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Fabric Choices
Linda,
Josh and the whole family want to thank you for the wonderful blanket that you made for us. He loves it and sleeps better with his "magic blanket". I appreciate how quickly you made it and the quality is remarkable. I know that your efforts positively impact many lives. Thank you so much!
BTW, we loved the other blankets we bought from you. The quality is great. Thank you ! K. Young., Residential Program for Autistic Children.
S. W. enjoying her new weighted blanket and lap pad
Pick a stuffed animal that is 16" or up. Make sure that it is good quality and it does not have arms, legs and head that are sewed off from the body. You want to be able to stuff the entire animal. Use a seam ripper to open a 2 inch opening in a hidden seam. Make sure it is one of the main seams (you will see large threads). Take out most of the stuffing and set aside. Add weight (I sew the weight into packets first but that is optional). Add back in some of the batting to make the animal full. For weights you can use Poly Pellets (buy at Joann's or online at Battmart). Since you may not be washing the animal you can also use dried beans. Use heavy duty or upholstery thread to close the seam. Do three to five passes to make sure the seam it shut tight. You can add a piece of scrap to the area you are sewing for extra support.
How to Make a Weighted Lap Pad:
Easy No Sew Method: Purchase a large Wine bottle Gift bag. Wine bags are usually cotton and come in fun patterns with ties at the top. They make small lap pads. Add dried beans and tie the top strings into double knots or hot glue shut. For hot/cold pad use deer corn which can be heated for one minute in a microwave or put in freezer.
Sewn Method: Supplies: Weights (Poly Pellets or dried beans if you don't plan on washing it), Marking Chalk, Pins,Yardstick, Thread, 1 Yard Fabric (any type works well, fleece,comfy flannel, cotton that is lined, or denim)
Cut two pieces of fabric to desired size and pin right sides together. You are welcome to use the size of my lap pad as a guide.
Sew three sides leaving one long side open
Turn inside out and do a top stitch around the three sides still leaving the one side open
Measure the width of the lap pad and divide by four
Use the chalk to draw vertical lines up from the bottom to the opening
Sew the four vertical lines leaving the top open
Add even weight to each of the four columns leaving at least 2 inches at the top and pin closed
Sew across the top closing the width of the lap pad
Trim the edges or use a pinking shear or serger
Once you make a weighted lap pad you have the basic steps for a weighted blanket.
Linda-
Just thought I'd drop a quick note to tell you how much we love the bibs that we ordered for the little boy at our daycare. They work wonderfully! I love the size of both the regular bib and the lap bib. Even though he is an intense drooler, the bib's material does not stay wet - it dries so quickly. Before we bought your bibs, we were going through upwards of 5-6 bibs per day. Now we are using just one of your bibs per day. I'm so glad I found your website and your product.
