Has anyone made a weighted blanket?

[BitchImTheSecretIngredient]

Hi,

Looking at making a weighted blanket for DS who has ASD. Any tips/resources appreciated! :)

They're tricky to make. The weights have to be evenly distributed and correct for the child's size.

You can buy nice ones online for around £35. There's discounted ones in Wilkos if you're quick.

DD has one that I bought on ebay. It's lovely quality and so soft. She sleeps on top of it rather than under it - but there you go. That's ASD for you...

I love doing crafts and making things but a weighted blanket isn't something I'd try to do myself.

Not tried it but I imagine it would be quite tricky, and it’s probably more expensive to buy the materials than it is to buy the complete item.

Is there a particular design that she wants? If so, could you perhaps appliqué characters onto a shop-bought weighted blanket? I have tried putting them in duvet covers but they tend to bunch up.

Yes! Used old (thick cotton) curtain fabric from previous owners. The weighted beads cost £9 for more than enough. I cover it with a single duvet cover so can remove it to wash.

I saw a YouTube quilter, Rob Appell, making a weighted quilt and he said he broke so many needles with the glass beads!
He measured out the weight in beads, divided it by 20 IIRC and sewed a 4x5 pocket quilt, pouring in the beads and sewing up the pockets. For £35 I think I’d buy one.

Thanks everyone! Think ill stick to a shop bought one :)

I made one but that was before they were so popular and available from Aldi/Amazon cheaply. It was about £50 for materials: plush fabric, lining, soft backing fabric and the plastic beads. My son sleeps on top of it too but its truly soothing.

My tip - use checked flannel fabric for one side, looks cool and helps you sew all those straight lines. Also use a walking foot as the pile on the plush fabric makes it wander about everywhere!

There are instructions online for filling up the pockets row by row to get an even distribution. It would be worth it if your child really wants a particular colour or character I guess.