Making the Sleeves

Cut 28 inches of fabric from one of the short ends of the fleece. Then, fold the fabric in half widthwise and cut in half along the fold, creating two 30 inch x 28 inch pieces.

To find the placement for the embroidery designs for the sleeves, fold one piece of fabric lengthwise, wrong sides together.

Measure and mark 4 inches in from one side along the fold, using an air-erase pen or other marking tool.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it from embroidery software. Place that template on the fabric with the edge of the design 1/2 inch from the mark on the fold.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points.

Remove the template and draw lines connecting the axis points. These lines will be used for hooping.

The border design that we're using is short, and we want to stitch it twice to fill the top portion of the sleeve. We'll mark the fabric to repeat the design.

Lay the fabric flat and continue the vertical center line by drawing it up past the fold.

Align the center point of the template along the vertical center line, with the end of the design about 1/4 inch from the fold.

Mark the center point and axis lines.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive, and smooth that on the backside of the fleece.

Hoop the fleece and stabilizer together, aligning the horizontal and vertical axis lines with the lines on the hoop.

Attach the hoop to the machine. Scoot the hoop so that the needle is right over the marked center point, and embroider the design.

After embroidering the design, unhoop the fabric and re-hoop for the second design. Follow the same steps as before -- align the marks for the horizontal and vertical axis lines with the marks on the hoop.

You may find that you're hooping over the design that you just embroidered -- and that's okay, the stitches won't be damaged.

After finishing the second design, unhoop the fabric. Trim away the excess stabilizer from the backside, leaving about 1/4 inch around the edge of the design.

To create a fringed edge for the sleeves, lay the fabric flat. Mark 1 inch increments on the outer edge of the fabric (the embroidered edge).

Mark 3 inches up on each side and draw a line across. Cut slits in the fabric along each mark up to the drawn line.

Tie knots in the fringe, two by two, all along the edge.

Repeat the above steps with the other piece of fabric to make the second sleeve.

Next, fold each sleeve piece lengthwise with the right sides (embroidered sides) together. Pin in place. Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Turn the sleeves right-side out. They're complete! Set them aside while working on the blanket portion.

Making the Blanket

Next, mark and cut the holes in the blanket for the sleeves.

Lay the remaining fleece with the right side up. Fold the left and right edges in 16 inches. Measure and mark 12 inches down from both corners.

Mark an additional 8 1/2 inches down from the first marks. The area between these two marks is where we'll cut the semi-circle for the sleeves.

Between the two marks on the left side (16 1/4 inches down), make a mark. Measure out from that mark 4 1/4 inches.

Draw a semi-circle on the fabric using those marks as guides. We did this freehand, but you can use a plastic lid or small plate to guide you, if you wish.

Cut out the semi-circle. Cut through both layers of fabric.

Repeat this for the right-hand side.

Finish the top and sides of the blanket by folding the edges over 3/4 inch and sewing them in place with a 1/2 inch seam.

Align the ends of the sleeves with the holes in the blanket, right sides together. Align the top of the sleeves (the area right in-between the two embroidered designs) with the top of the holes.

Pin in place from the wrong side of the blanket. Sew the sleeves in place with a 1/2 inch seam.

Sew all around the end of the sleeve working on the wrong side of the blanket.

To finish the blanket, create fringe all along the bottom as you did for the sleeves. Cut strips that are 3 inches deep and 1 inch wide, and knot them together, two by two.

Making the Pillowcase

The front of the pillowcase is made of three panels, and we'll embroider the middle panel.

To make the middle panel, cut a piece of twill that is 19 inches wide by 7 inches tall. Draw a horizontal line through the center (3 1/2 inch height). Mark a center point on that line (9 1/2 inches from left or right).

Print paper templates of the designs from embroidery software. Poke a hole in the center of the middle design and align it with the center point marked on the fabric. Align the other two designs on the horizontal line as well, with the edges of the designs about 1 3/4 inches apart.

Mark the centers of the designs on the fabric, and the horizontal and vertical axis lines of all three designs.

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the axis points for the designs.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth it on the backside of the twill.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the horizontal and vertical lines on the fabric with the markings on the hoop.

Attach the hoop to the machine and scoot the hoop so that the needle is right over the center point for the design.

Embroider the design. After it has finished, rehoop the fabric to stitch the second and third designs.

Next, cut two 19 inch wide by 7 inch tall pieces of the print canvas for the front panel.

Cut one 19 inch by 19 inch piece for the backside of the front panel. This is an optional piece, but I like it because it covers the backside of the embroidery.

Also, cut two 19 inch by 12 1/2 pieces of the twill for the back panels.

Align the long sides of the front panel pieces along the top and bottom edges of the embroidered panel, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edges.

Press the seam allowances open on the backside.

Next, align the optional back panel (19 inch by 19 inch piece) with the front panel, wrong sides together. Tack the pieces together with a 1/4 inch seam all the way around the sides.

Next we'll prepare the two back panel pieces for assembly by hemming the edges.

Take one of the panel pieces and fold one long side to the right side of the fabric 1/2 inch, and press. Fold the edges over another 1/2 inch and press again. Sew a seam along the inside edge of this fold. Repeat for the other panel piece.

Lay the front panel with the right side up. Align the first back panel on top with the right side down. Align the back panel with the seamed edge facing in, and the opposite side aligned with the outer edge of the front panel. Pin in place.

Align the other back panel on the opposite side of the front panel with the right side down. Position the panel with the seamed edge facing in, with the opposite edges aligned with the edges of the front panel. The back panels will overlap in the center. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam all the way around the outer edges.

Turn the pillowcase right side out through the space in-between the back panels. To add the blanket, fold it into a square shape and tuck it inside the pillowcase.

And now you can cuddle up in this cozy blanket! The sleeves allow your hands to turn the pages (or the channel) while keeping the rest of you nice and warm.