How to Make A Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets can help relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia by providing input to the deep pressure touch receptors throughout the body. This "deep pressure touch" helps the body relax. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets can help someone feel secure, grounded and safe. Making your own weighted blanket isn't difficult and can save you money, but does take some time and sewing skills.

Use a medium weight fabric like flannel for this project. You will need at least 2.5 yards for the top and 2.5 yards for the bottom of the blanket. This will give you a blanket about the size of a twin size blanket (if using 44-45 inch wide fabric). Make sure you get the same plastic pellets used to add weight to dolls.

This blanket is customizable. After you determine the size, measure and cut two pieces of fabric for the top and bottom. Place the fabric pieces together, right sides in. Measure two inches in on both long sides and one of the short sides, leaving one side open for adding your pellets. Use tailor's chalk and pins to mark for sewing.

Once you've sewn three sides, clip the bottom corners. Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams flat with an iron. Top stitch around the three sewn sides.

Measure out a grid for the remaining area of the blanket. Use the tailor's chalk or fabric pen to mark out the grid. Sew the vertical lines (the lines that go from bottom to top) ONLY.

Before you fill the bottom row "pockets" you will need to figure out the portion of pellets to put in each pocket. To do so, use this formula:
 total desired blanket weight in ounces divided by number of squares equals number of ounces per square. Place a cup or bowl on a scale and zero it out before you add the pellets.

Fill the bottom of each column with the correct portion of pellets for one pocket. Add a handful of polyfill in each square, if desired.

Once you have the first row of pockets filled, sew across the horizontal line of your marked grid, sealing up that line of weighted squares.

Keep adding pellets and polyfill, row after row until you have finished the last row of squares at the top. Then, fold in the two inches of fabric that are left over (or however much you have left) and sew it shut. This will seal up the top row of weighted squares.

The pellets are machine washable. However, only use in a machine without an agitator. To help keep it clean, insert the blanket into a duvet cover.