Ok, this is C&P of my post when I made the WB in November '2009, with a few added details:
Materials
Weighted blanket
2 x single matress protectors from Ikea (£2.50 each) - Or you can use any Fine woven 'wadding' type material.
1 quilt cover for single bed (You can use off-the-roll material if you want a fancy design, but I found quilt covers cheaper).
Pre-expanded polystyrene beads. (You can buy them on ebay for 'reborn dolls')
You will need to know your child's weight.
Method
1.Decide size of blanket. Cut mattress protector to length, then use off cut to make extra width. Sew together to form finished blanket size. (Obviously, if you use 'wadding' material, just cut to size).
2.Repeat with 2nd one.
- Sew protectors together on 3 sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open.
- Turn quilt cover inside out, and sew onto mattress protectors on 3 sides.
- Turn the whole thing right-way in, so that you have the mattress protectors inside the quilt cover.
- Mark lines down the length of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart.
- Mark lines across the width of the blanket 4-inches (10cm) apart, forming squares.
- Calculate 10% of your child's body weight, and add 1lb (454g). This is the total weight of your blanket after filling.
- Weigh the unfilled 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.