Page 3 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - February 2025

3

Warm,

cozy tie

blankets

crafted

Elders use technique
of cutting strips, tying
them together to achieve
fun, frilled edges

By Bobbie Bush

Our talented Elders gathered
in the dining room of the Elders
Center on Feb. 26 to create
beautiful, comforting tie blankets
with lively patterns.
Skyler White Eagle set up
tables and handled prep work
before participants arrived.
Fifteen Elders came together to
learn the process.
The work was pretty simple
and easy to accomplish. After
choosing a solid color backing
and a patterned top layer, Elders
cut 3-inch squares out of the four
corners of the material.
They had to make sure edges
were even all around the four sides
of the blanket. Then the Elders cut
strips around the blanket to create
the fringe. Finally, participants
tied the strips into a knot on the
edges.
Jokes, laughter and smiles
abounded as Elders worked on
their blankets and shared pointers
on how to make it a little easier.
A couple of our Elders modified
the tie finish to give their blankets
a more fringe-like appearance.

Elders select
fleece fabric
and receive
instruction
on making
tie blankets
on Feb. 26.
Finished
blankets
featured a
Mariners
pattern,
butterflies
and flowers.