Building The Crowder's

I’m not sure if it’s the weather finally getting a hint of fall coming in, or that the skies are overcast most days, but all I want to do is wrap up in a cozy blanket and watch romantic comedies. Yes, I know, I am a HOPELESS romantic! With all the blankets lying around, I realized I didn’t have a place to store them. So when that happens, instead of going and buying something, I turn to building what I need which is a diy blanket ladder. That way I can make it to my specifications and liking.

Now, I know you have seen the gorgeous diy blanket ladders at craft shows and flea markets, and I’m sure you have seen the pretty price tags to go with them. What if I told you, you can build it yourself for around $15. Don’t believe me? Well, you might be right. It actually could be less if you already have some of the supplies because the wood only cost me about $7!!! Can you say bargain shopper??

Blanket Ladder DIY- Step One

Cutting your boards- I know using power tools can be a bit intimidating. I recommend reading up on all the safety guidelines before you use any tool. Then you can put your mind at ease with knowing how to properly operate the power tool. Always make sure you have your safety glasses on, so sawdust won’t get in your eyes. Trust me that advice comes from personal experience. Next, mark your line on you board at 72 inches then use a framing square to draw your line. The plans I am using are form Shanty 2 Chic, they are the women that helped me learn and feel confident about building projects. I will link the downloadable plans for this ladder at the end. Last thing, when you are ready to make your cut make sure YOU LEAVE THE LINE! It is SO much easier to shave of a little at a time get to the perfect measurement than to have to buy a new board because you cut it to short! Once again, that comes from personal experience!

(Note: If you do not have access to a miter saw you can have Lowe’s or Home Depot cut your boards to the measurements you need.)

Blanket Ladder DIY – Step Two

Sanding, Sanding, and more Sanding- This can be a tedious process but it will make the difference in your project looking like its a first time diy to looking like it was made from one of the BEST woodworkers around! When sanding you ALWAYS want to start with a low grit sandpaper like 80 grit. When you use framing lumber the 80 grit will be able to smooth the imperfections out. From there you move up slowly in grit number. The next one I used was a 120 grit and then finished with a 220 grit for the final product. You do this because coming up to fast in grit number can cause your wood to be left with a swirly pattern that you will see through stain and some paint.

Blanket Ladder DIY -Step Three

Let’s put our blanket ladder together- Now it’s assembly time! Using one of the sides of your ladder your will nail in your “steps,” making sure to have your square with you so every step is level. One thing I did was find some scrap wood that was about 1/2″ thick and laid it under my ladder rungs as I was nailing them in. This insured that the rungs would all be in the same place on the ladder. Before you nail on your rung make sure you use glue on the end piece that is being nailed. This will create a stronger bond than just using the nails. The only thing left to do is decide if you want to paint or stain your ladder. I chose to stain, but I think I might add some white chalk paint later. I can NEVER make up my mind! LOL!

There you have it! This project is perfect for a beginner! Please let me know if you build one, I would LOVE to see your project!!!

God Bless-

Use the link below to find plans, materials, and cut list.

https://www.shanty-2-chic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DIY-Blanket-Ladder-Plans.pdf

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