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How to Make a Pretty Fabric Throw Blanket Has Never Been Easier

ByDiane Henkler

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Are you looking to add a touch of style and comfort to a bed, sofa or chair? If you’ve ever wanted to make your own DIY throw blanket, now’s your chance to make one in your own decorating style. It is one way to add color to your living space while treating yourself to a cozy addition to your home décor.

In this post, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful throw blanket the quick and easy way that is both stylish and functional. I will take you through the steps of choosing the fabric, cutting and sewing the pieces, and adding the finishing touches. With a little bit of creative energy, you’ll see how easy it is to make a pretty throw blanket that’s just your style.

green and white throw blanket laying over the end of a bed with white bedding.
See How the Blanket Looks On a Bed In My Green and White Guest Room

When thinking about making home decor with fabric many of us don’t take the time to really look at all the fabrics at a fabric store. It is worth it to take time to walk up and down the aisles and pull out rolls and bolts to find the treasures that could be hidden among all the fabrics both new and in the clearance section. That is where I have found some of the best fabric deals for making decor.

Green-Fabric-at-JoMar

If I had just skimmed the aisles when looking for fabric when I wanted to make a throw blanket, I would never have stumbled upon wonderfully soft and textured decorator fabric that was on the rolled on the cardboard tube backwards and mixed in with the rows of dark brown fabrics.

Fabrics like my green ad white large damask print fabric find sell at Calico Corners for $60 or more a yard so take the time to find just what you envision.

I still prefer going to the fabric store over buying fabric online as I like to touch and feel it and see yards of it. When buying fabric online, you can order a swatch, but it is just not the same experience.

How to Make a Throw Blanket Using Fabric Tutorial

supplies needed:

  • Heavyweight cotton or fleece fabric – yardage determined by size throw blanket you want. I made mine 64″ x 46″
  • Polyester fiber filled quilted fabric for lining – I used white diamond block quilted fabric
  • Thread to match fabric
  • Sewing machine with 14 sized needle
  • Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
  • Straight edge
  • Straight pins
  • Optional – decorative trim
How to use uphosltery fabric to make a throw blanket
  1. Wash and place fabric in the dryer to allow for shrinkage.

2. Lay your fabric and lining out – I always do this on the floor. I used a faux fur throw that I had as a pattern. It measured 64” long  x  46” wide.

3. Cut both the quilted lining and decorative fabric to the same size.

4. Place wrong sides of fabric together and pin all around the edges.

5. Next sew a seam with a seam allowance of about 1/2″ from the fabrics edge all around the border, leaving one short side open. Press seams open.

6. Turn fabric right side out and then fold open edges over to wrong side(inside what will resemble a large pillow case) of fabric. Use an iron to press the fold down. Then pin the folded edges of the fabrics together. Sew shut.

7. Press around the edges of the throw if needed.

All done and looking mighty pretty on a chair without decorative trim.

Add Decorative Trim Around Border of Throw Blanket

Adding decorative trim in the way of tassels, pompoms or fringe add a nice finishing touch to a throw blanket. See how nice the throw blanket looks on the bed now in my guest room.

close up of pom-pom trim detail on a DIY throw blanket.
  1. Measure around the throw to figure out how many yards of trim you will need. For my 64″ x 46″ sized throw I needed 5-1/2 yards.
Close up of green and white large damask patterned DIY throw blanket.

Here is the throw blanket placed over the edge of a bed with pom-pom trim around the border.

Once you have made one, you will be wanting to make one to coordinate for every room in your home or to make as a gift for your family and friends.

Green and white pom-pom trimmed throw draped over the end of a bed. Text overlay says - how to make a throw blanket

More Decorating With Fabric Ideas

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47 Comments

  2. What gorgeous fabric! I’m loving that spring-like vibe:) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. Pinned! xo Kathleen

    Reply

    1. Hi Karin – I will link up – thanks for reminding me. How nice that you got to make one with your granddaughter. I bought fabric to make one as I love colorful quilts. Now I just have to get started.

      Reply

  6. Diane, I must have been inspired by you and didn’t remember! I bought two beautiful yards of something similar to your fabric with the intention of turning it into a throw. Now that I see this post again, I realize where I got the idea! Lol, even the colors are similar! I am thinking about adding a fringe on all four sides, if I can find something affordable. Thanks again for all the terrific ideas!

    Reply

    1. Hi Bettsi-

      I am happy to know that I inspired you. The throw would look great with some fringe or decorative trim. I have been known to buy inexpensive old linens at yard sales only for the trim. I have a great resource for very affordable trim here in the Phila area. I hope you can find some in your area.

      Reply

  8. This is such a great idea!!! I have left over fabric from some pillows I made covers for…now I’m toying with the idea of making a throw with it! Yours is beautiful and so perfect for spring.

    Reply

  9. Gorgeous, but everything you do is gorgeous! Ivy left a great comment. As a country, we have lost our “resourcefulness”. Our great grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers used to sew, create and “make do” all the time. We have all fallen victim to Madison Avenue and the idea that the only way to get what we want or need is to buy from Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel something that somebody else has thought up and created. We have forgtten how fun it is to “do if yourself” and how awesome it is to have something that you have made yourself that nobody else has.

    Reply

    1. Hi Denise-

      I agree with you a 100%. I like the creativity – the oneness that what you have is unique to you – mixed, matched, and made in a way that is individually pleasing. As a child I remember learning how to sew in Girl Scouts and being resourceful. It wasn’t about being frugal – it was about creativity, thinking out of the box. We made things out of all sorts of junk – free – like pantyhose and egg cartons. I loved it. I think in the 80’s things began to shift. Perhaps society will tire of it all and a shift will occur again. Maybe Madison Avenue will be no more. Our lives will be computer driven then -we will be doing everything with our phones or communicators like in StarTrek. We will be able to paint rooms, cook dinner, just like in the Jetson’s without even thinking. Jane doesn’t have to sew a hole on George’s shirt – she just presses a button and a computer does it for her :) Time marches on and I know even as it does that I will always enjoy doing it my way – a DIY’er forever.

      Reply

  11. I’m not sure I’ve ever found upholstery fabric that doesn’t have that funky backing, but I will be looking closer from now on. I love it!
    CAS

    Reply

  13. Hi Diane – great post! Love that risk-taking attitude, sister!
    p.s. one of my favorite old Billy Joel songs. gotta love Brenda and Eddy!

    Reply

  14. I found a soul sister! I find so much satisfaction in making things myself and there are very few projects I won’t try. I started out as you did on a limited budget, it makes you look at the possibilities in things you might normally pass by. Now I just love the challenge of creating things myself. So glad I found your blog.
    Jodie

    Reply

    1. Hi Jodie-
      I find it so much more enjoyable to be able to make the things I want, of course I buy things from time to time – but I have to really love them first. I find I enjoy my home and spaces more as they are a part of me – just not stuff filling up the room. Thanks for connecting with me.

      Reply

  15. Oh my gosh, I just found your blog and I’m so excited. I love this idea. There are so many decor fabrics that I love and would love to incorporate somewhere but don’t know how. This is a great way! Love it. Can’t wait to swim around your blog for a while now. Totally clicking on “subscribe.”

    Reply

    1. Hi Melissa-

      I am a fabric junkie, too. I love all the patterns and the colors and have a hard time saying no to all the yummy bolts at the fabric store. Thanks for subscribing.

      Reply

  17. That fabric is beautiful, and I LOVE that you inserted some Billy Joel lyrics. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” if I’m not mistaken!

    Reply

    1. Hi Gabriella-
      Yep – you are right. When I was writing the post the lyrics came into my mind as I was thinking if I didn’t take a leap of faith to do it my way – I would have ended up with ordinary stuff.

      Reply

  19. How wonderful your ‘doing it your way’ became a book! and that you were willing to share your talent with others. I love your throw you’ve made and the color and pattern is just precious!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    Reply

  20. Gorgeous throw! I am jealous that you can use that color in your home. I love it but it would not go anywhere in my decor. I guess I will just have to wear it instead! I think that I will go to my “stash” in the attic and see what I can find. As always, you inspire me.

    Reply

  22. the fabric looks so very soft….it’s great to find those hidden gems every once in a while isn’t it?

    it looks gorgeous on your sofa….

    hugs, cindy

    Reply

  24. BEA-U-TI-FUL!
    Your post reminded me of a hunting show my husband likes to watch about this guy named Tred Barta. Tred has his own unconventional hunting style that has made him who he is today with his own show on the Versus channel. Tred’s mantra is “I do it MY way! The HARD way! The BARTA way!” Your my Tred Barta. :)

    Reply

  25. I love the throw, but I especially love hearing your story! I’ve always had fun experimenting in my home too so your style, Diane, is right up my alley!

    Reply

  28. You go girl!! I love your attitude!! A real pioneer woman if there ever was one. You’re my hero. If everybody in America would just adopt this attitude we would not be dependent on other countries for anything!!!

    Reply

  29. Oh Diane, LOVE it! You should frame that photo! I so want to lighten our living room (well, whole house!) and battling whether to get lighter colored sofas with 2 boys and a dog!
    I feel very ‘done’ with brown. Do I risk going light and having supremely dirty sofas?? LOL Hmmm…risk?

    Reply

  31. I love this post. It is great to hear where risk taking (in a good way) has led! I love that green color. Just recovered my wicker couch w/ a similar color and it was about $50 for the fabric!

    Reply

  35. Oh my, that is gorgeous! I just love anything damask, and this one is so pretty. Looks like a designer throw from a showroom. Spring has sprung here in San Diego, beautiful day today. But we really don’t have a winter. I am with you with taking risks, unconventional way is the best way if you ask me. (that Billy Joel quote makes me miss my water bed from back in the day) Thanks for your sweet comment on my last post Diane, I really appreciate it.

    Reply

  36. It’s a beautiful fabric, Diane, and makes for a wonderful Spring throw! I know what you mean about pre-HGTV decorating. I recall things I made and did in my own newlywed and new mother homes that came about out of necessity and resourcefulness. Sometimes you gotta look passed the ugly to find the beautiful!

    Reply

  37. Hi Diane,
    This throw is just beautiful! Great color and design next to your beautiful roses. Definitely makes it feel like spring, even though we also have snow covering our roofs this morning!

    Have a great day!
    Sherry

    Reply