Sherpa Fleece Blanket

Oh. My. Gosh.
I LOVVVVE these blankets!
And this one….

And all the sherpa fleece blankets—as does everyone else in our house.
This cactus blanket sits on our little gold couch.

(Do you remember that couch?)
((The one that I was searching for? For like, ever?))
(((And I said I was going to get it recovered? But I never did. And now it officially has a hole in it. Maybe it’s time…)))

Well, that cozy blanket looks great on the gold couch and I use it nightly.
And sometimes it makes a trip outside to the porch swing (equal love there. Everyone needs a porch swing).
The day I sewed this blanket, Lucy took it to bed with her. I think she felt like a queen wrapped around in its cozy goodness.

I’ve made these blankets with Day Trip fabrics, and Blush fabrics, and they are so much fun. They’re so easy!
• There’s a layer of soft Sherpa Fleece on the back (I got mine at Jo-Ann, but here’s a similar version on Amazon).
• There’s a large cut of fabric on the front.
• There are awesome mitered corners around, with a cool self-binding technique.

The best part is that they look so high-end and posh when you’re done.
PERFECT GIFT IDEA.

Make ’em any size you want!
And you know what….this technique of making a self-binding quilt would be perfect with traditional quilting. Try it out!
I’ll show you tips for getting those perfect mitered corners. Plus, there’s a sneak peek at my new Baby Lock BRILLIANT sewing machine. It’s white and yellow! Yay!


Okay, LET’S MAKE BLANKETS!
All the step-by-step info is in my video here.
Or just hit the play button below:

BLANKET DIMENSIONS:

DOLL SIZE
Top Fabric – 22″ x 25″
Back Fabric (Sherpa Fleece) – 28″ x 31″

TODDLER/LAP BLANKET SIZE
Top Fabric – 38″ x 52″
Back Fabric (Sherpa Fleece) – 44″ x 58″

THROW BLANKET SIZE
Top Fabric – 53″ x 63″ (See * NOTE below)
Back Fabric (Sherpa Fleece) – 59″ x 69″ Note: sherpa fleece is typically 60 inches wide, so you will only need one large piece of fleece for the back.

ANY SIZE
Top Fabric -Desired finished dimensions
Back Fabric (Sherpa Fleece) – add 6 inches to both dimensions

* If you’re making a large lap-size blanket, you may need to piece two large cuts of fabric together (since most quilting cotton is only 42 inches wide). It’s best to lay everything out smoothly on the floor. Use safety pins to hold the two layers together as you sew.

[Hold it Bin pattern here]

And keep sharing your photos with me on Instagram! Tag me @made_everyday.
Check out these photos of our friend Rick, from church (I just have to share). His wife texted me saying, “We just left the fabric store and Rick is going to make 2 of your blankets!” I told her she had to take pictures for me. And there you go! Crafty Rick. Seriously, he’s amazing. He also made an eagle mascot costume for his son for their high school.

Have a cozy afternoon!

  1. 1) NancY

    I can’t find the demensions of your blankets. I want to make the bigger one.

    • 2) Dana

      Hi Nancy sorry about that! I just added the Blanket Dimensions here to the blog post, and they are in the video description as well. Have fun sewing!

  2. 3) Penny

    Great video as always! I should say Brilliant (for your sewing machine.) Joanns here I come. Perfect project for predicted snow tonight in Wisconsin April 10. Enjoy your I’m assuming nice weather! Happy sewing everyone.

    • 4) Dana

      Haha. Thanks Penny! 🙂 I hope you’re feeling BRILLIANT too! 🙂

      • 5) Christine

        Hi Dana! What type of needle should I use to make this blanket? I’m new to sewing and still unfamiliar with needles. Thanks 😊

  3. 6) Rachelle

    Simple and brilliant as always Dana!!
    The larger size looks perfect, can you tell us the dimensions of the top please?
    I would like to make one as a baby gift, and since I’m a quilter I’d make a simple pieced top, just as you mentioned. Thanks!

    • 7) Dana

      Hi Rachelle, sorry about that! I just added the Blanket Dimensions here to the blog post, and they are in the video description as well.
      THROW BLANKET SIZE
      Top Fabric – 53″ x 63″ (See * NOTE below)
      Back Fabric (Sherpa Fleece) – 59″ x 69″ Note: sherpa fleece is typically 60 inches wide, so you will only need one large piece of fleece for the back.
      * If you’re making a large lap-size blanket, you may need to piece two large cuts of fabric together (since most quilting cotton is only 42 inches wide). It’s best to lay everything out smoothly on the floor. Use safety pins to hold the two layers together as you sew.

      • 8) Nilha Pearce

        Hi Dana, I made a large throw with sherpa using your technique. It was a quick project and the mitered corners turned out really well. I had trouble with the material moving, even though I pinned it. My product wasn’t smooth in between some of the quilted sections, but on the whole, I really like it. Thank you for posting the DIY video. The throw I made finished off the bedroom I was working on.

  4. 9) Emily

    Dimensions too please!

    • 10) Dana

      Hi Emily,
      Sorry about that! I just added the Blanket Dimensions here to the blog post, and they are in the video description as well. Have fun sewing!

  5. 11) Stacey

    Great tutorial! Can’t wait to make one. Loved the Ferris Bueller touch at the end!

    • 12) Dana

      Haha. I’m glad you stuck around for it! 🙂

  6. 13) Julie

    Hi Dana, thank you for sharing your sewing expertise! Love this blanket! I would rather not use the sherpa since I live in Florida and it would be really heavy for us. Can the sherpa be replace with minky? If so, would the process still work with the minky fabric? Thank you!

    • 14) Dana

      Yes. TOTALLY.

  7. 15) Jamie Russo

    Hi Dana, I love ALL of your tutorials. My daughter and I made the throw blanket size yesterday. We had to mark ours up with a fabric pencil like your friend Rick did. Two questions..1) Do you mark yours or just eyeball where the lines should go? That was an undertaking…. 2) Getting the lines off – we used the Sherpa Fleece with a flannel fabric for the top. Can I just throw this in the wash or should we hand wash the lines off? Thanks!

    • 16) Dana

      I did not mark the lines…I just eyeballed, well, sort of. I like to “mark” the lines by placing pins in sort of a line, so my eye can see where to go. You can get fabric markers that erase with time, or water, or heat. But I haven’t tried it on Sherpa fleece.

  8. 17) gina

    Hello! I love your fabrics and patterns so much! I’m making this for my soon to be niece. Did you use the Sherpa fabric from Joanne? I’m here now and it’s dry clean only so I’m hesitant! If so, have you machine washed it?
    Thank you!
    Gina

    • 18) Dana

      Hi Gina, yes! I think I actually did get the “dry clean only” one…but guess what, I washed/dried it in my washer at home and it turned out great! I’ve only washed it once, so we will see how it does over time 🙂
      But I love it! I use the blanket every night on my couch 🙂

  9. 19) Jessica B.

    These are absolutely brilliant! I love the mitered self-binding. Have never tried that but now I know I definitely need to! Thanks for the tutorial!

    Oh…and can we talk about that green chair in the pic?!?! I’m in love! 😍

    • 20) Dana

      Haha. I love that chair too….It was a random find at Home Goods. Something I didn’t know I “needed” 🙂

  10. 21) Kelly

    Ohhh my. Haha. I love the pictures of “Rick”.

    • 22) Dana

      So good right?? He’s an amazing sewer!

  11. 23) Pam Zulauf

    Hi Dana,

    No doubt I’m going to make some of these for gifts! I’m also going to make it the opposite way too(sherpa fabric in the middle with a fabric border) for my dear pets!
    Thanks! Love your projects!! Thanks for explaining the steps so well, it helps a beginners like me! 🙂

    • 24) Mimi M

      I love this and I’m so excited to try it? Could one maybe put quilt batting (is that what it’s called? I’m new here) in the middle to make it warmer? I want to make one as a bedspread for my mom! Thanks 😍😍

      • 25) Dana

        Fun ideas yes! You could totally put batting in the middle. And sewing it with the fabric on the outside sounds awesome!

      • 26) Karon

        Love these blankets! With the toddler/lap sizes, do you stitch through the middle as you did the smaller sized?
        Thanks!

        • 27) Dana

          I still would, maybe just 2 or 3 lines. It does help hold the layers together.

  12. 28) Nicole

    Hey, I was just wondering do you have a trick to sewing the edges to where they don’t slide. I made one and it moved on me. The sides are not equal but not bad. I hope that makes sense.

  13. 29) Mary ellEn

    If I make the largest dimension, do I have to piece the Sherpa as well to get 69 inches since it only comes 60 inches wide? Your tutorial doesn’t mention piecing the Sherpa.

  14. 30) Jan Jopson

    Hi Dana, just made my first sherpa blanket following your instructions. Thank you so much for posting the YouTube video on how to do the corners, made it so much easier. Making king/singles for all my grandchildren. So much fun sewing for them. One down four to go. Love your U Tube posts

  15. 31) deb

    Hi Nancy:) Just discovered your tutorial and love this blanket! Have you made a queen-sized or king-sized version of this? From reading other comments, you mentioned the need to piece the fabric layers as most fabic is 36″ or42″. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that you might have as to how to go about creating a larger blanket. Thank you!

    • 32) Dana

      Hi Deb, Yes, you can make this larger. You would cut two large cuts of the sherpa fabric, sew them together, and then you may need to do the same with the top fabric to get something wide enough (OR you could use a cute sheet for your top fabric! That would be wide enough!) You will have a seam in your fleece fabric, but that fabric hides seams well.

  16. 33) Bette Ann

    I made one for my son.Its Black white and gray blocks.I made a large they.Hiw many rows do I have to do.I am having a hard time on my machine
    Thank you
    Bette Ann

  17. 34) Antoinette

    Hi Dana
    I’m making this blanket with a Sherpa fleece and flannel. I’m having some trouble with the material not sewing evenly together. I have tried using a walking footing , a lot of pins and I have an old sewing machine so I can’t even lower the feed dogs. This project is very important to me, it’s for my Nephews baby shower gift . Can you help any suggestions?
    Thank you for all you do
    Antoinette T

  18. 35) Sabrina

    I just finished sewing up this blanket and quilted it in squares. It’s my first “quilted” blanket, and I want to thank you because it is going to be the sweetest present for my brand new baby niece! Elephants and cozy sherpa, all 100% organic fabric for her sweet little self. Can’t wait to give it to her! Thank you, Dana, for helping me do this project without any tears. You’re such a great encourager. <3

    • 36) Dana

      Awesome! I’m so happy you made one! Yay!! Thanks for the comment 🙂

  19. 37) Zoe

    Hey Dana,
    For the top fabric can you use fleece or do you have to use fabric?

  20. 38) Zoe

    Hey Dana,
    For the top fabric can you use fleece or do you have to use fabric? I liked the video you did about this kind of blanket I have watch a lot of them and yours is the best one I have watched.

  21. 39) Zoe

    sorry I sent it twice

  22. 40) Tricia

    What would you recommend washing this at. Wondering if I’ll get shrinkage with the Sherpa.x

  23. 41) Kathleen

    If you’re having difficulty with fabric slipping or bunching up while sewing the center lines, especially on the larger blanket, I use spray basting adhesive to hold the two pieces together.

  24. 42) Lauren Tolan

    Hi there! I loved your video! I was wondering if it is possible to do this without sewing the lines on the top? I want to do a soft lush fabric on top and I think a a fleece bottom that you showed would be a great back. Let me know your thoughts when you get a chance!

  25. 43) Tanya

    I just make a lap blanket for my sister. loved how easy it was once I got the fabric cut. Had a little rolling when I sewed the final edges under but still looks great. Adds character!! thanks for this tutorial!!

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