DIY Wearable Blankets: 14 Cozy Ideas That Beat Turning Up the Heat

DIY Wearable Blankets are the coziest way to stay warm at home this winter without nudging the thermostat every hour. A soft throw on the sofa is lovely until you need a hand for your tea, the remote or a book, and then it slides right off your shoulders. Turn that same blanket into a hoodie, a poncho or a cape and the warmth simply goes where you go. Most of these ideas use a throw you already own or a cheap fleece blanket from the store, plus a few simple cuts or straight seams. Some need no sewing at all. Below are 14 easy projects for adults, kids and even a gift basket, so grab your softest blanket and let’s get cozy..

DIY Wearable Blankets Start With a Blanket Hoodie

DIY Wearable Blankets went viral this season when a creator showed how to turn any blanket into a hoodie in a short video that passed 1.2 million views. The idea is wonderfully simple. Fold a big throw in half, cut a neck opening, stitch up the sides and add a hood cut from the leftover corner. It drapes like your favorite sweatshirt, only three times softer and much longer. Wear it while you read, work or watch a movie. Which blanket on your couch is getting a hood first..

You will need: A large fleece or flannel throw, sharp fabric scissors, pins, a needle and thread or a sewing machine, and an old hoodie to trace.

How to make it: 1. Fold the blanket in half and trace a neck opening and side seams from an old hoodie. 2. Cut, pin and stitch the sides, leaving room for your arms. 3. Cut a hood from the spare corner, stitch it on and hem the edges.

A No Sew Fleece Poncho in Ten Minutes

If you have never used scissors on a blanket before, start here. Fleece does not fray, so a poncho is little more than a square with a hole in the middle. Fold a fleece throw into quarters, cut a small curve at the folded corner for your head and try it on. Then snip a fringe along the bottom edge for a cozy, finished look. It slips on in seconds for chilly mornings, school runs or a cold football game. Could this be the easiest wearable project you ever make?

You will need: One fleece throw about 50 by 60 inches, fabric scissors, a ruler and a small plate for tracing the neck.

How to make it: 1. Fold the fleece into quarters and trace a small curve at the folded corner. 2. Cut the neck hole a little small, try it on and trim if needed. 3. Cut 4 inch fringe strips along the bottom edge.

DIY Wearable Blankets as a Sherpa Cape

DIY Wearable Blankets can look truly elegant, and a sherpa cape proves it. Those fluffy cream sherpa throws sold everywhere in winter make a cape that looks like it came from a pricey boutique. Cut a half circle, shape a small collar and fasten it with one big wooden button. Sherpa hides wobbly stitches, so beginners do great with it. Toss it on over a sweater to check the mail or walk the dog on a frosty morning. Would you wear this one out of the house?

You will need: One sherpa throw, fabric scissors, a needle and strong thread, one large wooden button and a large dinner plate for tracing.

How to make it: 1. Fold the throw and cut a large half circle with a small neck curve at the center. 2. Turn the neck edge under and stitch it for a soft collar. 3. Sew the button on one side and a thread loop on the other.

A Throw Blanket With Sleeves for Movie Night

Every family has someone who steals the blanket during a movie. This idea fixes it. Add two long sleeves to a big throw and you can hold popcorn, scroll your phone and stay tucked in all at once. Cut the sleeves from a second cheap blanket, sew them into two slits about shoulder width apart and you are done. It also makes a perfect gift for a college student who studies late. Who in your house would claim this one first?

You will need: One large throw, a second small blanket for sleeves, fabric scissors, pins, a measuring tape and a sewing machine or needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Measure shoulder width and cut two arm slits about a third of the way down the throw. 2. Cut two sleeve tubes from the second blanket and stitch them closed. 3. Pin each sleeve into a slit and stitch it in place.

DIY Wearable Blankets With a Big Front Pocket

DIY Wearable Blankets get even better when you add a pocket. A wide kangaroo pocket sewn on the front holds your phone, a snack, the remote or your cold hands. Cut a rectangle from leftover fabric, fold the side edges under and stitch the top and bottom so your hands can slide in from both sides. Readers love this one on a window seat with a good book. You can also add a second small pocket for earbuds or tissues. Where would you put your pocket?

You will need: A hooded blanket or a finished blanket hoodie, a fabric scrap about 12 by 20 inches, pins, scissors and a needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut the pocket rectangle and fold under the short side edges. 2. Pin it to the front at belly height. 3. Stitch only the top and bottom so hands can slide in from both sides.

Kids Hooded Blankets With Little Bear Ears

Children adore anything with ears, and this is a sweet gift for grandkids. Make a small hooded blanket from soft fleece, then cut two little half circles, stuff them lightly and stitch them onto the hood. Bear ears are the classic, but a bunny, a cat or a fox works just as well. Keep the blanket short enough that little ones do not trip, and skip buttons or beads for small children. Grandparents, this one makes a lovely Christmas morning surprise. Which animal would your kids pick?

You will need: A fleece throw cut to child size, felt or fleece scraps for ears, a little fiberfill, pins, scissors and needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut a child size blanket and a simple hood and stitch the hood to one long edge. 2. Cut four ear shapes, sew them in pairs and stuff them lightly. 3. Stitch the ears firmly to the top of the hood.

DIY Wearable Blankets as a Big Plaid Scarf

DIY Wearable Blankets do not have to stay indoors. Those giant blanket scarves you see in shops cost a lot for what is really just a big square of flannel. Buy about a yard and a half of soft plaid flannel, cut a square and pull a few threads along each edge to make a soft fringe. Fold it into a triangle and wrap it around your neck. It is warm enough to skip a heavy coat on milder days. Which plaid would you choose for winter?

You will need: About one and a half yards of plaid flannel, fabric scissors, a ruler and a pin for pulling threads.

How to make it: 1. Cut the flannel into a large square, following the plaid lines so it stays straight. 2. Pull loose threads along all four edges to make a 1 inch fringe. 3. Fold it into a triangle and wrap it twice around your neck.

A Fringed Shawl Grandma Will Wear Every Day

Grandmothers love a good shawl, and this one stays put. Cut a lightweight plaid throw into a large triangle, then knot the fringe in little bunches along the two short sides so it hangs heavy and swings when she walks. A shawl is lighter than a blanket hoodie, so it is perfect for an older person who just wants warm shoulders while reading, knitting or having tea. Wrap it with a sprig of pine for a handmade gift. Who would you make this one for?

You will need: One lightweight plaid throw with fringe or a square of soft flannel, fabric scissors and a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Fold the throw corner to corner and cut along the fold to make a triangle. 2. Hem the long cut edge or fold it under and stitch. 3. Knot the fringe on the short sides in bunches of four strands.

DIY Wearable Blankets for Cold Days at the Desk

DIY Wearable Blankets are a gift for anyone who works from home in a chilly room. A lap blanket always slides off the chair, but a wrap skirt stays right where it should. Cut a long rectangle of soft flannel, sew a band along the top and add two long ties. Wrap it around your waist over leggings and tie it at the side. It keeps legs warm through long video calls and nobody on camera can see it. Do your feet get cold at the desk too?

You will need: About two yards of flannel or a long fleece throw, fabric scissors, pins, a sewing machine or needle and thread, and a measuring tape.

How to make it: 1. Cut a rectangle about one and a half times your waist size and long enough to reach your ankles. 2. Fold the top edge over into a band and stitch it. 3. Sew a long fabric tie to each end of the band.

Fleece Booties From Blanket Scraps

Save the scraps from your other projects, because they make wonderful booties. Trace your foot on paper, add a little extra all around, then cut a sole and a simple upper from fleece. Stitch them together inside out and turn them right side out. Fold down a cuff or add a knit band from an old sweater sleeve. Adding a sole cut from a nonslip shelf liner helps keep them safe on hard floors. They are so quick you can make a pair for everyone. Whose cold toes come to mind?

You will need: Fleece blanket scraps, paper for a pattern, a pen, fabric scissors, nonslip shelf liner, pins and a needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Trace your foot, add half an inch all around and cut two soles and four upper pieces. 2. Sew the upper pieces to each sole inside out and turn them. 3. Glue or stitch a nonslip liner to the bottom of each sole.

DIY Wearable Blankets as a Cocoon Cardigan

DIY Wearable Blankets can even pass for fashion. A soft knit throw folded the right way becomes a long cocoon cardigan that looks like something from a cozy clothing catalog. Fold the throw in half, sew a short seam at each top corner to make wide armholes and turn the open edge back into a shawl collar. That is truly all there is to it. Wear it with jeans and boots on weekends. Is this the easiest cardigan you will ever own?

You will need: One soft knit or waffle weave throw, pins, a needle and thread, and a measuring tape.

How to make it: 1. Fold the throw in half lengthwise with the fold at the bottom. 2. Stitch a 12 inch seam in from each top outer corner to make two armholes. 3. Turn the open front edge back to form a shawl collar.

A Thrift Store Quilt Turned Into a Jacket

Quilt jackets are one of the biggest craft trends right now, and you do not need a pattern company to make one. Look for a worn quilt at a thrift store or yard sale, ideally one with a few stained squares that you can cut around. Use a simple boxy jacket pattern or trace a favorite shirt jacket, and the quilting holds everything together nicely. It is warm, unique and full of history. Have you ever seen a quilt you wished you could wear?

You will need: An old quilt, a boxy jacket pattern or a shirt jacket to trace, fabric scissors, pins, bias tape, buttons and a sewing machine.

How to make it: 1. Wash the quilt and plan where each pattern piece will sit. 2. Cut the pieces and sew the shoulders, sleeves and side seams. 3. Bind all raw edges with bias tape and add buttons down the front.

Game Day Blanket Wraps With Snaps

Cold bleachers at a Friday night game are no match for this one. Add a row of heavy snaps along one edge of a fleece throw so it closes around your shoulders like a cape, then wrap the bottom around your legs. Choose fleece in your team colors and the whole family matches. When the game ends, unsnap it and fold it into a tote. It also works for outdoor holiday parades and tree lighting nights. What colors would your crew wear?

You will need: A fleece throw in team colors, a snap press kit with heavy snaps, fabric scissors and a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Fold one long edge of the throw under by 2 inches for strength. 2. Mark four snap spots across the folded edge. 3. Press the snaps in place following the kit and test the fit around your shoulders.

DIY Wearable Blankets Wrapped Up as a Gift Set

DIY Wearable Blankets make one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give this Christmas. Fold a finished blanket hoodie or poncho neatly, add a pair of matching booties, a mug and a little cocoa mix, and nest it all in a kraft box with tissue paper and pine. It costs far less than a store gift set and feels much more personal. For more cozy gifts, see our fleece tie blankets ideas. Which of these 14 ideas will you make first?

You will need: A finished wearable blanket, fleece booties, a mug, cocoa mix, a kraft gift box, tissue paper, twine and pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Fold the blanket neatly into a square that fits the box. 2. Tuck the booties and mug beside it with tissue paper. 3. Tie the box with twine and tuck a pine sprig under the bow.