The Tie Blanket Guide: Fabric, Sizes, Yardage and Knots
A tie blanket is two layers of fabric laid back to back, cut into strips around the edge, and knotted together in pairs. No sewing machine, no stitches, about two hours. It is the project most people make first, and the one most people get slightly wrong.
Nearly every tie blanket tutorial online is a fleece tutorial. Fleece earned that spot for one reason: cut it and the edge will not fray. That is worth knowing, because it is a property of knit fabric generally, not of fleece specifically, which means your options are wider than the tutorials suggest. And there is one decision none of them mention that quietly determines whether your finished blanket has a seam running down the middle of it. That decision is the width of the fabric on the bolt, and we get to it below.
What is a tie blanket?
A tie blanket is a no-sew blanket made from two layers of fabric held together by knotted fringe instead of stitching. You stack the two layers with the wrong sides facing each other, cut a square out of each corner, cut the edges into strips, then tie each top strip to the strip directly beneath it. The row of knots closes the blanket, and the tied strips become the fringe.
Because there is no stitching anywhere, no sewing machine is involved and no seam allowance is needed. A sharp pair of scissors or a rotary cutter and a straight edge will do the whole job.
How to make a tie blanket, step by step
These are the full tie blanket instructions. The specifications given here are the ones worth keeping: strips a full inch wide, fringe 5 inches deep, corner squares 5 inches to match.
- Pick your fabric and your finished size. Any knit that does not fray will work. If you are weighing fleece against something silkier, the comparison further down this page sets out what each fabric does and which ones fail. Decide the finished size at the same time, because it sets the yardage.
- Buy the yardage, remembering the fringe eats into it. Your cut size is the finished blanket body plus twice the fringe depth. A 5 inch fringe adds 10 inches to both the width and the length. Use the table in the next section rather than guessing.
- Wash and dry both fabrics before you cut. Polyester knits shrink very little, but any shrinkage that does happen is better before the blanket exists than after. Wash cold on a gentle cycle and air or line dry.
- Trim both layers to exactly the same size. Lay them on the floor, wrong sides together, and smooth out every wrinkle. Trim off the selvage edges, then square up both layers together so the cuts match. Uneven layers are the single most common reason a finished tie blanket hangs crooked.
- Cut a 5 inch square out of each of the four corners. Cut through both layers at once. This is what stops the corners bunching into a lump when you tie them, and it is the step beginners most often skip.
- Cut the fringe, through both layers together. Working around all four edges, cut strips 1 inch wide and 5 inches deep. Cutting both layers in one pass guarantees the top and bottom strips line up, which is what makes tying fast instead of fiddly.
- Tie each pair of strips with a square knot. Take a top strip and the bottom strip directly beneath it, and knot them as described in the knot section below. Work all the way around. Trim any strays at the end.
Corner squares first, then fringe. Both cuts go through both layers.
How much fabric do you need for a tie blanket?
For a throw, buy 2 yards of each of two fabrics, so 4 yards in total. That is the short answer and it covers the most common case.
The rule underneath it is worth learning, because it works at any size. Your cut size is the finished blanket body plus twice the fringe depth, since fringe is taken out of the fabric rather than added to it. With a 5 inch fringe, add 10 inches to the width and 10 inches to the length. Then divide the cut length in inches by 36 to get yards, and double the result, because a tie blanket has two layers.
Fabric is made to a fixed width, so what you actually buy is length. The table below is calculated against the narrow end of each width we stock, 58 inches and 89 inches, so the numbers hold even when a roll runs at the low end of its range.
| Blanket | Body after knots | Cut size | Per layer | Total | Seamless on 58″ fabric? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby or stroller | 30 × 36″ | 40 × 46″ | 1.5 yd | 3 yd | Yes |
| Toddler or nap | 36 × 48″ | 46 × 58″ | 1.75 yd | 3.5 yd | Yes |
| Throw | 48 × 60″ | 58 × 70″ | 2 yd | 4 yd | Yes, exactly |
| Twin | 60 × 80″ | 70 × 90″ | 2.5 yd | 5 yd | No, needs a seam |
| Queen | 80 × 90″ | 90 × 100″ | 2.8 yd | 5.6 yd | No, needs a seam |
Round up when you order. Buying an extra quarter yard costs a few dollars and covers a cutting error that would otherwise cost you the whole project. If the language around cuts and rolls is unfamiliar, EZ Fabric's help article on fabric cuts, yards, bolts, half rolls and rolls explains how each one is measured, and how to order fabric by the yard covers placing the order itself.
Why fabric width decides whether your blanket has a seam
Here is the thing the tutorials leave out. On 58 inch fabric, the widest seamless blanket body you can make is 48 inches, because the fringe takes 10 inches off the width. On 60 inch fabric it is 50 inches, and on 89 inch fabric it is 79 inches. Anything wider than that has to be pieced from two lengths and sewn together, which turns a no-sew project into a sewing project.
That threshold is why the twin row in the table above matters. A twin tie blanket needs a 70 inch cut. Seventy is more than 60, so on standard width fabric you are seaming. Seventy is less than 89, so on extra wide fabric you are not.
| Fabric width | Widest seamless cut | Widest seamless body | Largest size without a seam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 to 60″ (standard) | 58 to 60″ | 48 to 50″ | Throw |
| 89 to 90″ (extra wide) | 89 to 90″ | 79 to 80″ | Twin |
Most plush fabric, fleece included, is made at 58 to 60 inches. EZ Fabric's Solid Silky Minky Smooth is stocked in both widths, at 58 to 60 inches and at 89 to 90 inches, which is the reason the twin becomes possible without piecing. The specifications for each are listed in the help article on fabric specs, width, composition and pile.
Does tie blanket fabric have to be fleece?
No. A tie blanket works with any knit fabric that does not fray at a cut edge. Knits are built from interlocking loops rather than threads crossing at right angles, so a raw edge holds together instead of unravelling. That is what makes the whole no-sew method possible, and fleece is one member of that family rather than the only one.
Flat minky is the closest alternative. It is also a polyester knit, it also does not fray, and it has a silkier surface and more drape than fleece. The pile height is what decides whether a given minky suits this particular project.
| Fabric | Pile | Frays when cut? | Knots lie flat? | Good for a tie blanket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece | Napped, flat | No | Yes | Yes, the default choice |
| Flat minky, smooth | 3mm | No | Yes | Yes, silkier with more drape |
| Minky dot | 2.5mm embossed | No | Yes | Yes, adds surface texture |
| High pile plush | 8 to 30mm | No | No, too bulky | Save it for a sewn blanket |
| Quilting cotton, flannel | Woven, no pile | Yes | Yes, briefly | No |
What does not work, and why:
- Woven fabrics. Quilting cotton, flannel and linen are woven, not knitted, so a cut edge sheds threads. The fringe looks fine on day one and disintegrates after a wash or two. This is the most common reason a first tie blanket fails.
- Very stretchy jersey. It does not fray, but it distorts. Pulling a knot tight stretches the strip permanently, so the edge ends up wavy and the blanket loses its rectangle.
- High pile plush over about 8mm. It does not fray either, but a 1 inch strip of 20mm pile is essentially a rope. The knots sit up in a thick, lumpy ridge instead of lying flat, and the fringe never drapes. Deep pile is genuinely lovely fabric, just not for a knotted edge.
For this project, the practical sweet spot is a flat knit in the 2.5 to 3mm range. EZ Fabric's Solid Silky Minky Smooth sits at 3mm and its Solid Minky Dot at 2.5mm, both 100% polyester, and the range of solid minky in solid colors is the easiest place to pick two that coordinate. If you would rather feel it before committing, EZ sends 4 inch swatches, which for a two-layer project is cheap insurance.
Even knots and a flat fringe are what separate a finished blanket from a homemade one.
What is the best knot for a tie blanket?
The best knot for a tie blanket is a square knot. Take the top strip and the bottom strip, cross right over left and pull through, then cross left over right and pull through. The two halves mirror each other, and the finished knot sits flat against the edge of the blanket.
If you cross the same direction twice, you have tied a granny knot instead. It looks almost identical and it is considerably worse. A granny knot is regarded as inferior to the square knot for binding, and can release suddenly and unpredictably. On a blanket that gets dragged around and washed, that is exactly the failure people describe when they say their fringe came undone.
You do not need to double tie if the square knot is tied correctly. A second knot piled on top adds bulk to the fringe without adding much security. Pull each knot snug rather than tight: strangling the strip stretches it and puckers the edge.
Where to buy fabric for a tie blanket, and what one costs
Buy it by the yard, in two coordinating cuts of the same length. Any fabric shop that sells plush knits by the yard will do, online or local. EZ Fabric has been cutting minky and faux fur in the Los Angeles Fashion District since 1995, sells by the yard with same-day shipping, and offers pickup from the showroom for anyone local.
The cost is easy to work out once you have the yardage. At the time of writing, EZ Fabric's Solid Silky Minky Smooth runs $14.95 a yard at 58 to 60 inches and $17.90 a yard at 89 to 90 inches, and the Solid Minky Dot is $15.90 a yard.
| Blanket | Fabric | Total yardage | Fabric cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby or stroller | Smooth, 60″ | 3 yd | $44.85 |
| Throw | Smooth, 60″ | 4 yd | $59.80 |
| Twin, no seam | Smooth, 90″ | 5 yd | $89.50 |
That is materials only. If you are selling finished blankets, the fabric is your floor and not your price: add your cutting and tying time, packaging, and the platform's fees before you land on a number. Makers producing batches can buy the same fabrics wholesale from 30 yards, with no income requirement and no annual minimum.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do you need for a tie blanket?
For a throw, buy 2 yards of each of two fabrics, so 4 yards in total on 58 to 60 inch fabric. The rule behind it: your cut size is the finished blanket body plus twice the fringe depth. With a 5 inch fringe that adds 10 inches to each direction. Divide the cut length in inches by 36 to get yards, then double it, because a tie blanket has two layers.
Do you double tie a tie blanket?
One square knot per pair of strips is enough if you tie it correctly. Take the top strip and the bottom strip, cross right over left and pull through, then cross left over right and pull through. That is a square knot and it lies flat. Crossing the same direction twice makes a granny knot, which sits crooked and works loose. A second knot on top of a square knot adds bulk without adding much security.
Can you make a tie blanket without fleece?
Yes. A tie blanket works with any knit fabric that does not fray at a cut edge. Flat minky at 2.5 to 3mm is the closest alternative to fleece and gives a silkier surface with more drape. Avoid woven fabrics such as quilting cotton and flannel, because the fringe frays apart, and avoid high pile over about 8mm, because the knots become too bulky to lie flat.
How many yards do you need for a twin size tie blanket?
A twin tie blanket with a 60 by 80 inch body needs a 70 by 90 inch cut, which is 2.5 yards per layer and 5 yards in total. On 58 to 60 inch fabric the 70 inch cut does not fit the width, so two pieces have to be seamed together. On 89 to 90 inch fabric it fits, so the blanket has no seam.
Why does a tie blanket fringe come untied in the wash?
Almost always because the knots are granny knots rather than square knots. A granny knot sits crooked and can release under load. Cutting the fringe too narrow contributes too, because a strip under about 1 inch wide has less to grip. Cut strips a full inch wide and 5 inches deep, and tie right over left, then left over right.
Once the blanket is made, wash it cold on a gentle cycle and air or line dry it. EZ Fabric's guide to washing and caring for your fabric covers what to expect from plush knits over time. And if you are making this as a seasonal gift, the Halloween blanket fabric guide works through yardage for that project the same way, and our Halloween minky fabric is where those prints live.