I'm sure there are many ways to make this quilt, here is the way I was taught and teach my friends. I made this blanket for my boyfriend's daughter's birthday and a few people asked me how I was going to do it. So I took photos along the way for each step.
What you must have:
Scissors
Fleece (2 yards for each color)
4" Square Ruler
Large Work Space
Helpful but not needed:
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter
Long Ruler (these rulers usually come in a set or pack, get one that has a super long one)
I use the rotary cutter and the long ruler on top of the mat to trim the edges of the fleece. You don't want the curled edges or the trim in the final blanket, so its best to just trim it now. Since fleece isn't exactly the same size no matter what kind you get or where you get it. Try to keep in mind to line them up soft side outward once you have 1 side trimmed off. You can use regular scissors for this, but the rotary cutter and the long edge ruler are not only faster, but much straighter.
Once you have the two sides lined up and trimmed to the same size, take your 4" square and trim out the corners. They don't have to be done all at once if you don't have an area that will fit the whole quilt. I usually trim the corner and cut down the edge. Once I get closer to the next corner I trim it and then cut down to it. You want to make sure the ties are at least 1 inch apart. Any more and it will bunch up on you. Any less and they might be easy to rip off later. Using a cutting mat you get the 1 inch lines to go by. It doesn't have to be perfect, but its a good guide.
To tie it, I do a double knot. I've seen a few different knots on these quilts, some that look like ties, some that are sort of braided. I like mine tied like a bow for the first tie and then slightly downward for the second tie. This makes the bottom side more prominent on the top side. Make sure the knots are tight.
Once you've gone all around the quilt, get some helpers to grab each corner and stretch it out. Thats all you need to do. If you want a pillow to match you can always get a little bit extra fleece and tie it around in the same fashion. When you wash this blanket make sure you use cold water and hang to dry. The heat tends to make the fabric not as soft.
