How to Make a Tied Fleece Blanket (Easy No‑Sew Tutorial)

Last updated on October 6th, 2026 at 10:58 pm

Learn how to make a tied fleece blanket with this easy no‑sew tutorial. Includes yardage, fringe sizes, step‑by‑step photos, and tips for charity blankets, kids’ crafts, and pet blankets.

Fun, no-sew method of making a fleece blanket. Learn how with this complete tied fleece blanket tutorial. This is a fun blanket to make for a group of people too.

Tied Fringe Edge Blanket

Making a fleece blanket with a tied fringe edge is an easy no-sew project.

This is a fun project for kids and teens to make. It is a no-sew way to give a personalized gift to someone. My daughter, her friends, and myself have made many of these blankets for a variety of charities and our homes. Today, we are making some no-sew blankets for adoption dogs.

Prepare Your Work Surface

I would recommend finding a hard surface large enough to complete this project. This can be a table large enough or clearing floor space large enough to lay the fleece pieces out flat.

If your floor is like mine at home, it might have some dirt or dog hair on the floor; therefore, make sure that your floor is fairly clean.

Start with a Kit or Two Pieces of Fleece

Whether you’ve purchased a kit or simply want to start with a few pieces of fabric, these directions can be used for both to make a warm, no-sew tie blanket out of two pieces of fleece.

Use Any Size of Fleece

The blanket pictured is made from 2 pieces of 2 yards of fleece. I gave this one to my son-in-law. The dog charity blankets are made from 1 1/2 yards of fleece for a smaller lap-sized blanket.

No matter what size you work up, the techniques are all the same. Just different sizes of fleece.

Materials and Tools Needed

Materials

• Fleece. Two pieces the same size. This can be coordinating print or print on one side and a coordinating solid color on the other side
• For the small lap-size blanket shown for the dog charity, you will need 1.5 yards of each piece of fleece. This would also be a great size for a large baby blanket.
• For a larger blanket like the one I made for my son-in-law, you will need 2 yards of fleece. If you are making this for someone taller, certainly feel free to get larger pieces of coordinating fleece.

Tools

• Ruler. It is nice to have a solid ruler – not a tape measure. It is easier to lay ontop of the fabric and accurately measure.
• Measuring Square. I like to use a 6 X 6 inch quilters measuring square for cutting the corners. You can get one for yourself here.
• Scissors

Age Appropriate for Project

This blanket is an appropriate project for ages 8 years and up. However, for the younger person, I would have an adult supervising and helping to make sure that this project is completed safely. It will take just a few hours to make from start to finish.

Preparing the Fleece

Fleece almost always needs to be trimmed and straightened before the project can be started. At the very least, the selvage edge should be removed. In the photo below, the selvage is there yet and it has holes in it and is not as nice as the rest of the yard of fleece.

The photo below shows the fleece with the selvage edge removed. Notice how much nicer it looks and how flat the material lays after the trimming.

Fringe Size Options

Just as the size of the fleece for the blanket can be any size you want, so can the fringe ties for the blanket. Here are some popular options. The blankets shown in the photos are all made today using 6 inches long X 2 inches wide fringe strips.

• 4 inches long X 1 inch wide
• 5 inches long X 1.5 inches wide
• 6 inches long X 1 inch wide
• 6 inches long X 2 inches wide
• This can be even 8 inches long if that is your desire. Be creative with what works for you.

Keep in mind that the finished blanket will appear about 10 to 12 inches smaller than the size you cut because of the fringe!

Let’s Start the Tie Fleece Blanket

Start out by laying the piece of fleece that will be the back of your blanket, right side down, on your work surface. Smooth out the piece of fleece with your hands.

Next, lay the piece of fleece that will be the front of your blanket, right side up, on top of the first piece of fleece. Again, smooth out the piece of fleece so it lies flat.

Measure a square at each corner that is the same length as what you want the fringe to be. The sample fringe is 6 inches long, so the square is 6 inches from each side in the corner. The square cut out in each corner needs to be the same length as the fringe length you choose to make.

Cut out the Corner Squares

Cut through both pieces of fleece, trimming it to whatever size you want your blanket to be and squaring up the edges. The cuts do not have to be perfectly even, but they should be relatively straight. Reminder: I am cutting out a 6 inch square of the corner because I plan on having my cuts along the edges to be 6 inches long.

Repeat cutting out the square of fleece for the other three corners.

Cut Out the Blanket Fringe

Now start making the fringe along each edge of the fleece. Make sure to cut through both thicknesses of fleece. Reminder: Each strip should be the same length as your starter square and anywhere from 1 inch to 2 inches wide. The sample is 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.

The last measurement for the fringe on each side may not come out exactly to the width you have cut the rest of the strips. I make the last cut so that the two pieces are close to the rest of the fringe strips on that side of the blanket. They may not be exact; however, once the blanket is tied, it will not be noticeable. No worries.

Tying the Blanket

It’s time to tie the top and bottom fleece together. Hold a piece of top fringe and bottom fringe together and Tie a Square Knot. Not sure how to tie a Square Knot? Here is a step-by-step tutorial on Tying a Square Knot.
Tie each knot so it is tight, but try not to pull at the fabric too much.

These No Sew Blankets can be done as a group activity for young people. In this photo, two people are working on a blanket on the floor together. It makes it fun and quick work.

Completing the No Sew Fleece Blanket

Continue tying the pieces of fleece together until you have worked your way all around the blanket. Your fleece tied blanket is now done.

Here are a Few Photos of the Completed No Sew Blankets

As you can see, our Corgi dog thinks that this no sew fleece blanket is just fine. It is doggy approved. I hope that you enjoyed this tied fleece blanket tutorial.

How many yards of fleece for a tie blanket?

For most tied fleece blankets, you’ll need two pieces of fleece in the same size. The yardage depends on who the blanket is for:

• Baby blanket: 1 to 1.5 yards per layer
• Child blanket: 1.5 yards per layer
• Adult throw: 2 yards per layer
• Extra‑large blanket: 2.5 yards per layer
• Pet blanket: 1 to 1.5 yards per layer

If you’re making a double‑layer blanket, simply buy two equal cuts. Most fleece bolts are 58–60 inches wide, which gives you a nice, cozy finished size without extra trimming.

What size tie blanket should I make?

The best blanket size depends on the recipient and how the blanket will be used. Here are common finished sizes (after tying the fringe):

• Baby: 30″ × 40″
• Toddler: 40″ × 50″
• Child: 50″ × 60″
• Adult throw: 60″ × 72″
• Tall adult / oversized: 72″ × 90″
• Dog or cat: 24″ × 30″ or 30″ × 36″

Remember that tying the fringe reduces the blanket dimensions by 4–6 inches on each side, depending on your fringe length. If you want a specific finished size, choose fleece cuts slightly larger to compensate.

How long should the fringe be?

Most tie blankets use fringe that is 4–6 inches long. Shorter fringe creates a tighter, neater edge, while longer fringe gives a more dramatic look.

Here’s a quick guide:

• Baby blankets: 3–4 inch fringe
• Kids & adults: 4–5 inch fringe
• Extra‑large blankets: 5–6 inch fringe

Cut your fringe evenly around all four sides for the best finish. If your fleece stretches a lot, stick to the shorter end of the range to keep the knots secure.

Do you wash fleece before making a tie blanket?

You do not need to wash fleece before making a tie blanket. Fleece doesn’t shrink, fray, or lose shape, so it’s safe to work with straight off the bolt.

However, you may want to wash it first if:

• The blanket is for a baby or someone with sensitive skin
• The fleece has a store odor or lint from the cutting table
• You prefer the feel of pre‑washed fabric

If you choose to wash it, use cold water, low heat, and no fabric softener (it can reduce the fleece’s softness over time).

Troubleshooting Your Tied Fleece Blanket

Even the simplest no‑sew projects can run into a few hiccups. Here are the most common tie‑blanket issues and how to fix them quickly.

1. My fleece layers won’t stay lined up

This usually happens when one fleece piece stretches more than the other.

Fix it:

• Smooth both layers from the center outward.
• Re‑clip or pin the edges before cutting the fringe.
• If one side still shifts, trim the edges so both layers match again before tying.

Prevention: Choose anti‑pill fleece or blizzard fleece, which stretch less and stay aligned better.

2. My fringe lengths aren’t even

Uneven fringe is one of the most common tie‑blanket frustrations.

Fix it:

• Use a ruler or cutting mat to trim the longest pieces to match the shortest ones.
• If only one side is uneven, trim that side before tying.

Prevention: Cut fringe with a rotary cutter and ruler instead of scissors for consistent width and length.

3. My knots look bulky or uneven

Bulky knots happen when the fringe is too wide or too long.

Fix it:

• Untie the knot and trim the fringe slightly narrower.
• Retie using a tight, simple knot (square knots work best).

Prevention: Aim for fringe strips that are 1–1.5 inches wide and 4–5 inches long for most blankets.

4. The blanket edges curl or ripple

Curling usually means the fleece has a lot of stretch or the knots are tied too tightly.

Fix it:

• Loosen the knots slightly.
• Steam the edges lightly (don’t press hard — fleece can melt).
• Smooth the blanket flat and let it rest overnight.

Prevention: Avoid pulling the knots super tight. A snug knot is enough.

5. The corners don’t look right

Corners can bunch or twist if the fringe isn’t cut correctly around the curve.

Fix it:

• Trim the corner into a gentle curve before cutting fringe.
• Make sure the fringe strips around the corner are the same length as the rest of the blanket.

Prevention: Clip the layers together at each corner before cutting to keep everything aligned.

6. My blanket feels stiff or heavy

This happens when the fleece is very thick or the fringe is too long.

Fix it:

• Shorten the fringe by ½–1 inch.
• Retie the knots more loosely.

Prevention: Choose medium‑weight fleece for a softer, more flexible blanket.

7. The selvage edge is showing

Some fleece has a printed or fuzzy selvage that can peek through if not trimmed.

Fix it:

• Trim the selvage off before cutting fringe.
• If you’ve already tied the blanket, carefully trim the exposed selvage without cutting the knots.

Prevention: Always remove the selvage before starting — it gives a cleaner, more professional finish.

8. My blanket shrank after washing

Fleece doesn’t shrink, but knots can tighten and pull the blanket in slightly.

Fix it:

• Gently stretch the blanket back into shape.
• Steam lightly if needed.

Prevention: Wash on cold, dry on low, and avoid fabric softener.

If you loved this post, please share. It helps to show me that these types of posts are helpful – thank you!

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