Fidget blankets are a great sensory activity for restless hands. The variety of textures provide sensory stimulation whilst the different activities aid fine motor skills. This fun project makes a great gift and is the perfect use of fabric scraps.
You can choose a wide range of items for texture and to fiddle with. This tutorial for the fidget blanket shows you nine options but do check out the FAQ for more suggestions.

Start with choosing a selection of fabrics for your squares. I am working with bright colors and quilting cotton. Contrasting colors helps our brains differentiate.
The finished fidget blanket is 45cm (17″) square but you can easily modify to any size you desire.
Table of Contents
Materials for the fidget blanket
- Quilting cotton squares measuring 16cm (6 1/4″)
- Fusible fleece squares measuring 14cm each (5 1/2″)
- 2 Contrasting Ribbons 1m of each (3.3 foot)
- Buttons size of ribbon
- Large buttons
- Zipper 14cm (5 1/2″) or longer
- 3 Tassels
- Braiding or Rick Rack
- Scrunchie and ribbon
- Textured fabric
- Iron on interfacing
- Magnetic snap
- Lobster clasp rotatable tail D ring
- Webbing
- Beads
- Necklace cord 1m (3.3 foot)
- Wadding, 44cm square (17″ square) plus a bit extra so you can trim to size.
- Backing fabric 44cm square (17″ square) plus a bit extra so you can trim to size.
- Binding 7cm by 186 cm (2 1/2 by 6 1/2 foot)

How to make the fidget blanket
Step 1 – Preparation
Cut out 9 squares of fusible fleece, and 9 squares of base fabric. My fusible fleece measures 14cm, and the cotton 16cm, allowing a 1cm seam allowance.
Iron the fusible fleece onto the back of each square centrally.

Step 2 – Adding texture or fidget to each square
Ribbons for weaving – cut out pieces of ribbon the length of your square (including seam allowance). Pin or tack the ribbon strips so they are placed vertically and evenly across the square, then machine stitch in the seam allowance to secure.
Cut strips of a contrasting ribbon, double fold over the raw edge on one end and hand stitch to secure the folds, then add a button. Sew the raw ends down on one edge of the sqaure so this ribbon lays in the opposite direction.

Tack the other ribbons in place, within the seam allowance.

Beads for fiddling – Add beads to strong thread such as cord for jewelry making. Place the bead threaded cord over the square and secure within the seam allowance on two sides of the square, using machine stitching or handstitching.

Buttons and buttonholes – Cut a strip of fabric 16cm square (6 1/4″), iron on interfacing to the back. Fold in half woirng sides together and press. Add button holes, equally spacedfor three buttons.

Place the button hole fabric on top of the backing fabric, mark the position of buttons, then sew the buttons on. Baste the button hole fabric to the base fabric within the seam allowance.
Fabric or crochet – You need a piece of super soft fabric or piece of crochet measuring 10cm by 16cm (4″ by 6 1/3″) . Place centrallu ontop of base fabric, secure with machine stitching down two sides within the seam allowance.

Zipper – Cut two pieces of fabric 10cm by 16cm (4″ by 6 1/3″) fold over and press the long side edge of each piece of fabric.

Place the pressed turned edges along each edge of the zipper and machine stitch a straight line.

If needbe shorten the zipper.
Add a ribbon to the base square with either a curtain ring or tiny teddy bear secured on one end and machine stitch securely the ribbin within the seam allowance.
Place the zipper fabric on top of the base fabric and machine stitch around the edges, in the seam allowance to secure.
Lobster clasp D ring – Cut two pieces of bag webbing, thread through the lobster clasp and fold in half. Tack the webbing in the seam allowance. The length of webbing will depend on the size of the clasp.
Repeat with the D ring, placing on the backing square so you can easily fasten the lobster clasp.

Tassels – Secure three tassels onto base square with a strip of bias binding. I have used bought tassels but it’s easy to make your own.

Place a strip of bias binding over the loops of the tassels, tack and then machine stitch to secure. You can use bought or handmade bias binding.
Contrasting textured fabric – Cut a piece of fabric 15cm (6″) square. Iron interfacing onto the back and fold in half diagonally and press. Open out and add a second layer of interfacing along one side of the fold.
Using a seam ripper slit small slots into this strengthened side and install half the magnetic closure.

Refold the fabric and place onto your backing square. Mark the position for the other half of the magnetic closure, then insert.

To make this magnetic closure even more secure add an additional layer on iron on interfacing on the back.
Machine stitch the contrasting fabric down in the seam allowance.
Baste contrasting braid across the base square of fabric, then machine stitch in place. Ensure the edges are within the seam allowance of the base squares.

Scrunchie – Attach a scrunchie with ribbon, add other decorative elements to the square.

Feed the ribbon through the scrunchie, fold in half and tack the raw edges of the ribbon in the seam allowance.
I have chosen to hand stitch these circles on to add another dimension.
Assemble the dementia fidget blanket
Stitch the squares together to form a grid. Place right sides of two squares together and stitch with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam. Press each seam open.

Continue piecing the squares together until you have formed the top of the fidget blanket.

Place backing fabric wrong side up, add a piece of thin batting/wadding, followed by the pieced front quilt ride side facing. Hold the layers together with pins or safety pins.
Stitch in the ditch to quilt the layers together.

Stitch around the edge of the quilt top in the seam allowance, if like me you are not quite the most precise of quilters you may wish to trim your top to ensure it is square. I used a quilters mat to check this.
Edge the fidget blanket
Cut a strip of fabric 7cm by 186 cm (2 1/2 by 6 1/2 foot) . Fold in half and press. I have chosen to work with a fabric with a satin finish based on memories of one of my brothers loving the satin finish on his baby blanket.
Place the raw edge of the binding along the edge of the back of the fidget blanket. Machine stitch with a 6mm ( 1/4″) seam allowance, stopping 6mm (1/4″) before the corner.

When you reach the corner fold your fabric at a 90 degree angle away from the fidget blanket. This will give you a diagonal 45 degree angle at the corner. Press with your finger so that you form a crease, then open out.

Fold your quilt binding to create a 90 degree angle, with your tape running down along your fidget blanket’s edge, pin and then stitch, starting 1/4″ from the top.

Continue around until you reach the starting point. Fold your binding so you have a neat folded edge underneath your first piece of binding and stitch over.

Turn your fidget blanket over so top edge is facing you. Fold the binding over to the front and pin in place, at the corners fold so you have a diagnoal fold. Machine stitch the binding down at the front.

If you would like a more detailed tutorial on how to sew a quilt binding check out AppleGreen Cottage.
You Tube Video
If you also enjoy video instructions check out my you tube video how to make a fidget blanket.
Additional fidget and texture ideas for fidget blanket
- Strips of leather with shoelaces
- Satchel fastenings
Not ready to sew the fidget blanket today then pin for later.

I have been itching to make this sensory blanket since I saw a post on facebook asking for Christmas gifts for residents in a dementia care home with no family. However, it is also close to my heart with a child who seeks sensory stimulation and a father with memory loss.
