You can learn how to make a weighted blanket with removable weights in two easy steps. It’s always useful that you make a blanket with removable weights so that you can adjust it to your preference. You can even follow this guide and skip the buttons if you want the weights to be permanent.
We have taught you before how to make a weighted blanket with glass beads. But for this tutorial, we’ll be using plastic beads. Without further ado, let’s get started!
How To Make A Weighted Blanket With Removable Weights Easily
1. Plan your blanket and prepare the materials
Like making other blankets, you have to cut two fabric pieces according to the size of the finished blanket you want. The blanket’s ideal size should have the width and height enough to cover the person who’ll use it. After you have the front and back pieces, you will need to make the weight pockets.
They can range from three to five inches with four inches allowance for the finished blanket edge. Then, prepare enough plastic beads for filling the blanket later. How heavy should your weighted blanket bed?
A guideline to remember is that the blanket should be as heavy as 10% of the person’s weight using it. Be sure to divide the number to know how to distribute the beads for each filler pocket.
2. Sew the fabric pieces
Sew the blanket’s front and back pieces but remember to leave the top open for turning it later. A ⅜ seam allowance should suffice, then you can turn the blanket right side out to open the seams. Topstitch ¼ inches from the edge so that you’ll also end where you start from the gap.
Stitch two inches in from the fabric edge or two inches from the gap to finish sewing the two long sides and bottom. To reinforce the durability of your weighted blanket, you want to backstitch at the beginning and end. Then, sew two inches from the inner topstitching to connect the vertical channels of your blanket.
Place enough plastic pellets into the channels to reach your desired blanket weight. Sew all the vertical channels and proceed to close the open end you left earlier. Stitch the last row of squares when you’re sewing the channels and start and finish sewing where the topstitching ends on the sides after folding the edges of the open side at half an inch.
How to make the weights removable?
Since you want to make the weight adjustable by having the option to lessen the pellets, you’ll just need to add buttonholes. This way, you can place the blanket into a duvet cover to keep everything in place.
How Do I Make A Washable Weighted Blanket?
Making a washable weighted blanket is as easy as using washable fillers. Use plastic filler beads instead of organic fillers like rice, beans, or even sand. Follow our two-step guide above, and you can ensure that the resulting weighted blanket will be safely washable.
If you used fillers like sand or rice, you risk damaging the blanket and have it clump up. The blanket will no longer be comfortable because the weight it provides is poorly distributed. It may also fail to dry thoroughly, and you risk developing mold.
How to wash a weighted blanket
Proper care of weighted blankets will ensure that they will be comfortable for years to come. However, remember to wash your blanket according to what’s appropriate for its fabric and filler type. While plastic pellets are washable, avoid using hot temperatures as they might melt, unlike glass beads.
Your blanket fabrics might also be safer to hang dry rather than throwing them in the dryer at a tumble setting. The best way to extend your weighted blanket’s lifespan is to remember these washing considerations and also try your best to keep it clean. To do this, use a removable cover that you can wash more often.
The removable blanket we’ve taught you can use a duvet cover. And finally, ventilate your blanket regularly to deodorize, freshen, and disinfect it safely.
What Can I Use To Fill A Weighted Blanket?
The most common fillers for weighted blankets are glass beads and plastic pellets. The former is loved because of their durability, but plastic pellets are more low maintenance. Some blankets can also get heavy using sand, rice, beans, or even steel shot beads.
If you’re making the weighted blanket yourself, be sure to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the material you want to use. Remember that some of them can’t get wet as they might clump up. More so, the resulting deep touch pressure from the blanket’s weight should provide relief and not discomfort.
Is It Bad To Use A Weighted Blanket That Is Too Heavy?
Using a weighted blanket that is too heavy will feel uncomfortable. Therefore, you must only make something as heavy as 10% of the person’s weight that will use it. You should also adjust accordingly if a child or elderly will use the weighted blanket.
Conclusion
You can take advantage of deep touch pressure by using weighted blankets. But if you want to know how to make a weighted blanket with removable weights for more control, we’ve simplified the process into two steps. You just need to make a blanket using two fabric pieces and fill the vertical channels with plastic pellets.
Remember to finish this project with buttons so you can remove the weights as you like.