Quilting: Quilted Blanket Goes to College

Here’s the third project for this week to ensure your kids have a proper send off. Quilting: Quilted Blanket Goes to College!

College bound kids don’t need a blanket — or do they?

I came up with this blanket band project because I’m not an ambitious quilter, but I like the idea of creating a quilted band for a blanket. I’ve made a couple.

One incorporated series of paper pieced books. Another used needle turned applique elements.

You can raid your scrap bin for likely candidates to create a band that is all your own.
These blankets are versatile, and lighter weight than a full quilt, which means they’re snuggle worthy, but not so heavy that your student goes broke drying them in the laundry they suddenly have to pay for…

You will need
1 yard waffle weave cotton
pins with heat resistant heads
assorted scraps of quilt weight cotton
quilt batting
backing fabric

Gutermann’s rPET recycled thread
ironing board
Go Iron
HeatnBond Feather Lite

1. Wash and dry the waffle weave cotton. The fabric comes in a variety of colors, I usually choose a neutral, like cream or white. This means your blanket band can be scrappy as possible, without many color clashes.
2. Once the waffle weave is washed and dried, you’ll notice it’s a bit more puffy. It has also shrunk by about 5 per cent, which is why it’s best to wash and dry it before working on it.
3. Trim and straighten the short ends. They’ll be very ragged, but don’t worry, the blanket band will cover that.
4. Fold in the long (selvage) ends 1/2 inch. Pin and press. Stitch.
5. Fold in a second 1/2 hem and stitch again.
6. Measure the resulting width of the hemmed waffle weave.
7. Gather up scraps.

At this point, you can spend some time deciding to create simple patchwork blocks, whole blocks, use orphan blocks, appliqued blocks. The blocks should be at least six inches deep, in order to provide a good overall blanket experience.

Stay tuned, tomorrow we see what kind of quilted blanket is going to college.