Re: Compression vest/ Weighted blanket for Autistic Kids

I don't know about making the vest but my neighbor asked Thursday if I could
make a weighted blanket. This is what I did......

Took a cotton, flat twin sheet and folded it in half, top to bottom. Sewed
up the two sides, turned it, sewn seams inside, leaving the top (the fold
was the bottom) open. I then laid it out flat and smooth and marked the
middle and then marked even channels, running top to bottom about three
inches apart, then marked lines the same width as the channels at right
angles....now looks like little square window panes. I pinned then stitched
the channels top to bottom. I used rice because I had over half a 50lb bag
left from making rice bags. I used a funnel and poured 1/4 cup rice into
each tube, shook all the kernels to the bottom and then pinned and sewed
across the marked lines side to side to form the first row of little "rice
pillows". I had my neighbor helping me hold and fill and pin before I sewed
across to enclose each row of "rice pillows". This could be done by one
person but it sure was easier with an extra set of hands, especially as the
blanket got progressively heavier. After making the entire folded sheet of
little rice filled squares I made a cover out of a twin, flat flannel
sheet....like a big pillow case.

Next problem was keeping the 'blanket' from moving around inside the
case.....solved!

We put the blanket in the cover, laid it on the floor and smoothed it all
out and then marked all four corners, one square in, on the cover and
blanket. We did this by putting a pin straight down through cover and
blanket and out the other side, then marking both sides of the cover with a
pen where the pin was and carefully folding back the cover and marking the
place on the blanket the pin went thru. We did the same thing in eight other
areas (because we had 24 matching buttons) around the center of the blanket
and cover. While I was sewing 24 button holes reinforced with heavy
stabilizer, on the cover, my neighbor was sewing buttons on the blanket. I
should mention that these buttons are in the 'crossroad' of the window pane
seamed channels, same place on both sides and a piece of stabilizer under
the button before sewing it on. The button holes are on both sides of the
cover to correspond with location of buttons on blanket.

This was a real seat of the pants project done with what we could scrounge
up that would work well to do the job she needed done. I had fleece that
would have worked for a cover but we decided that might be too warm. Both
sheets had been washed numerous times but were in very good condition so we
didn't worry about shrinkage and the flannel cover will be easy to wash and
dry. The project didn't take any out of pocket expense, I can't tell you how
much the blanket weighed because I forgot to load it on the scale before she
left with it. It was very substantial however. This blanket was for her
small 4 year old boy.

I'm sure somebody may come up with different/better ideas and she may have
me tweak things later. I'll keep you informed how it works and any changes
we make.

Val

"Nick and Judy" <salcon3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:rk3xh.2867$4H1.2215@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi everyone,
My brother-in-law called me last night. He has 3 yr old twin boys that
were diagnosed with autism last summer. The occupational therapist has
suggested compressions vest for them and using weighted blankets in their
beds. I plan on making them for the boys since they are pretty expensive
to buy. At this time they do not want the vest to be weighted since the
boys are small. It is basically a tank top with velcro on the sides to
adjust pressure and sizing. He wasn't sure of the material but thought it
was dive/scuba suit material. Polypropelene? Has anyone ever made these
and if so what did you use for fabric? I googled instructions for the
weighted blanket. http://www.myweightedblankets.com/make_your_own .
Basically channels filled with dried beans or poly beads? I thought about
using drapery weights in the squares. The weights or beads would make it
washable or I could just make a removable cover that would be washed. Any
suggestions/advice would be appreciated. I live in the north Texas area
and haven't started searching for fabric yet. I will probably have to mail
order the vest fabric from the Rain Shed or another source.
Thanks,
Judy



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