Sharing the Weight blankets (How to)

I have recently started helping my friend Marci out with her non-profit organization, Sharing the Weight. She makes weighted blankets to help special needs kids sleep better and overcome temper tantrums faster. www.facebook.com/sharingtheweight

I have personally felt a 7 pound blanket on my shoulders and it feels like you are getting a hug. I thought hey maybe these blankets would help my son who has horribly nasty tempter tantrums (still at 5 years old ...well past the "terrible twos" stage people were saying it was ... believe me I've had 2 other kids I know the difference between 'terrible twos' and 'somethings wrong'. 
I have gotten a lot of questions asking how these blankets are made and I thought I'd give a fast overview.  If you have more questions (because I didn't explain it well.) Feel free to contact me directly and I'll try to better explain it.

Items you'll need.
3 yards of fabric (1 1/2 yards of each color all one piece)
Polly Pellets (You might wanna stock up on your coupons for Michaels and JoAnns these can get expensive)
Thread
Masking tape
Measuring tape
Sewing Machine
Double sided washable tape (not sure this guys real name but its in the sewing area)

I would suggest for a child you a medium size blanket.  (5-7 pounds) You can do a smaller one (3lbs) but then you'll end up having to make another down the road.  I will be giving the sizes for a 5-7lbs blanket.   You will need two pieces of fabric 1 1/2 yards long.  Put the two pieces together pretty sides together (with the bad sides facing OUT)      ***Side note. you can use whatever materials you want but use what is easiest for you to sew.. if you are a beginner I'd use a polyester/cotton blend... but you can use soft fleeces and anything else your child will sleep comfortably with.***

Pin 3 sides and sew around the 3 pined sides (leave the longest side open to be the top you will fill the blanket up through the top later.)
Once you have sewn around the 3 sides cut the two bottom corners, this will give you a cleaner corner. 

Turn your blanket right side out now. Pin the edges so you get the most perfect egde and sew around the 3 edges twice.  **You'll wanna be keeping all those poly pellets inside!**

 

Be SURE you are not starting and stopping at the very top of your blanket.  Start/End about 2 inches from the edge of the fill area.  You will need to be able to end the blanket after all the pellets have been placed inside. 

Once you have gotten the edging done you are on to getting the blanket ready to fill.  You will need to get the tape and measure out 6inches from the inside seem.  Like in the photo above.  You will sew along these lines (again not sewing all the way to the top save about 2 inches of wiggle room.)   Once you have these lines sewn you can fill each pocket will the poly pellets.  I used a little less then a 1/4th of a cup for a 5lbs blanket.  Adjust accordingly for a heavier blanket.

You will need to get  your tape and measure out 6 in lines going up the blanket this time.  Every time you add pellets you will sew another line. making your way to the top (open top part of the blanket.)   You should have evenly portioned squares when you get to the top edge of the blanket.

Now I apologize but I forgot to take photos when I got to the end of the blanket.  When you get to the last line that will need filled you will need to use the double sided tape.  Pour in your pellets fold the edges over and tape them together.  Once you've done this all the way down the line you can sew just the way you did for the other 3 sides.  (Making sure you start at your already done sides turning the edge doing the top and then finishing on the other side.  (You should have about 2 inches per side to fill in.)    Before you are completely finished your fill lines might not have been all the way to the top of the blanket.  So if your pellets went into the wrong pockets go ahead and move them to a good spacing. Once you have the pellets where you want them sew from the top of the blanket to the line that is unfinished.   

 This SHOULD have gotten you a finished blanket.  Like I said if I messed anything up (Which I'm sure I did.)  Let me know and I'll try explaining it again!