEAS FOR NOTES TO WRITE ON YOUR TAGS (PDF)
To sew the tag on the blanket:
The tags are sewn on the back of the blanket, near a corner, at least 2” from both edges.
You can use a straight or zigzag stitch, sewing ¼ - ½” in from all four edges of the tag. You can use white thread or thread that coordinates with the blanket color.
It’s simple to do. Here’s how:
Leave the first line BLANK. Sign your first name with permanent marker on the second line of our special tag after the heart that says “Handmade by.” On the third line (My Special Note to You), we encourage you to add a message to the child. This will show the child in foster care who receives your blanket that someone truly made this “just for them!”
IDEAS FOR NOTES TO WRITE ON YOUR TAGS (PDF)
To sew the tag on the blanket:
The tags are sewn on the back of the blanket, near a corner, at least 2” from both edges.
You can use a straight or zigzag stitch, sewing ¼ - ½” in from all four edges of the tag. You can use white thread or thread that coordinates with the blanket color.
What to do with your finished blankets
If you do not live near our workshop, we encourage you to donate your blankets directly to an agency in your area that helps children in foster care. We have made contact with at least one agency in each state in the U.S.
Check out our DELIVERING BLANKETS AGENCY LIST to find an agency near you and for suggestions and options if you cannot find a nearby agency.
If you do not live near our workshop, we encourage you to donate your blankets directly to an agency in your area that helps children in foster care. We have made contact with at least one agency in each state in the U.S.
Check out our DELIVERING BLANKETS AGENCY LIST to find an agency near you and for suggestions and options if you cannot find a nearby agency.
HoursMonday - Friday: 9 am - Noon
Closed Saturday and Sunday |
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My Very Own Blanket is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Tax ID 90-0198206 MVOB Privacy Policy
Thank you for your donation to support MVOB's mission to provide handmade blankets to children in foster care and children in need.
No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions to My Very Own Blanket.
Thank you for your donation to support MVOB's mission to provide handmade blankets to children in foster care and children in need.
No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions to My Very Own Blanket.
