I'm certain that most of you have seen--or at least heard of--a Quillow. It's a lap-sized quilt with a pocket at one end, making it possible to fold up the quilt, stuff it into the pocket and turn the quilt into a pillow. Well, a Blillow? I gave it that weird name since I don't know what it's REALLY called. It is practically the same thing as a Quillow, except it's a lightweight blanket instead of a quilt so it is very quick and easy to make. It doesn't give you the warmth of a quilt, but it's nice to toss over your shoulders or lap on a chilly evening, or even to take to a football game if it's still early autumn.
Materials:
1-3/4 yards of 60-inch wide fleece fabric
four-ply yarn in contrasting or complementary color sewing machine or needle and thread
Steps:
- For the blanket, cut a piece of fleece 60 inches long (the width of the fabric) and 47 inches wide. For the pocket, cut a 15-1/2 inches square.
- The fleece I purchased had a rolled-over selvage edge so I folded each end over the same amount to make a matching hem (figure A). Pin to hold.
- Blanket stitch across the top edge of the pocket (figure B), then position the pocket in the center of the blanket along one end (figure C). The unstitched end is placed along the edge of the blanket, positioning it inside the folded selvage edge of the blanket.
- Turn in side edges of pocket 1/4 of an inch, and stitch to the blanket. Stitch only along the side edges. The top (blanket-stitched edge) stays open.
- Blanket stitch around entire outside edge of blanket, catching in the bottom of the pocket as you go.
Carol's Tips:
- To guide you in making very straight lines and evenly-spaced stitches around the edge, place a strip of computer paper edging along the edge of the blanket (figure D) and stitch through the sprocket holes, or mark the holes and remove the paper before stitching.
- Place blanket over your lap. If you position it pocket side down, you can warm your feet in the pocket.
Blillow-to-Pillow:
Lay blanket flat with the pocket side down. Fold blanket in thirds lengthwise (
figure E), then in fourths in the opposite direction (
figure F) so you have it folded directly on top of the pocket. Turn the pocket over the blanket to encase it. Voile! A pillow!
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