This DIY fringed flannel throw is cozy, fashionable, and easy to make for about $10, making it a great handmade holiday gift!
My mom starts asking us for Christmas lists every year in July. No joke. We all act like she’s crazy, saying we couldn’t possibly start thinking about Christmas that far in advance. Of course, when it’s a week before Christmas and I’m praying that Amazon Prime will get my last minute purchases to me in time, she’s relaxing because all her gifts have been wrapped and ready to go for a month. So I thought I’d plan gifts early this year so I’ll actually be able to enjoy the holidays instead of waiting around for the UPS guy or staying up all night sewing frantically. That means starting now, especially for handmade gifts. My first DIY gift idea of the season is this simple fringed flannel throw.
Plaid is everywhere right now and fringe has been popular for a few years, meaning this easy to make throw is right on trend. It’s the perfect size for throwing over your shoulders on a cool night or covering your lap and feet while reading a book, without being as heavy or hot as a large blanket.
It makes a lovely gift and it takes hardly any sewing! You can have one done in about an hour for just over 10 dollars.
To make a fringed flannel throw, you’ll need one and three quarters yards of nice thick flannel. I used flannel from the “Plaiditudes” line at Jo-Ann Fabrics. There are lots of different colors and types of plaids and it’s a nice weight and gorgeously soft (don’t use flannel shirting – it will be too thin). It’s about $10/yd, so if you use a 40% off coupon it will cost just over $10 for 1.75 yards.
Your cut piece of fabric will be about 45 inches wide and 65 inches long. Each of the long sides will be a selvage, which will be a finished edge, and each of the short sides will be the cut edge, which you’ll be able to fray if you pull at the threads. Trim both cut edges in a nice straight line. It’s easiest to cut right along the plaid to get a very straight edge.
On this particular fabric one selvage is very clean, while the other has a few messy threads. Just go ahead and clip those threads off all the way down the length of the fabric.
Next you’ll want to decide how long you want your fringe. Mine is nearly and inch and a half long, and I love the look. However, over time and multiple washing a shorter fringe (like half and inch) will stay tidier looking. I did wash my throw and the fringe got a bit tangled – I was able to smooth it out though. Additionally, shorter fringe won’t take you as long to make. Longer fringe = prettier. Shorter fringe = faster and less likely to get tangled in multiple washings. You decide 🙂
From the cut edge, make a cut the depth of your fringe near each selvage edge, as shown below. This will make it easier to pull out threads to create the fringe. Then sew a straight line from one selvage edge to the other selvage edge, again at the depth you want your fringe. Use a short stitch length. This will provide a barrier so the fabric doesn’t continue to fray past where you want the fringe to end. If you want to wash the throw before you give it away, do that now. Washing and drying it will fray the cut edges a bit, starting the fringing process for you.
Now you get to start pulling threads. Basically you want to pull out all the threads that run selvage to selvage until you get to the seam you just sewed, creating a fringe. I found that just trying to yank the threads out didn’t work very well because they kept breaking. After a few tries, I found this was the best way: hold the fabric across your lap with one cut edge up toward you. Use a seam ripper or a pin to grab a thread and pull it gently away from the fabric (1st photo below). Then pull the thread sideways, which will gather up the fabric (2nd photo below). Keep pulling the thread one way and the fabric the other way until the thread comes loose. Don’t pull hard, or the thread will snap. Start kind of slow and gentle until you get the hang of it.
If the thread snaps, no biggie. Just find it and keep pulling it sideways until it comes out. Continue pulling threads out until you have the desired depth of fringe. In the photo below you can see the fringe as well as the black line of stitching that I sewed across the fabric in the first step.
Repeat all the steps for the other side. This throw took about an hour total, and it’s a great project to work on while you’re watching your favorite show.
One last thing I want to mention is that I bought another color of fabric from the same fabric line at Jo-Ann’s, but when I started to fringe it the threads snapped much more often, making it harder to fringe. I ended up only doing about half an inch on either side because it was taking too long. If you know you want a deeper fringe, you may want to ask for a swatch of fabric to do some “test fringing” on to make sure it’s going to work.
Sue says
Great idea, thank you for this tutorial.
Judy says
Love it! Thanks so much
Michelle says
So easy and fun! I will definitely be making a few of these~
I bet it would make a nice teacher gift too!
LARA says
I love this, so easy. I looked at the Plaiditudes at JoAnn’s and lo and behold they’re on sale for 40% off until Oct 3, plus starting today there’s a 25% off coupon usable on sale items, so I got enough for 3 of them plus a couple of other things for $26. There’s three gifts there (two for teachers). Yeah. Thank you.
Breenah says
I randomly bought some plaid fabric because it was on sale and cute and decided to make myself a scarf with it, but didn’t have a plan on how to do the edges. Lo and behold, I did it this exact way without seeing your post first. It made me feel smart seeing someone else had done it the same way 🙂
Christie says
Im always on the lookout for easy inexpensive handmade gifts and this one fits the bill! Definitely going to be making a few for Christmas presents this year. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial! <3
Amanda says
Thank you for this fabulous gift idea! I’m finishing my 4th one today as part of my homemade Christmas.
Kate says
I love this! Cute and simple and I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t want this!
nancy Ashley says
Great idea! I’m going to try it!!!
Jennifer says
Love the idea! Have you washed it since finishing it, and did it affect the fringe?
Veronica Norris says
What a quick and simple gift idea. Thanks for sharing.
Kimn says
I just got home from buying my flannel! I have a girls weekend coming up and wanted to take something to our hostess. Who wouldn’t like one of these cute throws. All the prep work is done. I’m washing it with those scented laundry beads and then I will commence fraying. Hope it turns out as nice as yours did!
Thanks for a great/fun project idea!
Amy says
Great throw! Do I cut the fringe all the way across before I start to fray it?
Sonya B. says
Thanks for the great tutorial. I am making a pretty grey and white plaid flannel and am going to go get lots more colors now. It took a little bit to figure out how to do the fringe, but I did exactly as you said and now it’s actually really fun! I am going to make some for my family, my dogs, and maybe some gifts.
Thanks!
Allison Morawski says
Hello! I’m new to sewing and I’m wondering what do I do on the sides that don’t get fringed? To i fold it over to make a hem or do I just top stitch it? Thank you!
Pam says
love what i see…would like to be on your email list 🙂
Love Learning says
Flannel throws are so classic and improve the look of almost any room, chair, or bed. Thanks for the quick guide on how to make my own. Looking forward to getting a few of these finished and in my house.
Kate says
Great gift! I really like it! I’ll try to make one.
foreveryone says
Thank you for the article! I will try to do it as well. I really liked the way you wrote.
Rachelle Skinner says
I also am going to make some of these. They are beautiful. Thanks for the idea and tutorial. xo