I once went to a Women in Business seminar where the middle aged woman said, "A micro-business is a great way to use those middle of the night insomnia times." She was right. I didn't work on business stuff, though, when I woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I made a weighted blanket. I priced these online and decided I could make one myself.
A weighted blanket is helpful for people who have sensory challenges. They can be calming to some kids' bodies who have autism. My son who has autism likes to use one. Never put them over a child's head, though. I used pinto beans as the weights in my weighted blanket. It's a bit like a puff comforter but instead of stuffing with polyester stuffing you put beans in the squares.
1. You make a big pillowcase. Crib sized is a good size, but the one I made is a bit bigger.
2. Turn the pillowcase right side out and mark vertical lines equally spaced apart. Sew on these lines.
3. Put a cup of beans in each vertical channel and then sew horizontally across the quilt. These seals the beans in to the squares. Repeat until you get to the top, and then sew closed.
This is a quick and easy weighted blanket, but obviously is not washable. If I wanted to, I could make a duvet cover for the weighted blanket. If I were going to do this again, I might design it differently, so that the weights would be bean bags that could be tucked inside pockets. But I have one for now... I did learn some things NOT to do. Add the beans just before you sew each square closed. Have a large table with a lot of holding room for the weighted blanket to the left of your sewing machine. Use a fabric that has some stiffness to it - it's easier to sew. But you don't want it to be too rough.
Here are some other directions for making weighted blankets.
http://www.fraser.org/tip_sheets/weighted_blanket.pdf
http://www.fraser.org/tip_sheets/travel_weighted_blanket.pdf
keep you from doing what you can do."
John Wooden
3 comments:
Our child uses a weighted blanket, that has poly pellets for weights and can be machine washed and dried. It was reasonably priced and was purchased from a woman who started making them because her child has autism and needed one to help him sleep. It was purchased from DreamCatcher Weighted Blankets here's the site. www.weightedblanket.net
What a wonderful idea! I've a close friend with autistic child and had never heard of "deep pressure sensory stimulation". Makes sense.
C&G Design from western Maine. Yeh!
I have seen these blankets at an autism meeting we went to with our daughter. She has Aspergers, and does not have a sensory problem. I never understood what they were for until the lady who made them stood up and explained.
Mary
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