You've got your two pieces of fleece laid out on the floor. Maybe it’s that classic anti-pill stuff from Joann’s or a heavy blizzard fleece you found on sale. You’re ready to make something cozy. But then you hit the corner. Honestly, the corner is where most tie blankets go to die or, at the very least, where they start looking like a middle school art project gone wrong. If you just start cutting and tying haphazardly, you’ll end up with a weird, gathered bunch of fabric that refuses to lay flat. It's frustrating.
Learning how to do a tie blanket corner isn't just about making a knot; it's about the geometry of the fabric. Fleece has stretch. It has bulk. When you tie two layers together, you're essentially adding a massive amount of volume to a single point. If you don't remove the "dead space" at the corner first, that volume has nowhere to go but up. That's how you get the dreaded "corner bulge."
Most people think they can just wing it. They can't. Not if they want it to look good.
The Square Cut: Why 4x4 Is the Magic Number
Before you even touch your scissors to the sides, you have to deal with the four corners of your fleece stack. You’re going to cut a square out of every corner. This feels counterintuitive to beginners because you’re literally throwing away fabric you just paid for, but it’s the only way to ensure the edges meet up properly without overlapping.
What size should the square be? Usually, it matches the length of your fringe. If you want 4-inch ties, you cut a 4x4 inch square out of the corner. Some people prefer 5 inches for a chunkier look, while others go smaller at 3 inches for a tighter, more refined edge.
Don't guess. Get a template.
I’ve seen people use a post-it note, a piece of cardboard, or even a square plastic lid. Whatever you use, make sure it’s a true square. If your corner cut is crooked, your first few ties are going to be crooked, and that tension will pull the whole blanket out of alignment. You’ll be halfway down the long side of the blanket before you realize the top layer is three inches shorter than the bottom layer. It’s a nightmare to fix.
Cutting the Fringe Without Losing Your Mind
Once the corner squares are gone, you’re left with an L-shape at the edges. Now you start cutting your strips. Most experts—and by experts, I mean the grandmas who have been doing this for decades—suggest strips about 1 inch wide.
Go wider, and the knots get too bulky.
Go thinner, and the fleece might tear if you pull too hard.
Here is the trick for the ties immediately adjacent to that empty corner space: don’t pull them toward the corner. When you start tying the strips next to the hole you just cut, there’s a tendency to pull the fabric inward to fill the gap. Stop. Keep your tension neutral. You want the fabric to lay exactly where it naturally falls. If you pull those first few ties too tight, the corner of the blanket will curl upward like a stale potato chip. Nobody wants a potato chip blanket.
The "Overhand" vs. "Square" Knot Debate
How you tie the knot matters just as much as how you cut the corner.
- The Overhand Knot: This is the most common. You take both layers, loop them around your finger, and pull the ends through. It creates a "bobble" or a bead-like look. It’s very secure, but it consumes more of the fringe length.
- The Square Knot: You tie the two pieces together like you’re starting to tie a shoe, then do it again. Left over right, then right over left. This lays flatter, but if your fleece is very thick, it can look a bit messy.
If you’re worried about the corners looking "thin," use the overhand knot. It adds bulk right at the edge, which mimics the look of a finished hem. Just be consistent. If you switch knot styles halfway through, the tension will change, and the blanket will warp.
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Dealing With the "Fleece Creep"
Fleece is notorious for "creeping." This happens when the top layer of fabric slowly shifts independently of the bottom layer as you work your way around the blanket. By the time you get to the final corner, you might find that your top layer is hanging over by two inches.
To prevent this, pin the corners first.
Use those big quilting safety pins. Pin the center of each side, too. This anchors the fabric. When you know how to do a tie blanket corner correctly, you realize that the preparation is 90% of the work. The actual tying is just the "busy work" you do while watching Netflix.
The Surgical Method: The "T-Cut"
For those who want a truly professional finish, there is a variation called the T-cut. Instead of a simple square, some crafters cut a slightly deeper notch into the corner to allow the first knots to sit more flush against each other.
It’s a bit advanced. It requires a steady hand and a very sharp rotary cutter. If you’re using dull kitchen scissors, stick to the basic square cut. Dull blades chew the fleece, leaving behind jagged edges that pill faster and look "hairy" after the first wash.
Speaking of washing—always wash your fleece before you start if you can. While fleece doesn't shrink much, it can have "factory dust" or chemical residues that make it slippery. A quick wash makes the fibers "grab" each other better when you tie the knots.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Your Corners
People often forget that fleece has a "right" side and a "wrong" side. The right side is usually fuzzier or has a more vibrant print. Ensure both "right" sides are facing outward (one facing the floor, one facing the ceiling) before you cut your corners. If you have them "right sides together" like you’re sewing a pillow, you’ll end up with an inside-out mess when you try to flip it.
Another big one: cutting the strips too deep.
If your corner square was 4 inches, your strips must be exactly 4 inches. If you accidentally cut a strip 5 inches deep, you’ve created a hole in the main body of the blanket. You can’t "untie" a hole. You’d have to trim the entire blanket down by an inch to fix it. Measure twice. Cut once.
Making it Last: The Double Knot Security
Fleece doesn't fray. That is its superpower. However, the knots can migrate. Over time, especially with kids or pets dragging the blanket around, the knots can loosen.
When you get to the corner ties—the ones that take the most stress—give them an extra tug. Not enough to distort the fabric, but enough to "set" the knot. Some people even use a tiny drop of fray check or a single stitch of thread on the corner knots, though that’s usually overkill for a casual project.
Finishing the Look
Once all four corners are done and the perimeter is tied, lay the blanket flat on a hard floor. Don’t do this on a rug; the friction will lie to you.
Smooth it out from the center toward the edges. If the corners are pulling in, gently stretch the knots outward. If the edges are wavy, you might have tied them too tight. You can usually massage the fleece back into place. Fleece is forgiving, which is why we love it.
Actionable Next Steps for a Perfect Finish
- Buy a Rotary Cutter and Mat: If you plan on making more than one of these, skip the scissors. A rotary cutter ensures your 1-inch strips are actually 1 inch wide, which makes the knots uniform.
- Template your Squares: Cut a 4x4 (or 5x5) piece of heavy cardboard now. Write "Blanket Corner" on it and keep it in your craft bin. Consistency is the difference between a "homemade" look and a "handmade" look.
- Check the Stretch: Before cutting, pull your fabric. Fleece usually stretches more in one direction than the other. Try to align your pieces so the stretch matches; otherwise, one side of your corner will be tighter than the other.
- Start at the Corners: Don't tie all the way down one side and then do the corner. Tie the corner knots first to "lock" the blanket's shape, then fill in the sides. This prevents the layers from shifting as you work.
- Trim the "Tails": After tying, you might notice some fringe pieces are longer than others due to the fabric stretching. Take your scissors and do a final pass to trim the ends of the fringe so they are all uniform. It makes a massive visual difference.
Getting the corners right is really just about patience and a bit of cardboard. Once you've mastered the square cut-out, the rest of the blanket is just repetitive motion. You've got this. Grab your fleece, find a good movie, and get to work.