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Another Small Finish - Fleece Blanket with Braided Edge


 When I went into my sewing room a few days after Christmas, what was the first thing I saw?  Yes, you guessed it - this 2 meter piece of fleece I had intended to make into a nap blanket for my horse-crazy daughter in time for Christmas.  Didn't make it this year but have it done now in time for next Christmas.  I have made lots of these and around my house we call them nap blankets because they are so nice to pull over yourself when you are dozing off in front of the tv.  The ones I have made in the past were always fringed and knotted but this time I thought I would try a finishing technique on the edge that resembles a braid.  You can find tutorials around the internet.  This is how I did it.
 First I straightened the edges and cut off the selvage edge.  Then I measured a two inch square in each corner and cut it out.
 I love painter's tape for this and use it to keep my cutting lines straighter.  I went around all four sides cutting a fringe two inches in depth and as wide as my tape.  Measure a 2 inch piece of tape and keep reusing it til it won't stick and then use it to measure for cutting the next piece. Try to use some sharp scissors so you don't wear out your hand.  It feels like forever when you are going around all four sides.
Now you need to cut slits in each piece of fringe  They should be about 3/8" slits cut about 1/2" in from the edge.  The easiest way is to fold over the end of the fringe about 3/4 inch and make a cut 1/4 long - this gives you a cut of about 1/2" in 1/2" from the edge.  Don't go crazy with the measuring - this isn't rocket science and the fleece is very forgiving.
 If you have a crochet hook handy it will make your life a bit easier.  I didn't so I straightened out a paper clip and used that.  You need to go around the whole blanket again. This time you will be putting the paperclip through the slit and hooking around the next piece of fringe and pulling it through the hole.  Then you pull the adjoining piece of fringe through the hole in that piece.  And so on and so on and so on around til you come back to where you started.  When you come to the end you can cut down the middle of the last piece of fringe and tie it through the adjoining bits.  You end up with a small knot but it isn't noticable.
And here is a section of the finished blanket so you can see the braided effect.  I think it works well with the western theme fabric - reminds me of braided leather in horse harness etc.  Anyway, it was a change and quick and easy!

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