The blankets I used were so old, they had matted together, which meant I didn't even need to finish the edges. If you have a woven blanket, though, the edges will start to unravel if you don't do something to prevent it. Blanket stitching is the perfect solution, and it looks homespun and chic if it's done in a contrasting colour.

Turn the blanket edge over by 1cm, pinning as you go to tame it. This will give a soft, firm edge to your blanket and also helps you keep a straight line when stitching. You can hide the starting knot and finishing backstitch within this small hem.

And now to blanket stitch. Secure the yarn at the back of the blanket with a couple of knots. Bring the yarn around the outside edge. Insert the needle from the front through to the back, 1cm away from the first stitch and equidistant from the edge of the throw. Bring the needle out at the edge directly below this point, keeping the thread from the previous stitch under the tip of the needle. Pull the needle through until the stitch is snug against the edge of the blanket.

Carry on like this until you get to the end, where you can hide your finishing stitch in the hem. It looks daunting, but each side of this blanket took 10 minutes.

Applique

This will liven up even the dreariest of colours. You can use any fabric or design for applique. Boys might even feign interest if you suggest using pictures of their superheroes, cut from old pillowcases or a T-shirt they've outgrown.

For a bit of glam, try using old scarves. Recently, I ironed some Vilene onto the back of an old Hermes scarf. This is an adhesive stiffener, which gives flimsy fabrics strength and stops them fraying. I know what you're thinking: "An Hermes scarf, how could she?" Well, in my defence, it was falling to pieces, and I hadn't worn it in years. To quote Karl Lagerfeld (describing Claudia Schiffer when he decided to drop her for a new muse): " was from another era." In fact, had it not been a designer piece, it wouldn't have scraped through recent wardrobe edits.

I cut out the squares from the scarf with horses' heads in, and using a glittery thread, stitched along odd lines to highlight shapes in each. You don't need to be precise -the idea is to add a little texture and to strengthen the fabric. Then, using a sewing machine, I attached the embroidered squares to the blanket by sewing zigzag stitch around the edges. For a more formal look, or if you want to sew by hand, iron the edges of the patches under, then stitch them down using a straight stitch. In its new, unique guise as a blanket, I'm back in love with my Hermes scarf -and especially loving all the compliments it draws.

Pompom trim

This braid, with little fluffy balls (right), is the small cousin of the pompoms used to decorate Christmas trees and children's clothes. You can buy it from trimmings specialists (see below) and eBay, which is the cheapest and often the source of wilder colours. All you do is zigzag-stitch the edge of your blanket to stop it from fraying, then sew the braid on a few millimetres from the edge. When you get to the end, neatly turn the braid under to keep it from fraying. Attach velvet ribbon, strands of sequins and other braid in the same way.

Ribbon bows

Don't feel restricted to edges when it comes to trimming. For a green blanket, I made lots of tiny bows in an acid-lime ribbon. To secure each bow, just stitch through the centre as you sew it onto the blanket.

Extracted and adapted from House Proud by Danielle Proud (Bloomsbury Pounds 16.99). To order for Pounds 15.29 (including p&p), call 0870 165 8585.

Danielle Proud's Christmas cross-stitch kits are on sale in Topshop, Pounds 15

WHERE TO BUY TOP TRIMMINGS

Barnett Lawson An Aladdin's cave, containing all sorts of trimmings, from sequins motifs to feathers. Located just off Oxford Street in London and worth a visit (020 7636 8591, www.bltrimmings.com).

British Trimmings Cheshire-based, with an extensive range of traditional, hand- crafted and luxury trimmings, including beaded fringing and pompoms (0161 480 6122, www.britishtrimmings.com).

John Lewis The store's comprehensive haberdashery department offers buttons, zips, threads and so on (020 7828 1000, www.johnlewis.com).

Liberty Sells tons of quirky trimmings (020 7734 1234, www.liberty.co.uk).

Morplan Tailor's shears, snips, pinking shears and set squares -all sorts of paraphernalia for the garment industry (01279 435333, www.morplan.com).

Sew Essential From ribbons to twisted rope, this Midlands-based company has everything covered (01922 722276, www.sewessential.co.uk).

VV Rouleaux Expensive but well-stocked chain, packed with ultra-hip trimmings (020 7224 5179, www.vvrouleaux.com).

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