Blankets with weights are used to help soothe a person and make them more comfortable. For people with autism, sensitive to touch, people with Restless Leg Syndrome, or mood disorders, a blanket with weight provides pressure and stimulates a feeling of calm. A blanket with weights can also soothe hyperactive people or people who experience trauma when they are under stress. This article explains how to make a blanket with weights.
Step
Step 1. Cut the fabric
You will need two fabrics 1.8 m and 0.9 m long.
Step 2. Cut the 0.9 m fabric into small 10, 16x10, 16 cm pieces which will be used to make the pockets containing the ballast
Step 3. Cut the hook-and-loop tape or commonly known as velcro each 10, 16 cm long and sew a rough patch of adhesive on one side of each fabric to be pocketed
Step 4. Cut the velcro as wide as the fabric strip
Sew one side of the velcro (e.g., the rough part of the velcro) along one side of the wide fabric and sew the other side of the velcro (e.g., the smooth part of the velcro) along the other side of the fabric.
Step 5. Line up the 10, 16 x 10, 16 cm strips of fabric evenly on the inner side of the fabric
Mark the location of each piece of fabric.
Step 6. Sew the smooth velcro on the inside of the quilt according to the cutout marks so that each piece of fabric can stick to the inside of the quilt
Step 7. Sew each piece of fabric on three sides
Leave the velcro attached side open.
Step 8. Sew three sides of the wide quilt fabric
Make sure the front of the blanket is on the outside.
Step 9. Divide the ballast material into small bags that can be opened during the washing process and put each ballast bag into the pockets attached to the blanket
Make sure each bag is completely closed. Close each pocket.
Step 10. Turn the blanket over so that the ballast pockets are on the inside and the duvet face is on the outside
Tape the velcro along the top of the blanket.
Tips
- Choose a fabric with a texture, pattern, and color that the wearer will like. Soft fabrics generally don't irritate sensitive skin. Blues and purples are usually calming, but whatever color the wearer prefers, it doesn't matter.
- Blankets with weights can be made softer by including fibrous weights in each ballast bag.
- When you lift the blanket for the first time, it may feel heavy. However, the blanket will feel lighter when the weight is spread evenly over the wearer's body.
- If the blanket wearer grows, you can adjust the weight of the blanket by replacing the initial weight with a heavier material.
- The size of the blanket in this article is the size of a children's blanket. For teens and adults, a larger blanket is better.
- If the blanket doesn't feel heavy enough, try adding more weight. Discuss the ideal weight with a blanket wearer or doctor.
