Winter is coming. Westeros knows it; we all know it. Depending on where you are in the world, some of us are still getting away with going out in sweaters, but that won’t last long. When the going gets chilly, there’s one thing we just can’t live without: a good blanket. Sure, those knitted throws and crazy quilts your grandma made you are awesome, but you don’t have to be an expert knitter to make a cool blanket. Whether you’re looking for a simple afternoon craft or an ongoing project, here are 12 cuddly, no-knit blankets to DIY before winter hits.
1. Printed Pairing: With some sheep skin, fun cotton fabric and basic sewing skills, you’ll be on your way to creating a blanket that’s just as snuggly as it is fun. (via Cozette)
2. Recycled Sweater Blanket: If you and your family have a collection of sweaters that you’ve either outgrown or grown to hate, cut them up and turn them into a colorful blanket. Here’s a fun, no waste way to try your hand at some basic quilting. (via Better Homes and Gardens)
3. Feather Stamped Throw: To make this throw blanket, all you need is a soft, absorbent material, like cotton or gauze, and – wait for it – a sweet potato. Yes, a sweet potato. Cut the potato in half and use a knife to carve out a feather stamp. Then simply dip it in ink and press on the fabric. (via This Little Miggy)
4. Macramé T-Shirt Throw: This macrame expert originally designed this blanket, made from old t-shirts, for celeb interior designer Nate Berkis. If it gets the NB stamp of approval, that’s good enough for us. (via YouTube)
5. No-Sew Fringe Pillow: If you already have a cozy fleece blanket that just needs a little bit of sprucing up, grab a colored yarn that will match your fleece and add a fun fringe around the entire blanket. (via Make Zine)
6. Heart Blanket: Dress up a plain woven blanket with some all-purpose paint. To create this design, carve three different size hearts out of cork, dip in the paint and stamp onto the blanket. (via A Beautiful Mess)
7. Plus Sign Throw: This tutorial uses four yards of flannel fabric and a paper maché cross box to create a minimalistic bed throw for $20. We like the sound of that. (via Brit + Co)
8. Arm Knitted Blanket: Okay, so we know we said “no knit,” but this one isn’t your standard knitting project. Here, you’ll create a blanket not with needles, but with your arms. With a little bit of practice, you can bust out a chunky blanket in less than an hour. (via YouTube)
9. Biased Fleece Throw: If you have fallen in love with some printed fleece fabric, keep the blanket simple by just rounding the corners and covering up those raw edges with contrasting bias tape. (via Sew Kate Sew)
10. Stitched Doilies: This isn’t a tutorial, per se, but the idea behind a colorful throw like this is simple: find various sized knitted doilies at craft or thrift stores, dye them different colors and stitch them together. If you want to add an extra fun element, stitch on some additional appliques or patches. (via Apartment Therapy)
11. Mollie Flower Blanket: Go full floral on this blanket thing with some beginner crochet skills. Watch this tutorial to learn how to make adorable little mollie flowers. After you’ve made a bunch, simply stitch them together and instantly create an indoor garden. (via YouTube)
12. Polka Dot Lap Duvet: Keep things simple by sewing together two of your favorite fabrics and adding some batting in between for extra warmth. Leave as-is if you like or add a little extra detailing with some accent stitching. (via The Purl Bee)
Have you ever made a blanket before? Which technique worked best for you? Share your snuggly secrets in the comments below.
