SEWING DIY | Geometric Blanket

I have always had a fascination for textiles and prints. Every time I would shop for clothes, bedding, etc. I would come home with fun prints or unusual fabrics.

But why shop for something that you can make yourself! Today I am showing you a very detailed DIY of my geometric blankets!

The idea behind this project, is that you can repurpose old pieces of fabric or use fabrics that might be too bold or boring on their own. And turn them into a fun pattern and a completely new piece of fabric that you can use for anything you like! I used it for these two baby blankets as a personal gift (this explains why they are a bit small), but you can also turn the new sewn fabric into a skirt, dress, scarf, etc.

I guess you can call this a patchwork sewing project, but I feel that the word ‘patchwork’ has a bad reputation for only resulting in hippie skirts, and jeans projects.

The patchwork technique really doesn’t have to be used in the old fashioned way. Starting with modern fabrics, or pastel coloured textiles, it can turn out to be a a very modern looking item.

Using a geometric print also modernises the fabric and adds an optical illusion ones the fabric is folded open.

Ready for a new sewing challenge?! Let’s start the project! 

First things first:
– This project is a bit of an advanced sewing project. No pattern skills necessary, but the corners can be tricky.
– This is not a one day project. Cutting the fabric pieces with the template takes some time. I suggest to listen to some fun music, or see it as a focus project. It kinda felt like knitting, pretty relaxing actually;) Obviously the duration of the project is based on the size fabric that you need.
– What else: It’s a lot of fun to do!! And you don’t have to stick to the pattern that I used. You can easily create your own geometric pattern and use that for this project.

DIY:

SUPPLIES

– Fabric Scraps for the geometric sewing print
– Fleece fabric ( I used a fleece blanket)
– Pattern Template – free download: here
– Sewing Machine
– Fabric Chalk or something similar
– Scissors
– Pins
– Measuring Tape
– Iron

STEP 1

Download the free template and print it on regular paper. Cut the shape out.
(This is also the time to adjust the size of the shape)

A regular piece of paper will work just fine as a stencil, but if you are making a larger blanket, I suggest tracing the shape onto a piece of cardboard. This will be more user-friendly.

STEP 2

Place your stencil onto the wrong side of the fabric and trace the shape with your fabric chalk.

STEP 3

Cut the drawn shape out of the fabric.

STEP 4

Repeat step 2 and 3 until you have enough pieces of fabric to create your blanket. I made two blankets. Each blanket using 3 different colours for the best optical illusion result.

STEP 5

Place your cut out pieces of fabric onto a flat surface and place them in the desired pattern. This is the part where you can decide the placement of your different fabrics.

STEP 6

Take one piece of fabric and place it wrong side up on a flat surface or ironing board. Iron the edges 1 cm to the inside.
The fold will be your guide when you sew the pieces together.

Repeat this for all of the pieces.

STEP 7

– Place your ironed pieces back in the desired pattern on a flat surface.
– Take 3 pieces as shown in the photo above and sew them together. Use the ironed fold as a sewing guid.

– Repeat this for all of the pieces, making sure that you stick to your pattern.

STEP 8

Cut the excessive fabric from the sides, creating a square or rectangle shaped piece of fabric.

STEP 9

– Place the fleece blanket or fleece fabric onto a flat surface, wrong side down.
– Lay the geometric fabric wrong side up, onto of the fleece blanket.
– Cut the fleece blanket in the size of your geometric fabric.
– Pin the two pieces of fabric together.

Optional: add filling for a softer or warmer blanket.

Optional 2: if you want to add a label to the blanket, this will be the time to stitch it between the two layers.

STEP 10

Sew the fleece blanket en geometric fabric together, keeping one side open.

STEP 11

– Turn the blanket inside out (or outside in, however you would like to see it;)
– Fold the edges of the open side to the inside.
– Sew the folded parts together.

STEP 12

To give the blanket that extra look, create two extra stitched rows all around, 1 or 2 cm from the edge.

I had so much fun doing this project. And the print really has an optical illusion effect. I can’t wait to start a new project with a new print, maybe for a dress next time?

Do you have lot’s of sewing projects or are you interested in modernising the patchwork world? Let me know in the comment section!