How to make a weighted blanket for autistic child

How to Make a DIY Weighted Blanket {Sensory Hacks for Kids} | And Next Comes L

DIY weighted blanket hack and tutorials for how to make a weighted blanket for kids.

The one DIY sensory hack that I have wanted to do for a long time is to sew a weighted blanket for my son with autism. However, I get freaked out just looking at the amount of work involved in making one. They seem like so much work to make, so I must admit, I have been brainstorming an easier way to make one. Yet, I cannot seem to come up with a good solution. At least, not yet.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some amazing tutorials for making a DIY weighted sensory blanket for kids with autism and/or sensory processing disorder.

Weighted blankets are a great way to provide proprioceptive sensory input to your child. They can help calm your child and even, gasp, help them sleep better!

Tutorials for How to Make a Weighted Blanket for Kids

Buying a weighted blanket is expensive! Thankfully, there's these wonderful tutorials for how to make a weighted blanket for kids with autism and/or sensory processing disorder to help you save you some money!

1. Homemade Weighted Blanket (pictured) from Mama Smiles - This step-by-step tutorial is very detailed!

2. How to Make a Weighted Tie Blanket (pictured) from Parenting Chaos - A nice alternative to sewing an entire weighted blanket from scratch. The kids could even help with the tying.

3. Weighted Blanket with Printable Pattern from Craft Nectar - This tutorial includes a free printable pattern, so you don't have to hover over you computer while you sew. Nice, right?

4. Adjustable Weighted Blanket Tutorial (pictured) from Confessions of a Fabric Addict - Love the idea of an adjustable weighted blanket so that it can grow with your child.

5. Weighted Blanket Tutorial (pictured) from The Squishy Pickles - I love the fabric on this one. Such a bright and colorful weighted blanket for kids!

6. How to Make a DIY Weighted Blanket from I Love My Kids - Another very detailed step-by-step tutorial!

7. How to Make a No Sew Weighted Blanket from Junior *gluten-free* Chefs - Yes, no sewing is required for this weighted blanket!

8. DIY Duct Tape Weighted Blanket with Printable Instructions from Jest Tu Positive - No fabric is involved in this DIY weighted blanket. So grab some rolls of colorful and/or printed duct tape to give this one a try!

9. How to Make a Weighted Blanket (pictured) from Sharing the Weight - I love that this tutorial has a chart of the finished dimensions for different target weights of the blankets.

10. Weighted Blanket Tutorial (pictured) from Dandelion Mama - I love the fabric that was used for this weighted blanket.

11. How to Make a Weighted Blanket Tutorial from East Coast Mama - This one is a really cute dinosaur print!

12. Weighted Blanket Tutorial from Feeding Raya - Another beautiful blanket with a detailed tutorial!

13. DIY Adjustable Weighted Blanket Tutorial from Needles & Bows - Another awesome weighted blanket that's adjustable!

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How to make a weighted blanket: DIY Sewing Tutorial

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Learn how to make a weighted blanket with this weighted blanket sewing tutorial. Step by step instructions for the perfect sensory blanket. These sensory blankets may be helpful when dealing with anxiety, autism, ADHD, sleep struggles, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Find more details on making DIY weighted blankets.

Click to read also: Handmade Gifts for Children

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Looking for a Ready-Made Weighted Blanket?

What You'll Find on This Page

If you decide to look for a ready-made weighted blanket, I recently discovered these for sale on Amazon. There are also several sellers on Etsy, and weighted blankets have become so popular that you can even buy them at Target!

Even with so many ready made blankets available, sometimes it makes more sense to make one. This is especially true if you are trying to cater to a child’s interests, like I did when making these Harry Potter weighted blankets.

This tutorial can be used to make weighted blankets to sell, but please give credit to my site in your listing.

Drop by this post if you are looking for more resources for dealing with sensory issues.

You may also find these sensory activities to help kids calm down and stay calm helpful.

Learn How to Make a Weighted Blanket

Weighted Blanket Tutorial

What Are Weighted Blankets Made Of?

Choosing the right materials is an important part of sewing a weighted blanket. This post on what weighted blankets are made out of has everything you need to know, and I highly recommend reading it before you start sewing. T

These are the basics you need; you can also buy weighted blanket kits on Etsy.

Sewing machine
Poly pellets (learn how to make a weighted blanket without pellets)
Fabric (some readers use receiving blankets or duvet covers)
Thread
Scissors

My weighted therapy blanket materials post offers some alternate fillings if you don’t want to use poly pellets as a filler.

How Much Should My Weighted Blanket Weigh?

The basic guidelines for weighted blanket weight is 15% of healthy body weight for children and 5-10% of healthy body weight for adults. There are a few studies, however, that show that there may be benefits to using heavier blankets. You can find more details along with weighted blanket weight calculators, charts, and more in my weighted blanket weight post.

DIY Weighted Blanket Sewing Instructions

STEP 1: Stitch your fabric together on three sides. OR, if you are sewing a large blanket, stitch the two side edges plus a center seam. You will then fill the blanket from the center out.

STEP 2: Stitch vertical columns. Mine were about four inches apart.

Making larger blankets: Anniebananie also had the wonderful idea of leaving both the bottom and the top open for larger blankets. She then stitched a horizontal center seam and worked her way out from both ends – less bulk to work with while stitching!

Another reader, Cicely, turned her sewing machine sideways, as she found it easier to manipulate the fabric and keep the beads in place that way.

This process is much easier if one of your fabrics has a pattern you can use as a guide; otherwise I recommend measuring out and drawing on your stitching lines with a washable fabric marker or a disappearing ink fabric pen (you can buy these at the fabric store; but if you don’t have a fabric store nearby the Crayola kids washable markers also work).

I was having camera issues and this photo isn’t very good, but if you look closely you can see how I used the pattern as a stitching guide. You could stitch directly on the printed lines; I found it easier to line up my presser foot with them:

STEP 3: Add your poly pellets. This is what they look like – and I think it’s cool that they accidentally formed a heart-like shape.

Filling Your Homemade Weighted Blanket

STEP 4: Fill each column with however many pellets you want per space. I used about 1/4 cup of pellets for each roughly 4×4 inch compartment. Note: the final blanket should not be heavier than 10-15% of the user’s body weight for children, and no more than 5-10% of an adult’s ideal weight.

Here is a calculator you can use to figure out how many pellets to put in each square:

(number of ounces needed)/(number of squares) = how many pellets you need per square.

Remember, there are 16 ounces in each pound, and calculating this amount in grams may be easier. You can weigh out the amount of pellets for each square using a kitchen scale.

If you prefer to measure your pellets, put them in a measuring cup and then calculate how many tablespoons you need per square. There are 16 tablespoons per cup.

Multiply the number of cups by 16, and then divide that number by the number of squares you intend to sew. This will tell you how many tablespoons of pellets to put in each square.

How to Figure Out How Many Pellets Per Square in a Weighted Blanket

Use this simple formula to figure out how many pellets to put in each square of your weighted blanket:

(number of cups x 16)/(number of squares) = how many tablespoons of pellets you need per square.

STEP 5: Once all of the columns have been filled, stitch across that row. Then repeat until you have filled up to the top of your blanket. I made the top row about 6 inches tall instead of 4, because that made it easier to stitch the blanket shut.

Here you can see the filled, stitched pouches. Orange is my nephew’s favorite color, and I’m showing the plain side so that you can see the stitching:

Finishing off your DIY Weighted Blanket

Reader Linda Schmidt emailed me this tip for finishing the final rows, which I know a lot of people have struggled with:

“Getting closer to the last few rows I stitched almost all of the way across each of the the pockets leaving only enough room for the bottom of a funnel to fit in. This kept most of the pellets from cascading out as the last stitches were placed.”

Thanks for the tip, Linda! I love seeing photos of the quilts people have made and receiving feedback like this!

Another reader recommends filling only a few pockets at a time towards the end.

STEP 6: Finish the edges. You can bind them, but I took the easy route and serged them. Stitch on binding for a more finished look.

If using with a child, please be sure they keep their head outside of the blanket.

Now that you know how to make a weighted blanket, I would love to see photos of the blankets you sew!

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MaryAnne Kochenderfer

Website

MaryAnne lives is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

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"It's time to sleep, the bull has fallen asleep": a weighted blanket useful for sleeping can be sewn with your own hands | Lifestyle

Frankly speaking, every mother is concerned about the question of how to make sure that the child sleeps well without waking up at night. Deep, healthy sleep is important in the growth and development of children. Needless to say, parents also need to get enough sleep to fulfill their parental and other responsibilities. Some experts, among the many recommendations for improving children's sleep, mention weighted blankets as one of the ways to sleep better.

Many people have already tried this type of bedding and leave only positive feedback. But for many, buying a product is difficult for financial reasons. In addition to useful information, we bring to your attention instructions on how to sew a blanket with your own hands.

What is a weighted blanket?

A weighted blanket is a specially tailored fabric that contains a weighted material, usually a plastic base, sewn into a mesh. It is evenly distributed over the inside of the blanket. There are several types of bedspreads, depending on the weight. For example, lighter models are more suitable for young children, while older children will need blankets with more weight.

Recommended to whom?

Manufacturers claim that weighted blankets are useful for people with sleep problems, anxiety, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is an effective way to help children who have trouble falling asleep. Particularly distinguished are children with autism spectrum disorders, that is, those who crave touch, light pressure, but do not want to experience physical contact.

Research has shown that pressure touch is beneficial for children with autism and ADHD by providing a calming and protective feeling. It also affected their behavior, reducing self-harm. Regarding the soothing effect of a weighted blanket, one regular customer stated that only heavy blankets allow her muscles to relax and she to fully rest.

It may seem at first glance that weighted blankets are needed only for certain groups of children who need a calming effect, but their use is recommended for all children. Parents who have purchased a product for children with autism or sensory processing disorders have reported that their other children who do not have such diagnoses have also benefited from using the weighted blanket. First of all, they began to sleep better.

Do weighted blankets help adults?

Undoubtedly, this kind of bedding helps adults to sleep better and feel rested as a result. According to consumer surveys, the use of a weighted blanket improved sleep performance and overall well-being in many ways. Models for adults help relieve tired legs, improve and normalize sleep.

How the sheet works

The pressure exerted by the weighted blanket on the skin activates sensory systems, which in turn send signals to the brain. In response to pressure, the brain releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which are responsible for improving mood and providing a calming effect.

For neurotic children, a weighted blanket can be an important part of creating a soothing atmosphere in the room and promoting good rest. The deep touch that the blanket provides calms the nervous system, which is also important for good sleep.

Where can I buy a weighted blanket?

These blankets are quite common and can be found in the bedding section of large shopping malls or online stores.

How to choose a product:

choose the colors that your child will like;
Most weighted blankets are made from fleece and are easy to care for and feel good to the touch;
pay attention to weight, the sheet should weigh 5-10% of the child's body weight;
choose the size of the duvet according to the purpose of use, maybe a small duvet just to cover the baby, or a big duvet to completely cover the bed.

How to sew a weighted blanket?

If you have some sewing skills, you can make your own weighted blanket. Most finished models contain plastic beads inside, which not everyone likes. You can use a natural and safe filler such as rice or beans. However, it should be borne in mind that in the future you will not be able to erase it.

For work you will need:

sewing machine;
soft, pleasant to the touch fabric;
polypropylene balls or rice;
scissors;
thread;
kitchen scale;
Velcro tape.

Manufacturing technique

It is necessary to prepare two pieces of fabric 180 cm each and one 90 cm each. From the smaller one, cut the same squares 10 × 10 cm, they will later serve as pockets for the filler.

Sew two squares on three sides. A piece equal to the side of the square is cut from the adhesive tape. On each side of the resulting pocket, one part of Velcro is sewn.

On one piece of fabric 180 cm squares are laid out at equal distances and their locations are marked. The looped part of the Velcro tape is sewn to the wrong side of the blanket, according to the marks, so that each square can be attached to the blanket. Each pocket is sewn on three sides, leaving the one with the ribbon free.

Two large pieces of fabric, 180 cm each, are sewn together face out, but on three sides only.

The weighting agent is packaged in small bags, which can also be sewn on your own, according to the same principle as pockets. In the compartments inside the blanket put bags with weighting agent.

If necessary, this way you can control the weight of the duvet and remove the bags during washing. Velcro is also sewn on the last side of the canvas. The finished product is ironed at the seams and turned right side out.

Tips

The weighted blanket can also be made for adults. In this case, the size of the product will be different. Having adjusted it to an adult, tailoring is carried out in the manner described above.

We also recommend paying attention to the following recommendations:

If the finished quilt does not feel heavy enough, you can increase the weight by adding heavier material to the filling pockets or adding to the existing one. The maximum possible weight of weighting a baby blanket will be prompted by a consulting specialist.
When choosing a blanket, pay attention to the color and pattern of the product, it is good if it matches the child's preferences and matches the interior of the room. Blue, pink and green are soothing, but the color should not become a decisive factor, any color you like will do.
The blanket may seem too heavy at the time of purchase, but this is only at first glance. Evenly distributed over the body of the baby, the weight will seem to be optimally matched.
If you make your own weighted blanket, you can soften it up a bit by adding a little fiberfill to each pocket on both sides of the pouch.
As the child grows, the weight of the duvet can also be adjusted by changing or adding heavier stuffing to the bags.

Here is a simple way to solve the problem of restless sleep in children and adults.

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Natalia Shelestova (Shelnv)

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Name Dimensions Weight View of the base by fabrics Price in UAH EMBRACE Fuzz (for babies 1 - 2 years old) 85 x 130 cm. 1.5 - 2.5 kg. Cotton flannel (standard) 1070 (1.5 kg) (+ 40 UAH for each additional ...

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Sensory blanket helps to calm down and sleep.

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In general, one could stop there. That says it all. How is it that "just a few pieces of fabric with plastic beads sewn into" works so well? Unfortunately, not for everyone. One can very much sympathize with those children (and those adults) for whom ...

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Weighted blankets are expensive in America (our price policy).

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It is not difficult to guess directly from the name that the weighted blanket differs from the “ordinary” blanket in greater weight. The weight of a weighted blanket can vary markedly depending on several factors, primarily the purpose of use, the weight and age of the wearer. Differ also ...

How people with autism themselves use weighted products (blanket, vest, knee weights).