The other morning I woke up and let the dogs out and I could feel the change in season. That moment when you sense the richer, more golden tones of the sun and the bite in the air that signals the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
Fall is by far my most favorite time of year, something I missed dearly while living in the land of perpetual summer. Cozy sweaters. The smell of burning leaves. The painted mountains of oranges, and golds, and reds. Hot apple cider. Knitting with purpose. And football.
Now that I’m back in my collegiate motherland, I’ll be attending every home football game and cheering joyously on the sidelines bedecked in purple and gold and all things cow. (Hey, we may be a small school, but we are dang proud of our mascot). So today’s DIY is a simple homage to this impending chilly season: The DIY No Sew Blanket. That’s right NO sewing, and wouldn’t you know that fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles! So go cozy up in the bleachers with a no-sew blankie, a mug of hot cider, and cheer your face off!
GIVEAWAY ALERT: As mentioned, we love cows in this family because it’s representative of our college mascot, so today’s giveaway is from a wonderful Etsy designer who understands that love, and many other loves, with her line of KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON posters. Enter to win a poster of your choosing by visiting the KEEP CALM SHOP and then commenting on this post to tell us your favorite poster. In addition to loving KEEP CALM AND LOVE COWS, Ash adores the KEEP CALM AND KNIT ON and Kimmy is partial to the KEEP CALM AND SAIL ON.
Materials:
- 2 pieces of fleece fabric in the colors or patterns of your choice. The pieces should be slightly larger than you’ll want the finished blanket to be. I used a basic piece of yellow fleece, and a waffled piece of purple fleece to add some texture to the blanket.
- Scissors
(Yeah, it’s so simple that even our mother made some of these for Christmas gifts a couple holidays back, and she is the antithesis of crafty).
Directions:
1. Begin by laying the two pieces of fleece on top of one another, and lining up the edges precisely. Then cut out the corners of the blanket, approximately 4″x4″ squares. Be sure to cut through both layers of fabric.
2. Next, you’ll cut “fringe” around the perimeter of the fabric. Space the cuts approximately 1.5″ apart, and cut approximately 4″ deep. Be sure that you are cutting through both pieces of fabric.
3. Once you have cut around the entire perimeter of the fabric, begin knotting the two pieces of fabric together using double knots. (Kimmy and I, as sailors, would recommend learning the square knot, but it is certainly not necessary).
4. Once the knotting is complete, you’re done! Go snuggle up in the bleachers, or under an apple orchard!
We call this photo, Waiting for Game Day.
Don’t forget to enter to win a KEEP CALM poster of your choice!
Nice and easy blanket idea!
For me, I would choose the Keep Calm and Love Dogs (with a beagle), but I have a son who would love the Keep Calm and Play Music poster.
My favorite is ‘Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake’
I love so many of them, but I would choose the Keep Calm and snap on one.
Keep calm and write on! Williams represent.
I still love the original most, keep calm and carry on. Also because it’s red
I love Keep Calm and Drink Coffee.
keep calm and love dogs…we recently just adopted a beautiful little puppy from our local shelter…
I love the keep calm and craft on but the original has also been a favorite of me – Keep calm and carry on.
I would just go with keep calm and carry on!
I love being above the world – literally! FLying is something that I greatly enjopy, so I’d have to go with Keep calm, FLY ON!
I love the Keep Calm and Drink Tea poster – it would be FAB for my kitchen since my hubby is a Brit and all.
I love the “keep calm and travel on” with the blue back ground and the Taj Mahal on top. I am never clamer then when I’m on vacation doing new and exciting things! <3
I love so many of them! I’d have to say my favorite is the Keep Calm and Ride On with the bicycle!
I love those blankets.
Agh. I don’t know what to choose. I love the “Keep Calm and Drink Coffee” and the “Keep Calm and Love Dogs” but I keep going back to the “Keep Calm and Write On” too. Those are so clever.
I personally would like the “Keep Calm & Read On” in Olive, but the “Keep Calm & Knit On” in peachy pale pink would make a fabulous!! Christmas present for my sister-in-law, who knits constantly & i do mean constantly!
the “keep calm and knit on” is my fav because I love to know. As a former scientist who spent several years doing research at the bench, I would love to see a “keep calm and search on” sign
It was hard to pick just one but, I love the “Keep Calm and Travel On” one with the Eiffel Tower because I love to travel.
I like the keep calm and love on with the hands forming the hearts.
I also love these blankies, I did a bunch of them for Christmas presents one year (used a 50% off coupon on a bolt of fleece) and everyone still loves them, 7 yrs later.
It is a total draw between “craft on”, “drink coffee”, “drink tea”, and the original: carry on. so difficult!!! I do adore these posters!
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, 13×19 Poster (HOPE DIAMOND BLUE) is DEFINITELY my fave! love it!
cathy b
@projecthope7
I love the KEEP CALM AND TRAVEL ON posters…!
I’ve seen these before in stores and totally dig them. Now that I live with 3 boys, my favorite is probably “keep calm and drink beer”…
It’s a toss up! I love the Keep Calm and Drink Tea for my kitchen and the Keep Calm and Write for my office!
Congrats, Mruna!
[...] maybe a project I’ll do soon. since i don’t have a sewing machine yet, this no-sew blanket may be perfect for a gift for a friend who is about to bring a little one into the [...]
I would love to win either Keep Calm and Write On or for my daughter Keep Calm and Love Cows!
Very cute! The tie blankets are also!
I love the “Keep Calm and Laundry On”! It would be great for the laundry room!
And, I think I am going to be making some fleece blankets….