My sewing project / weighted blanket

Yesterday, I got out my sewing machine. *gasp!* I have the desire to sew things, but never the patience to take on my machine b/c this operator just doesn't get along with a sewing machine too often.

I have been mentally preparing for this project for awhile now. It has been highly recommended by several people that our little Z would benefit from a weighted blanket. He has trouble sleeping at night, and also sensory issues. I have really wanted to purchase one from the sight that I linked, but there are just 0 funds for that. Also, the fact that I don't know that it would even work. I had been told Medicaid might would pay for one once his therapy starts, but the OT told me that it would not, but maybe I could make one. Yes, "maybe" I could make one....and maybe not. haha

After researching, planning, contemplating, and getting up the nerve, I went and purchased the supplies. Then everyone was sick and out of school for snow the following week, so I didn't even try. Yesterday, I only had baby C, and Noah home with me, (Noah was sick). I put the baby down for a nap, and knew I had to get it done during that naptime, or I would never get it done. With a 1 1/2 yr old running around, I can't leave that sort of thing out, and if I put it all up, I knew it would be hard to motivate myself to ever get it out again. So, I got it all out, and sewed like a mad woman. All the while hoping and praying that the "operator" of this machine wouldn't mess things up. And do you know, I got it finished, without a glitch, and as I was putting away my machine, baby C awoke from his nap. I told my mom, the Lord helped me out on that one, he knew that I need to get that blanket made! My stitches are crazy, and crooked, but it is done, and serves it's purpose.

I purchased 2 fleece blankets from Garden Ridge for $3 each. I bought 4 bags of dry pinto beans for the weight, 2 boxes of ziplock bags from Dollar Tree, and already had some velcro.

To determine how much weight you need, you take 10% of their body weight, and add 1 lb to that. That put me at 3 1/2 lbs, but since the whole blanket wouldn't be on his body, I went ahead and went with 4 lbs.

I folded one blanket in half, sewed it together, and then made lines vertical and horizontal to make squares on the blanket.
I will probably have to revise this at sometime, b/c I know he will probably learn how to get into this blanket, or the holes may stretch with washing, but I just cut slits in the squares.

I divided the beans out into bags, to evenly distribute this in the squares. This way, as he gets bigger, I can add weight, and I can also just remove the bags when I want to wash it.

Then I took the other blanket, cut it in half, and sewed it around wrong way, flipped it all rightside out, sewed a velcro closure at the top, and was done. This size was perfect for him for sleeping, but would also work good for a lapsize for an older child.

I can think of so many people I know that would benefit from a weighted blanket. If you are interested, click on the link above to read more info about them.