Learn how to sew a super soft and comfortable flannel throw blanket with fringe edges. Flannel blankets make for such warm and thoughtful handmade gifts!
For Christmas this year, I made each of our sons a flannel throw blanket with fringe edges and even embroidered their names on each of the blankets.
The hardest part about making these flannel throw blankets was picking out the flannel. I wanted each one to be different. So, I picked out a different color scheme for each of the four blankets.
How to Sew a Flannel Throw Blanket with Fringe Edges
Before I could purchase the flannel, I had to decide how much fabric to purchase. Our boys are each about 6’ tall, so I knew I wanted the blankets to be at least 66-72” long.
Blanket Measurements
I did some searching online and had a hard time finding precise measurements for homemade throws and blankets. So, here’s a general guideline that I put together based on the information I was able to gather.
| Blanket Size | Width | Length | Yards of Fabric |
| Baby (Receiving) | 29” | 29” | 1 yard each |
| Baby (Crib) | 37″ | 46″ | 1 1/2 yards each (minimum 44″ wide) |
| Toddler | 42″ | 47″ | 1 1/2 yards each (minimum 44″ wide) |
| Child | 41” | 60” | 2 yards each (minimum 44” wide) |
| Adult Afghan/Throw | 48″ | 71″ | 2 yards each (minimum 54″ wide) |
| Adult – Oversized Throw | 55-59″ | 71″ | 2 yards each (minimum 56″ wide) |
You can use this chart as a guideline for purchasing fabric to sew a blanket or even for crocheting a baby blanket, afghan, throw or blanket.
Select Your Fabric
If you want to create a fringe on your flannel, you’ll want to select flannel that ravels easily. For my blankets, I purchased flannel from the Plaiditudes line at JOANN Fabrics, like the fabric pictured below.
You can use other types of flannel, but you won’t be able to fringe the edges. You can however, create a wider type of fringe simply by cutting the ends of the fabric into narrow strips.
Pre-Wash Fabric
Before you attempt to sew your flannel throw blanket with fringe edges, you’ll want to make sure it’s pre-washed. Pre-washing is important because it not only cleans the fabric, but it removes excess dye and addresses any fabric shrinkage before you sew your project.
There’s a lot of debate on whether to pre-wash fabric or not. And I have to admit that I don’t always pre-wash fabric. Sometimes, I run home with my newly purchased fabric and begin sewing right away.
In some cases, it probably doesn’t matter, but when you’re sewing apparel or working with different types of fabric, you’ll be much happier with the results if you pre-wash your fabric.
Supplies:
Like with any sewing project, there will be some supplies and tools you’ll want to have readily available before you begin to make your flannel throw blanket:
- flannel fabric (see chart above)
- rotary cutter
- cutting mat
- ruler
- scissors
- coordinating thread
- sewing machine
- seam ripper
- tweezers
Flannel Throw Blanket Instructions:
Step One: Cut Fabric
Working with plaid flannel makes it a breeze to get the fabric lined up and trimmed perfectly. Using a rotary cutter, self-healing cutting mat and clear ruler or a pair of scissors, simply trim each short end of the flannel fabric so that the edges are straight.
Step Two: Sew Short Edges
Depending on how long you want your fringe to be, you’ll sew a stitch across each short end 1” to 1-1/2” from the edges. This stitch will help to keep the fabric from unraveling any further.
NOTE: If your sewing machine has a “fringe” stitch, you may want to use that instead. Refer to your sewing machine manual for the how-to. The below is an excerpt from the manual for the Janome Memory Craft sewing machine manual.
Step Three: Cut Slits
A little note about the fringes. It does take some time to create all the fringe. And through wear and washing, the fringe will tangle. Keeping that in mind, I recommend keeping the fringe to about 1/2”.
Although, the longer fringe looks nicer, like I said, it will tangle more. It can, of course, be untangled. It just requires more maintenance.
Once you decide how long you want your fringe to be, cut a slit along the short edge about 1/4-1/2” from the long edge and 1/2” long (or however long you want your fringe to be). Cut a slit at all four corners on the short ends only.
Step Four: Create Fringe
I find it helps to use a pair of tweezers or a seam ripper to grab hold of the strands of fabric. So, using your tweezers, grab hold of one of the strands going across the fabric and pull to remove. Continue pulling strands until you have pulled all the strands between the two slits. Then repeat for the other short end.
That’s all there is to it! Your flannel throw blanket with fringe edges is now ready!
More Sewing Ideas
If you liked this flannel throw blanket with fringe edges sewing tutorial, you might also like these other sewing tutorials from The Birch Cottage:
These flannel throw blankets make for such thoughtful handmade gifts. I even embroidered the boys names on a corner of the blankets when I made them for each of them as Christmas gifts this past year.
Our youngest son said he loved the blanket because it was light and warm. Just doesn’t get much better than that!
Til next time…
