A few months ago, I reorganised my atelier a little bit, shifting my sewing and painting supplies around.  During that time, I found a large cut of fleece I had purchased a very long time ago to make a blanket with for when we go camping.  That started a flurry of blanket-making, ending with a total of four – two for us humans and two for the furry ones.  I even knitted one of them.

All the fleece blankets I made are double-layered.  I love cold-weather camping in the High Sierras.  Even with 0F-rated sleeping bags, a little extra warmth is very nice to have during the chilly nights.  This is going to be our camping blanket.  That is, of course, not going to stop me from using it at home dreaming of the camping days.

The second blanket I made was a present for my husband for his birthday.  It’s a Marauder’s Map fleece print I found at JoAnn.  I purchased 3 yards of the fleece, and for the backing I got 3 yards of the snowflakes print.  I used 2.5 yards of each for the blanket. 

Unplanned, it fits the day bed in his home office perfectly.

I kept the remnant of the Marauder’s Map fleece for another project.  With the remnant of the snowflake fleece I made a little blanket for the kitties.  As I was attempting to take a photo of it, Charlie showed up and claimed his blanket and I was unable to move him.

For the fleece blankets – after rounding off the corners with an old CD, I stitched all around the blanket with 1/4″ seam allowance, keeping a large a gap on one side to turn it over.  I clipped the corners, offsetting the top and the bottom pieces.  I think the corners lie a little flatter that way.  I was too lazy to take the serger out.  After turning the blanket, I used a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine to stitch around the edges to give it a nice finish.

I also made a knitted blanket specially for Charlie.  He loves to sleep on my yellow pullover.  I used the same bulky gauge yarn I used to knit my pullover for his blanket.  I think, it’s a great alternate pattern to the stockinette stitch. 

You will need to cast on (multiples of 4) + 3 stitches.  Alternate these two rows –

Repeat to the last 3 stitches – knit 3, slip 1 with yarn in front.   Knit the last 3 stitches.

Knit 1. Repeat to the last 2 stitches – slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 3.  The last two stitches – slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 1.

These are all very easy to make whether you knit or sew, or do both.

Until next time,
-Soma

I am joining monthly linky parties hosted by Archie The Wonder Dog,  Meadow Mist Designs, and Rainbow Hare.

I am also linking up with the weekly linky parties on my Events And Links page.   Please pay a visit to some of them.