Weighted blankets are quickly becoming popular. They’re exactly what the name suggests – a blanket that has more weight than normal. The challenge is that such blankets are also expensive. Thankfully, you can make your own weighted blanket for seniors. This allows you to cut down the costs and also get exactly what you’re looking for.
The Benefits of a Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets have many uses and are recommended for many conditions. Their comforting nature makes them very useful for people who struggle with anxiety or depression.
A key reason is that weighted blankets provide pressure.
There is something inherently comforting about this type of weight or pressure. This is similar to the way that hugs are so soothing, especially when a person is upset. As a result, such blankets can be calming.
Another advantage is weight versus heat. In normal situations, a heavy blanket also tends to be very hot. This can be useful some of the time, but can be counterproductive if the warmth is too significant.
You can also make weighted blankets in the size that you need.
This means that you might make a blanket that is large enough for an entire bed or one that just goes on a person’s lap.
How to Make a Weighted Blanket
There are plenty of tutorials out there for making a weighted blanket, so we’re going to feature a few of our favorites. The best choice for you is likely to depend on your skill level and the type of resources that you want to use.
You could also take ideas from each of the different tutorials and find your own approach.
The Spruce Crafts
This weighted blanket tutorial uses small beads to create the weight in your blanket. The site doesn’t include any videos, but there are plenty of images and the directions are easy to follow.
The site says that the instructions are best for intermediate sewers, as you need to pay attention to the weight of the blanket. Even so, the sewing process is easy enough and you’re just sewing in straight lines.
DIY Network
This tutorial comes from DIY Network. It is similar to the previous example in terms of sewing technique and final style. There aren’t any videos in this tutorial either, but the pictures are more than enough.
The author (Debbie) has also included various schematics to make it easy to see what you’ll be doing along the way.
Parenting Chaos
Here’s a different blanket style to consider. The tutorial is from the site Parenting Chaos. As the name suggests, the blanket is designed for kids. Of course, it would work just as well for seniors too.
The weight from this blanket is in the form of bean bags, which you basically tack on. While the style sounds odd, it seems to work very well. The blanket can also be made larger over time. That’s much better than having to start again each time you want a different size.
Jest Tu Positive
This final tutorial is much older and you don’t get a blanket in the traditional sense. Instead, you’re basically making a blanket using inexpensive materials like duct tape, rice and ziploc bags.
The style is fantastic if you don’t have sewing skills or the materials to make a real blanket. While the feel of duct tape isn’t the most appealing, the ‘blanket’ can be easily placed inside a pillowcase.
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