Make a Difference Day & 10th Birthday Celebration – Part 2

October 27, 2007

Joplin Coordinator Joyce Gentzler

Joplin Coordinator Joyce Gentzler showed different types of fleece blankets and shared some other blankets made by Joplin chapter blanketeers.

fleece blanket with tulip applique

One of the easiest fleece blanket finishes is a serged edge. Cut shapes from contrasting fleece and stitch to the blanket to form a picture like the tulips in the photo to the right.

Joyce showed us a fleece blanket with a braided edge. This is a really cool finish. (See photo below.) After cutting a square out of each corner, the cut edge is folded in and stitched down. Then loops are cut all the way around the edge of the blanket and one loop is pulled through the next one to create the braided effect.

fleece blanket with braided edge fleece blanket with crochet edging

Want to finish a fleece blanket with a crocheted edge and need an easy way to make holes to crochet through? There is a special rotary cutter blade, the skip stitch blade, that makes cutting evenly spaced holes a breeze. The blade can be ordered from the Project Linus Store. Look under Sewing Notions. The handle is not included. You need a rotary cutter handle for a 45 mm blade.

fleece blanket with blanket stitch edging

If you enjoy hand sewing, you can finish the edge of a fleece blanket with a blanket stitch. Use a needle with a large eye and thread it with pearl cotton or several strands of embroidery floss.

If you want more information about making fleece blankets, a fleece instruction book is available for $7 plus shipping. Contact the chapter coordinator to order.

The Joplin chapter makes weighted blankets for autistic children. A weighted blanket gives autistic children a sense of security and allows them (and their families) to get a good night’s sleep. The blanket is made with 2 layers of fabric. Pockets are sewn to hold the "weights." Velcro is used to close the pockets around the outer edge so the weight can be removed for laundering.

weighted blanket for autistic child

Autistic children can be very curious and determined, so a stuffing that can be easily removed and replaced is needed. Old sheets from a hospital are folded to fit the pockets and be the weights in the blanket.

Storybook Quilt Made by a Joplin Blanketeer

storybook quilt

Zebra Quilt Coodinates With Storybook Quilt

zebra quilt

Return to: 10th Birthday Celebration - Part 1
Continue to: 10th Birthday Celebration - Part 3, Part 4
      Challenge Quilts - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3