Today I have made.....

[lou031205]

A weighted blanket & a weighted lap cushion for DD1.

Cost to me - £18

Cost to buy £140!!!

I can't believe that I managed to make them, because I last used a sewing machine at school 18 years ago when I was 12.

[lou031205]

[Shells]

Can you post a picture Lou? interested to see how they look. Well done!

[mysonben]

Well done

[debs40]

Wow, How??

[Seuss]

v.impressive - what method did you use? Cushion is a good idea, I could probably cope with a cushion - not so far to keep the sewing straight! Well done!

[Barmymummy]

Oh wow! Yes pics definately and tell us how you did it!!! Well done you!

[MumOfThreeMonkeys]

you could start a wee business from home well done!

[lou031205]

Will try and post a picture soon

debs40 -

Materials
Weighted blanket
2 x single matress protectors from Ikea (£2.50 each)
1 quilt cover for single bed
Pre-expanded polystyrene beads.

Method
1.Decide size of blanket. Cut matress protector to length, then use off cut to make extra width. Sew together to form finished blanket size.
2.Repeat with 2nd one.

1. Sew protectors together on 3 sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open.
2. Turn quilt cover inside out, and sew onto mattress protectors on 3 sides.
3. Turn the whole thing right-way in, so that you have the mattress protectors inside the quilt cover.
4. Mark lines down the length of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart.
5. Mark lines across the width of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart, forming squares.
6. Calculate 10% of your child's body weight, and add 1lb (454g). This is the total weight of your blanket.
7. Weigh the blanket.

10. Take the weight of the blanket away from the total of 8. This is the weight of beads needed.
11. Count how many squares are on your blanket (number of squares on long side x number of squares on short side).
12. Divide weight of beads by number of squares. This gives weight of beads per square.
13. Sew a line of stitching up each line on the long side of the quilt, creating long columns.
14. Weigh out beads into a pot for each pocket in the width of the blanket. Fill each column with beads, making sure they reach the bottom of the blanket (I used a plastic tube with a funnel taped onto the end).
15. Sew across the first line at the bottom end of the blanket.
16. Repeat steps 14 & 15 until you reach the top of the blanket.
17. Turn the edges of the open end inwards, and sew a hem line.
18. Congratulate yourself.

Weighted lap cushion
Materials
1x Pillow protector from IKEA (£1.49)
1x Pillow case from argos (part of set)
Beads

Method - as for blanket. Trim to size desired. But calculate 5% of body weight for total weight of cushion. Personal preference, but I made mine with 'Oxford pillow case' edging, which simply means sew 1inch around the edge of cushion before marking and sewing pockets.

Cost-wise, I paid £6.50 for inners, £6 for the duvet set, and £4.50 for the beads, plus £3 for thread, so total cost for both items is £20.

[debs40]

Wow....thanks for that. You are very clever

[lou031205]

Thank you! Photos now on profile.

[MumOfThreeMonkeys]

brilliant! looks just like the one i paid £120 for! i really think you should think about selling them for like £50 on ebay!

[lou031205]

MumofThreeMonkeys, thank you. Perhaps I should. Would need to speed up a bit to make it worth my while. Ouch at £120, but if it works...

[MumOfThreeMonkeys]

yours looks just like the one i bought, im well impressed. you should be proud of yourself!

[Seuss]

That looks really good!