Alpaca

Hello everyone, this is my first day on this forum. My name is Ashley and I'm 20 years old. I've done a small amount of quilting a few years ago but none since.

Today I'm working on a rather ambitious project as a gift for my boyfriend. I'm trying to make a panel quilt that is weighted. If you are not familiar with weighted blankets, they are filled with plastic pellets to provide therapeutic weight for sensory related disorders such as autism and anxiety.

I know this is pretty challenging endeavor for someone as new to quilting as I am, but I feel like I have a good start. The issue I'm trying to figure out is how to add the pellets into a panel quilt without stitching across the image in an obvious way. I'll include a picture to this post. I know that typically they are sewn in equal squares. My original idea was to see them into batting, then sew the pieces over that. I'm not thinking that will work well. Does anyone have any experience in what I'm trying to do?

I hope I can ask for help on this forum while I complete this summer project and if anyone can help me learn more about quilting I would appreciate your feedback and suggestions!

Thanks!

osewme

Welcome from Texas. This is the right board to come to for answers to your questions. Here's a you tube from Man Sewing that shows how to make a weighted blanket & I hope this helps you. It's been a while since I've watched the video so not sure if it will answer all your questions but I think it will help. We would love to see your finished project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svqiyDlJmus

Krisb

https://vidweb.aws.marketlive.com/na...el-blanket.pdf

This one is a lap quilt, but the panels are larger than you usually see in a weighted blanket. If the stitching is done in an unobtrusive thread, I think it will look good.

quiltsRfun

You could make the quilt separately like a duvet and use the panel for the duvet cover. It would also make it easy to wash the panel/cover. You'd have to have some ties or something to keep it from shifting inside the cover when in use.

SillySusan

Welcome from North Carolina! To answer your question... I don't know. This is way above my pay scale, but you've come to the right place. There are many experienced quilters on this site that will help you with almost everything. Trust me, I've been quilting for 100 years and somebody here teaches me something every day!!

Alpaca

Thanks everyone for the replies! @Krisb, that was a very helpful link, as my quilt is pretty small.
Ive been trying to reply to this thread with pictures, but it says a mod will have to approve them.

QuiltnNan

Welcome to the Quilting Board. To my knowledge, moderators do not have to approve pictures when you try to post them. Perhaps the message that popped up was because of the size of your picture. Here is some helpful information about that Preparing (Resizing) Photos For Successful Upload and Viewing

judykay

I made one weighted blanket a few years back and am thinking of making myself one. I don't need it for any other reason than at night I like weight on my shoulders when trying to fall a sleep and with warmer weather finally here I don't want to cover up with a lot of blankets. Has any one just filled one part way. Was thinking of using sheets.

Alpaca

Here are some photos of what I have so far.

On the left and right sides, i plan to have three wandering geese pointing upwards in the same two colors as the browns on the bottom. I have it pinned to the batting for now while I size everything. I will also have two log cabin squares in the two empty corners.

quiltingshorttimer

so that the pellets don't shift around, I think you will need to keep the pellet pockets equally spaced in both directions. You could use invisible thread like Superior Mono-poly or YLI's--try it out before you use it, but do use the thread netting that will come in the package and also you may need to loosen the top thread tension just a bite--but check on a sample first cause that isn't always needed.