How to Make a Blanket Hoodie | Sew It in an Afternoon

Making a blanket hoodie is one of the most satisfying beginner sewing projects there is. You take a soft blanket, cut it into a hoodie shape, and sew it together with sleeves and a hood. The result is a warm, wearable cocoon that costs a fraction of a store-bought version. You don’t need a pattern to start — just a blanket, some basic sewing supplies, and about two hours.

If you’d rather buy one than sew one, our tested roundup of the best blanket hoodies covers the top options. But if you want to make your own, here’s the complete process.

What You Need Before You Start

Fleece is the material of choice for nearly every blanket hoodie tutorial. It’s soft, durable, and forgiving for beginners. A standard fleece throw blanket (50 x 60 inches) works for most adults, though taller folks may want a larger one. For yardage, Melly Sews recommends 4.5 yards of 57-inch-wide fleece for an adult, or a king-size quilt (108 x 90 inches) as a substitute. A kid-sized version needs about 3 yards or a queen-size quilt (90 x 90 inches).

You’ll also need: fabric scissors or a rotary cutter, straight pins, matching thread, and a sewing machine. A serger helps with stretchy fleece, but a regular machine with a zig-zag or stretch stitch works fine.

How to Cut the Pieces

Start by measuring the wearer. The two key measurements are wrist-to-wrist (arm span) and knee-to-knee (or however long you want the hoodie). These determine the body width and length. The Sew Modern Kids pattern uses these same measurements to size the body piece.

Cut the following pieces from your blanket or fleece:

• Body: One large rectangle, roughly arm span wide and desired length tall. Some tutorials suggest tracing an existing hoodie for a better fit.
• Two sleeves: Rectangles about 10-12 inches wide and arm-length long.
• Two hood pieces: Mirror-image curved shapes that will form the hood.
• Optional pocket: A rectangle if you want a front kangaroo pocket.

Layout matters here. If you’re using a blanket rather than yardage, the fabric may not be wide enough for the body piece, so plan your cutting layout before you start. This is the most common mistake beginners make.

How to Sew the Blanket Hoodie

Follow this order for the cleanest results:

1. Sew the hood pieces. Place the two hood pieces right sides together and sew along the curved back seam. Leave the bottom (face/neck) opening unsewn. Clip the curve and turn right side out.
2. Sew the sleeves into tubes. Fold each sleeve rectangle in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew down the long edge. Leave both ends open.
3. Attach the sleeves to the body. With the body laid flat, pin each sleeve tube to the armhole opening, matching the sleeve seam to the underarm. Sew around the armhole.
4. Sew the side seams. Fold the whole piece so the front and back are together, right sides in. Sew from the bottom of the body, up the side, and down the sleeve in one continuous line. Take care not to twist the fabric — this is the step that ruins an otherwise good hoodie.
5. Attach the hood. Match the hood’s center back seam to the center back of the neckline. Pin the hood to the neckline, right sides together, and sew around the whole opening. Misalignment here distorts the fit, so pin carefully.
6. Finish the edges. Topstitch the neckline and hood seam for stability. Hem the bottom and sleeve cuffs if desired by folding the edge under and sewing.

Add a pocket or ties only if you want them — they’re optional features, not required for a basic blanket hoodie. A pocket is simply a rectangle sewn to the front before the side seams are joined.

One note on fabric: stretchy fleece pops seams if you use a standard straight stitch. Use a stretch stitch, zig-zag, or serger on any seam that needs to give. Melly Sews specifically recommends this for fleece that has any stretch to it.

For a zipper version, measure the center-front length, subtract 1.5 inches for the neck and hem allowance, then install the zipper before joining the hood and body. The Peekaboo Pattern Shop walks through this exact sequence in their zipper tutorial.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Neck opening too small. The hood opening must be sized to the wearer’s head. Measure the neckline carefully before sewing the hood — an improperly sized neck makes the whole thing uncomfortable.
• Forgetting turning openings. If you add a pocket or lining, leave a 3-4 inch opening so you can turn the piece right side out. Close those openings by hand with a ladder stitch.
• Skipping the topstitch. Topstitching the hood and neckline keeps the seams flat and adds durability.
• Twisted sleeves. Check that both sleeves are oriented the same way before sewing side seams. A twisted sleeve is nearly impossible to fix after the fact.

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