Crochet Edging for Ultra Cuddle Fleece Boy Toddler Blanket – FREE Pattern – Plus Fabric Review

To reiterate the introduction to my Changing the Blade on Your Rotary Cutter post from yesterday: 

My mom loves to crochet edgings around receiving blankets to give as gifts. She keeps telling me how easy it is and that I should try it too but I’m stubborn and kept putting it off.

Last week, I received an email from Joann‘s saying Fleece was on sale so I decided to visit my local Joann’s to pick some up. 

Below, you will find my free pattern and Ultra Cuddle Fleece fabric review. Enjoy!

*Side Note: Based on my experience with this fabric, I do not recommend the ultra cuddle fleece for a baby. It’s better for children 3 years and older.


Materials:
   – *Ultra Cuddle Fleece – I used the licensed Star Wars #12033585 (Joann’s)
   – Skip-Stitch Blade #1 (Skip-Stitch site)
   – 45mm Fiskar’s Rotary Cutter (Joann’s)
   – Self Healing Mat to Cut on (I didn’t have) 
   – 5mm Crochet Hook
   – Worsted Weight Yarn – I used 45 yards of I Love This Yarn in Yellow & 90 yards of Red Heart Soft in Chocolate (I tried to match the colors in the blanket.)
   – Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends and/or Sewing Needle for Foundation Blanket Stitch or sewing up any tears in fabric
   – Ruler and/or Tape Measure

Notes on Supplies:
   
   Skip Stitch Blade: There are three different sizes of skip stitch blades. I choose the Blade #1 because it states that it is “perfect for perforating fleece and similar fabrics…” 
*For ultra cuddle fleece – I DO NOT RECOMMEND using the skip stitch blade. I recommend just using a hook with a semi-sharp end or using a needle and thread to create the blanket stitch. See notes on Ultra Cuddle Fleece below.

   Ultra Cuddle Fleece: During my trip to Joann’s, I found it rather difficult to choose just two yards out of all of the great options available. My inspiration was my little cousins, Tyler and Madison. Tyler is obsessed with Star Wars hence the choice of the Star Wars fleece. Madison is a girly girl. You will see my choice for her tomorrow! 

Along with all the great theme options, I also found five different types fleece. I am not a sewer or quilter and not really familiar with the different fabric types so to guide my choice, I took a look at the No Sew Throw kits to see which type of fleece they use. Then, I went back to the fleece. I decided to get a yard of the Anti Pill fleece (same as kits) and one yard of the Ultra Cuddle Fleece so I could test the differences myself.

You will find out about the Anti Pill Fleece in tomorrow’s post!

After completing all steps up to the crocheting of the foundation round, I found that the Ultra Cuddle Fleece is quite fragile if you will. The netting that holds it all together, is rather loose making it much easier to push the head of a not-so-dull crochet hook through WITHOUT the need for the perforation. I found that with the perforated holes, the fleece tended to tear. I felt like the hole time I was crocheting around the fleece, I had to be extra carefully not to tear the fleece further. 
CONCLUSION: DO NOT USE SKIP STITCH BLADE on Ultra Cuddle Fleece. Rather, use a not-so-dull crochet hook to make the holes OR use a needle a thread to create a blanket stitch for the foundation.

Time Spent:
   It took me approximately three hours to complete this blanket including the cutting, crocheting and sewing up of the torn areas.

Measurements:
   Before adding the crocheted border, I cut the fleece to measure 44″ long by 33″ wide. I worked around the existing squares on the fleece.
   After adding the crocheted border, the blanket measures 42″ long by 32″ wide.
**See the pattern below to find out why it got a little smaller.

Abbreviations:
   SC – Single Crochet
   ea – each
   ST – stitch
   sl st – slip stitch
   CH – chain

Notes for Pattern:
   To work a blanket stitch, I found a really great tutorial courtesy of Kelli and Greta of Holiday Crafts and Creations – How to Do Blanket Stitch.

Tutorial and Pattern:

First, remove the fine print section. You will want to cut just inside of the color separation so you don’t get any of the white line.

After cutting the white section, I had to deal with the uneven-ness that I had received. Yuck! I wanted the blanket to be of full squares but because of the uneven squares – I had to rework it.

I decided I would have full squares in the center and then half squares surrounding. I cut this with my scissors and eyeballed the measurements. You can use a ruler to help. You can also use the rotary cutter with the straight edge that it comes with to cut the fleece.

View of the other end of my evening attempt.

I had previously seen someone sew a border around the blanket and then add the foundation round just underneath the sewn stitches. I asked my mom how she normally does it and she told me she just folds over the end and crochets over it so, I measured out 1″.

Then, I moved the ruler over just a touch so that I would be perforating at the 1″ mark. *NOTE: I did not have a self healing mat to do this cutting on. I took LOTS of scrap paper that I had and just stacked them on top of each other – each sheet was a piece of computer paper. I folded them in half and then stacked them in piles of 5 sheets.

This is what the hole with look like.

Before beginning your foundation round, you will want to fold over the top piece of the fleece as you will crochet over it. The top line will sit right underneath the hole. This is the back view. The arrow shows the hole.

To begin your foundation row, attach your yarn in any hole. I started mine in a corner and found out the hard way that you probably should NOT start in a corner. It still works, just puts more pressure on the hole of the corner.

Front view of first four stitches. After you attach your yarn: SC in the ST, CH 1, (SC in next ST, CH 1) across to corner.

Back view of first four stitches.

You will see my tail on the left side. To hide it, I pushed it up into the fold of the the fleece crocheted over both of them.

Sometimes, it was difficult to find the holes in the fleece. This is basically how my hand looked as I felt around for the hole. Pretend that you see the fleece in between my fingers and that right where they join on the right side is where my crochet hook was. I pressed the hook up against my middle finger and moved it around until I found the hole. Similar to putting on studded earrings.

Front view of the first half of first side.

Reached the corner.

Back view of corner.

For this one, I folded over the excess fleece to crochet over. UPDATE: In my Crochet Edging for Anti Pill Fleece Toddler Blanket, I decided to cut this excess at an angle.

To work the corner: (You will have already worked one SC, CH 1), SC in same ST, CH 1, SC in same ST, CH 1. Then, (SC in next ST, CH 1) across to next corner. Repeat this process all the way around.

Once you get around, this is what the last corner will look like if you’ve begun your first stitch in the corner space like I did. In this case you will work the corner as: (You will have previously worked the first SC and CH 1), SC in same ST, CH 1. Join to the first ST.

Then CH 1 to begin the next round.

You’ve finished the foundation round of your blanket! You can leave your blanket like this if you want. You will find in the stores that they sell ultra cuddle fleece blankets with just the blanket stitch around them. OR, you can continue on…

From the previous CH 1: (SC in ea SC and CH 1 sp across to corner, 2 SC in ea SC of the corner, 1 SC in CH 1 sp) around blanket. Join to first SC. For the next round, I changed to brown. You can continue on with the first color if you like.

You’ve finished the first round of your blanket! You can leave your blanket like this if you want. OR, you can continue on…

To complete Round 2: CH 1, [(SC in ea SC across to corner, (2 SC in next ST of corner,  SC in next 2 SC) repeat twice more)] around blanket. Join to first SC. Here I fasten off. You can continue around in same manner (with increases in each corner).

Finished Round Two! Now just weave in your ends! If you have any torn areas (like I did!), thread a needle with some embroidery needle or strong sewing thread, and stitch up the tears. I don’t have any photos of this.

Don’t Crochet but Interested in Purchasing an Ultra Cuddle Fleece Toddler Blanket with a Crocheted Edge?
Licensed fabrics are not to be used for commercial purposes so I will not be able to sell any of these Star Wars blankets but I am happy to make other blankets with the crocheted border. Find some options here: Ultra Cuddle Fleece, Anti Pill Fleece, I Love This Yarn (for border), Red Heart Soft (for border). Feel free to send in your custom requests! Visit my Etsy shop for other baby blankets!

Any licensed fabric blanket would be a great gift to donate to a local children’s hospital. Make sure to contact the volunteering department of the hospital first for rules and regulations for handmade items. I plan on making some to donate!

Here’s a preview of what’s to come tomorrow! Make sure to check back then!!
It will include a free pattern and fabric review.
This one is a sturdier, better option for babies (though made for my toddler aged cousin, Madison).

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