Super Soft & Cozy Winter Flannel Blanket for less than $10!

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Does the winter chill take over your home for about 5 months of the year? Us too! Even if it’s semi-nice out, you’ll still find me curled under a blanket. Today I am going to show you how to make a fun and totally personalizeable flannel blanket. Now the kids (& you) will be warm, but you won’t need to sacrifice your home style when you pick out the fabric!

Here is an easy step by step how to for making a soft and warm flannel blanket! They are budget friendly and match perfectly with your decor! Pictures incl.

The kids are getting old enough where Christmas is super magical and I love that. Jordan & I are such saps when it comes to making sure we set up traditions, make memories, and find ways to help others. For an A+O memory this year, I thought maybe I could whip up their very own Winter flannel blanket.

This idea is based on my 30 Minute Baby Blankets but I changed it up by adding a layer of thick batting to make these super cozy, thick, and warm!

 

Supplies Needed

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these super easy diy flannel blankets are perfect for kids to cozy up with in the colder months

Before you go shopping, decide how big you’d like your blanket to be. For the kids, I decided to use 1 bolt width (~42″)  by 2 yards length. These turned out super long (ya know, like 7 feet). If I were to do them again, I’d choose 1.5 yards and adjust the batting amount needed.

Since these were for the kids, Aubrey chose the print fabric for her & Owen. Owen agreed by enthusiastically hugging the bolt. Luckily, I found this fabric for 50-60% off and picked them up for less than $2.50 a yard!

We made these cozy diy flannel blankets right around the holidays, so we used fun Christmas flannel fabric

Prep the Fabric

Start by pre-washing your flannel. I always do this as soon as I get home with the fabric. This allows me to start working on the blankets when I have the free time. Otherwise, I’d have a few minutes (aka naptime) and then realize I couldn’t do anything because they hadn’t been pre-washed. So to save that wasted time, I like to get it out of the way!

Once your fabric is pre-washed quickly clip off any hanging threads. you don’t have to get them all, but get the larger ones out of your way.

Choose to Personalize your Flannel Blanket

To add a special extra touch, you can quickly add an initial or simple image on your fabric. If you need a step by step tutorial on this, check out my Easy Applique for Beginner’s post! << It tells you everything!

Lay out the flannel fabric on the floor (or other surface with enough space) to trim and cut the fabric to the correct lengths

Assemble Your Blanket

Take your flannel and match right sides together. Quickly pin them in place. Make sure to leave plenty of room to insert the batting by leaving a very large opening. Like super large. 😉

Sew around the outer perimeter with thread. I use an inexpensive white thread and use my straight stitch at its default settings. Snip off the 4 corners to help the blanket lie better. Anytime you can remove excess fabric, it’s a wonderful thing.

Turn the blanket inside out so that now, it looks like your blanket! Make sure to push out the corners.

Looking for sewing pro tips? Check out this collection of printables packed with sewing tips for beginners

Insert the Polyester Batting

Measure out the batting insert for your diy flannel blanket, making sure it's the perfect size

With your blanket assembled and turned out correctly, lay your batting over the blanket. Trim the batting so that it fits within your blanket. If you cut it too large, the batting will scrunch up.

Next, stuff your batting inside the blanket. I found the easiest way to do this is to insert the batting in slowly and not crumbled up. Then, take a straight pin and pin one corner flush in the top corners by your opening. By doing this is the corners closest to you, you can smooth out the rest of the blanket. It’s super simple this way.

As you move down, or away from your top pins, adjust the batting to be flush against the inner edges. I pinned as I went so that it didn’t move after I adjusted it.

Press the Blanket

To help keep everything in place before the last sewing, quickly run a hot iron over the blanket and edges. I found that it helped keep the batting in place and smoothed it all out as I applied the pressure. Press close your blanket opening.

Top stitch your diy flannel blanket, creating a seam that seals the two layers of flannel and batton

Top Stitch the Flannel Blanket

Close up the blanket opening with a straight stitch. Some people prefer to catch the opening in their top stitch, but I’m not that good. And I wash their blankets every week, so durability is a must. Therefore, an inconspicuous straight stitch it is.

Next, sew a decorative stitch, in a coordinating thread, over the top of the flannel blanket. I always choose a zig-zag stitch because it’s super quick and uses minimal amounts of thread.  I found that the batting shifted slightly during the process, even if it was pinned. Overall, it stayed in place, didn’t bulk up anywhere and laid flat throughout the entire process.

Use coordinated color thread to create a decorative trim around the edges of your diy flannel blankets

Hand Tied Knots

To keep the batting from moving– ever, add several hand tied knots with inexpensive embroidery floss. It’s super easy. I referenced this hand tie tutorial, because it explains it so well.

These diy flannel blankets are perfect for kids to cozy up with during the colder months!

I simply undid my embroidery floss and threaded 3 knots per row and repeated it 4 -5 times. The polar bear was super easy, the pattern repeated just often enough that I knew where I needed to hit next. It was pretty cool to have this long run of thread (Jordan was super confused watching me do this) and snipping it in between each spot.

Tying simple knots using thread to keep the batton filling inside the flannel blanket from moving

I tied each knot four times, well because.

And that is it! How cute is this easy winter blanket? Best of all with coupons, I pulled both out for less than $20. Yay!

Do you think they like their new blankets?

the kids love their diy flannel blankets! these are an easy diy that's perfect for cold weather

and older sister couldn’t be left out either!

make these easy and fun diy flannel blankets for your kids to cozy up with during the colder months!

You can definitely make these without busting your budget! Make two coordinating flannel blankets and use the same embroidery floss to save even more money! If you pre-wash the fabric ahead of time, you can easily knock these out during naptime and have some happy little ones when they wake up!

Make this easy warm flannel blanket for kids! It's so soft and you can personalize it easily! Click to see the steps!

Super Soft & Cozy Winter Flannel Blankets

Yield: 2 blankets
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Estimated Cost: $10

These super soft and cozy DIY flannel blankets are such an easy sewing project! Perfect for kids to cuddle up with in the colder months.

Instructions

Prep the Fabric

Start by pre-washing your flannel. Once your fabric is pre-washed quickly clip off any hanging threads. you don't have to get them all, but get the larger ones out of your way.

Choose to Personalize your Flannel Blanket

To add a special extra touch, you can quickly add an initial or simple image on your fabric.

Assemble Your Blanket

Take your flannel and match right sides together. Quickly pin them in place. Make sure to leave plenty of room to insert the batting by leaving a very large opening. Like super large. 😉

Sew around the outer perimeter with thread. I use an inexpensive white thread and use my straight stitch at its default settings. Snip off the 4 corners to help the blanket lie better. Anytime you can remove excess fabric, it's a wonderful thing.

Turn the blanket inside out so that now, it looks like your blanket! Make sure to push out the corners.

Insert the Polyester Batting

With your blanket assembled and turned out correctly, lay your batting over the blanket. Trim the batting so that it fits within your blanket. If you cut it too large, the batting will scrunch up.

Next, stuff your batting inside the blanket. I found the easiest way to do this is to insert the batting in slowly and not crumbled up. Then, take a straight pin and pin one corner flush in the top corners by your opening. By doing this is the corners closest to you, you can smooth out the rest of the blanket. It's super simple this way.

As you move down, or away from your top pins, adjust the batting to be flush against the inner edges. I pinned as I went so that it didn't move after I adjusted it.

Press the Blanket

To help keep everything in place before the last sewing, quickly run a hot iron over the blanket and edges. I found that it helped keep the batting in place and smoothed it all out as I applied the pressure. Press close your blanket opening.

Top Stitch the Flannel Blanket

Close up the blanket opening with a straight stitch. Some people prefer to catch the opening in their top stitch, but I'm not that good. And I wash their blankets every week, so durability is a must. Therefore, an inconspicuous straight stitch it is.

Next, sew a decorative stitch, in a coordinating thread, over the top of the flannel blanket. I always choose a zig-zag stitch because it's super quick and uses minimal amounts of thread. I found that the batting shifted slightly during the process, even if it was pinned. Overall, it stayed in place, didn't bulk up anywhere and laid flat throughout the entire process.

Hand Tied Knots

To keep the batting from moving-- ever, add several hand tied knots with inexpensive embroidery floss.

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How to make easy DIY flannel kids blankets in just a few steps! This quick tutorial is easy and budget-friendly!

 

 

How to make $10 DIY flannel blankets for kids! An easy sewing tutorial with pictures and steps included!

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16 Comments

  1. My kids would love these. Whenever I go to the fabric store, there are so many awesome flannel fabrics. Of course, here in Arizona, it’s never cold for long but it’d be nice for each kid to have their own little blanket when they watch TV. Visiting from Friday Favorites party.

    1. They were super easy to make and the kids still curl up in them (surprising given their short attentions spans)! My parents live in Glendale… so I suppose you could just turn up the AC and turn on some Christmas music?! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! -Brittany

  2. These are great! We’re in Chicago, so it’s cold here MOST of the year. My girls would really enjoy picking out their own fabric to make blankets! Hand made is SO much better than store bought! Thanks for the tutorial!

    1. I agree! I know they are Christmas themed– but the kids still love wrapping themselves up in them! I think I may have find a more seasonally appropriate print for the rest of the year 🙂 Thank you for stopping by Jamy! -Brit

  3. These are really cute & simple, win win! If you lay the batting as a third layer when you are sewing the perimeter of the blanket it makes it even easier! Sew all sides, trim the excess, flip it right sides out & sew the access point & top stitch the whole blanket. Thank you for the nice clear tutorial 🙂

  4. So cute! Love the mint blanket!!! Make it one step easier on yourself and stack your flannels right side together as you said but put the batting as a 3rd layer! Sew em together as you do and turn the whole works right side out…bam! Done! ?. Thanks for the great idea for Christmas!

  5. I love that you are inserting the batting later. Plan to teach my granddaughter to sew this summer and this would be a great project.

  6. Very cute, will definitely make these. I assume the zigzag over the top of the blanket is meant to be around the perimeter, but not exactly specified as that, nor how deep from the edge.

  7. My grandmother made each day f her grandchildren one of these blankets (I’m 48). She called them cuddle blankets and they are treasured to this day. I’ve been looking at fabric to make each of my brother’s children one for Christmas. ❤️

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