The problem with weighted blankets

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Is the price!

I was sleeping under a sheet, 4 blankets, a comforter, and two towels (the towels just across my chest). It's all very nice except that I think I would like a little more weight. I don't tend to get too hot under it, but it's winter. I'm not turning on my heat, so when I need to get up in the morning, it's really cold! I just want to stay under my covers and go back to bed instead of getting ready for work (and forget about the gym).

This morning I decided I should splurge and buy one. I did some internet searches. But I have a queen sized bed. If I buy a full or queen, I'll spend over $200 US. I found some for a little over $100, but it seems like I could make one for half the price and make it to my specifications (I don't want stupid designs on it, just a plain black or navy blue one for me, thx!).

Has anyone MADE a weighted blanket? If so, how did you work out how to distribute the weight? How did it work in the summer (did you over heat under it)? I tried one with muslin and pinto beans, but I didn't understand a few key points and it is useless except as a learning experience. I also realized that I can't make one with food items. I felt that having food in my bed (even if it was dried beans) was just too weird.

Ooh good thread I've wondered the same stuff myself.

*sits back and waits for esteemed WPers to respond*

I did find some polypropylene beads on the online Michaels site. I'm going to buy some after work. I think you can use that and the poly fil together so that your blanket doesn't make noise (which would wake me up).

When I was sewing my first pinto bean attempt, I was worried that I was going to sew over a bean and break the needle on my sewing machine.

have you checked websites like Ebay.com?

could always grab a lead apron http://www.axms.com/productcart/pc/view ... product=82 not bad on pricing either...

also maybe when you have some time respond to the first post in my thread http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt50193.html and another post with some other questions http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp1062857.html#1062857 and http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp1069061.html#1069061 and our newest questions http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp1071272.html#1071272

the posts above all have to do with sensory stuff so maybe you might be interested

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I guess another post on how I did my first one. I tried to do a grid. So I did the outside of the "mini" blanket on three sides. Then I did the inside lines as well. So it looked like this...if this comes out okay

I-----------I
I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I

Then I just filled in each reeeeeeeeally long pocket with beans, and sewed across (between the row of I's). Then I filled in the long pocket again, and sewed across, until I had a little grid of filled squares. Unfortunately, it was much to small and too heavy for the area (it was just a yard across and lengthwise and 8lbs I think). It was also non adjustable. A good idea if you're really sure of what you are doing, but I'm sure there's a better way.

My MIL is making my sons weighted blankets for x-mas. I'm not really all that sure about how it all goes together, but I do know that the I'd stick with the poly beads if I were you. They're the only thing that I know of that you can add for weight that's machine washable. Plus, beans will sprout under the right conditions. I also think that poly is more breathable, so you won't get too hot in the summer.

The first one that my MIL made was way too heavy, because she only weighed the beads, but didn't consider the weight of the batting, and material. So that's something you might want to think about as you're preparing to sew.

I'd love one of these. I can't sew to save myself though so it'll just have to weight... thank goodness the boyfriend loves to hug me reeeally tight at night, it's brilliant, he squeezes me better than I could ever have asked for haha - I doubt a weighted blanket would be as good.

I just went to Joann's online to check what fabric specials they are having. A queen sized bed spread is around 60x80. If I make it with the cheapest fleece I can find at $3.99 a yard with 58" wide, then it would be around $28 just for a fleece blanket. I would assume if I'm sewing them together then I would need a front and a back. So I'd need double that. That would bring just the material to $56 without tax. Plus I haven't even bought the beads yet. I don't know how much those cost. I'm thinking around $70 so far for the costs, unless I'm missing something construction wise in building it.

What I was missing was my math ability. Geesh, can you just ignore that.

Okay I'd only need 5 yards for a queen sized blanket, which would be around $20. It would make for two blankets around 58x90 that I could stitch together.

I saw some explanation online about making little pockets on the inside, so they would be adjustable (as far as weight). I'm not sure I'm into pockets though. I would think that pockets could spill, and why do you really need the pockets anyway? Just seems like more materials you need to buy.

I like how I had my grid thing going on the last blanket I did. The stitching should be able to hold all the beads in fairly well with no spillage. I just need to be really careful about the bead + fabric weight.

I think if I weight myself then weigh myself again with all my blankets I've got me now would give me how much weight I have now on me. Then if I weight myself with the fleece I intend to use, I could make up the rest with the poly beads, plus extra depending on my average weight per blanket. That should give me an indication of how much to use. I just don't really want to sew the whole damn thing up and realize it's too heavy. I think less is more in this case. I can always add another blanket in the mix.