How to Make a Fleece Tied Blanket

Fleece blankets are a wonderful and wonderfully easy gift to make for babies, children and adults, alike. The variety of fleece material available allows you to customize blankets for anyone. Best of all, no sewing skills are necessary. The directions below describe how to make a blanket out of two panels of fleece by cutting and tying the edges together for a fringe or "tied" airplane blanket.
Instructions
1.Choose two pieces of fleece. You can choose two pieces that are the same pattern, two different patterns, two plain colors or a pattern on one side and a plain color on the other.
2.Measure off lengths of each panel appropriate for the person you are making the blanket for. Recommended measurements are as follows: 1 to 1 1/2 yards of each fabric for a baby or toddler blanket; 1 1/2 to 2 yards of each fabric for a child's blanket; 2 yards or more of each fabric for a teenager or adult blanket.
3.Align one piece of fleece atop the other on a flat surface. Trim off any selvage so both pieces of fabric match. Try to cut in a relatively straight line, but it doesn't need to be perfect.
4.Measure and cut out a 4 X 4 inch or 3 X 3 inch square of cardboard or heavy paper. This will be the length of the blanket fringe prior to tying. If you would like longer or shorter fringe, use a larger or smaller cardboard square.
5.Line up your cardboard square with a corner of your fabric. Using the square as a template, cut through both pieces of fleece around the square. Repeat with all four corners.
6.Lay your ruler or tape measure along the edge of the fleece and mark 1 inch intervals. Use fabric chalk to mark, or cut a little ways through both pieces of fabric at each 1 inch interval. You may also simply eyeball the intervals if you have an experienced eye. Cut the fringe at your 1-inch intervals along all four sides of the blanket. The depth of the fringe should match the depth of the corners.
7.Make the blanket fringe by taking aligned pieces of fringe from each piece of fabric. Tie square knots or double overhand knots. Complete one side of your travel blanket, and then each of the remaining three sides.

How to Collect Old Tin Boxes

Collect history when you collect old tin can . Tin boxes, used to store valuable and perishable items in days gone by, are a popular collectibles. Find old tea, tobacco or food tins at rummage sales or auction houses. Enjoy the pictures found on the storage containers of the past and see the world as it was when tins were used to store and advertise the items people used in everyday life.
Instructions
1.Travel to flea markets, antique stores and other places that sell collectible items. Find tins that once contained tea, tobacco, aspirin and other household items. Consider collecting only certain types of tins or certain types of designs. Decide if you want to collect for pleasure, profit or both.
2.Buy a guide about collectible antique tin boxes or borrow one from your local library. Research the prices you can expect to pay and what to look for in authentic tin box. Visit websites such as Collectors Weekly to learn more about old tins and ways to identify authentic antiques. Learn the language and history of the old tins you intend to collect.
3.Start collecting. Buy tins you enjoy and want to display. Check prices on McKenzie's Sporting Collectibles website or at a reputable local dealer to find tins that are in demand. Remember, the collectors market is fickle. A tin worth hundreds today may be worth much less tomorrow. Buy old tins in good condition, it affects their value. Enjoy the art and advertising that appears on each old tin you buy.