a new favorite

Friday, October 26, 2007

It doesn't matter what time of year it is, anytime we curl up on our sofa, it's always with a blanket. There has always been one favorite. Until now, that is. Last week, I mentioned to Erin that I was collecting all of my old sweaters. Not hand knit sweaters, but nice sweaters that just didn't seem to fit me anymore. Erin suggested I make a blanket out of them. (Thank you, Erin.) I actually think I got off of the computer, grabbed those sweaters and started cutting. I used five sweaters, cut 2 13x13 pieces out of each sweater (front and back). This gave me 10 squares, not enough. I then cut the arms, and pieced two colors together to make a 13X13 square. I now had a total of 15, needing one more. Pieced some strips together, and now I had 16 squares. Just what I needed.

I used a wool jersey that I purchased at our church harvest fair for $1.00 for the backing. Let me tell you, this is the coziest blanket we have ever had. The best part is that it is the one everyone "calls". Even me. I just don't get it until the kids go to bed. And then my husband knows, that I call the sweater blanket. Maybe tonight I will let him have it. Maybe.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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75 comments

  1. Anonymous10/26/2007

    Awesome! You always amaze me. You have a great weekend as well!

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  2. That is such a fabulous blanket!Genius!

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  3. Anonymous10/26/2007

    well, look at that! i have this in the works too....gotta talk to my dad first and get his old cashmeres. :)

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  4. Wow! That is fabulous! Great idea, beautiful job, love the colors!

    Have a great weekend!
    Jill

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  5. Anonymous10/26/2007

    Oh, I want one too! I have some cahsmere sweaters that I've been saving. Perfect!

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  6. oh i want to reach in through my screen and touch it! it looks so soft...
    love it!

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  7. Fantastic idea!!! (starts digging through her old sweaters to see if she's got enough. . . )

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  8. Your blanket is fabulous! Though I would have a hard time giving up those pretty sweaters ;)

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  9. Oh, what an excellent idea. It looks so cuddly and warm.

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  10. Makes perfect sense! I love it!
    I am over here soaking my Lizzie so I can get ready to cozy up with her as.soon.as.she.dries.....I forgot all about that! UGH!

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  11. How delicious!! I always have lots of blankets and throws for the sofa to snuggle under but that is a beauty! Great idea!

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  12. Anonymous10/26/2007

    Oooooh, this is just beautiful! It looks like cashmere.

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  13. Anonymous10/26/2007

    ooohhh! That is lovely. Great idea

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  14. Anonymous10/26/2007

    Just lovely. I have wanted to make a sweater blanket for so long, but never do. You did! And it is wonderful.

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  15. Anonymous10/26/2007

    Doesn't the blanket just make 'life nice'??? It feels cozy and warm and such a treasure for the whole family to share. You've done it again L!

    Have a fantastic weekend!

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  16. Anonymous10/26/2007

    fantastic! just fantastic. i'm going to start collecting.

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  17. How perfect! Yummy & cozy. :)

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  18. Anonymous10/26/2007

    What a great idea - thank you for sharing.

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  19. I have been dying to do that with all my old but loved sweaters! You have just given me the 'push' to go to it (I have a thing for cutting things - it's so final...what if I make a mistake?!)

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  20. You are so talented it's unreal!!!

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  21. Wow! That Erin is always full of great ideas. It looks amazing.

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  22. Anonymous10/26/2007

    This is a beautiful blanket and idea! I may have to come over and steal it!

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  23. Anonymous10/27/2007

    Wow! I love the blanket! I don't know if I would have the guts to cut up my old sweaters, or let go of the hope that I could one day be skinny enough to wear them again!

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  24. Wonderful project. Not only is it beautiful, but cherished by all...and a great use of old sweaters. Genius!

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  25. It's beautiful! Looks soft and cozy...perfect for this time of year. And well worth fighting for. =)

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  26. Anonymous10/27/2007

    I'm just venturing in to making quilts, and this one looks so awesome! Now I'm going to have to collect my old sweaters. Another thing to add to my list. LOL! Great job!

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  27. What a great idea and beautiful result! It looks so cozy.

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  28. I wish I had old sweaters to do this with!!

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  29. Anonymous10/27/2007

    oh, that is a beautiful blanket! I love it...I bet it is super cozy.

    amandajean

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  30. What a thoroughly fantastic idea!

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  31. So much craftiness! It's Superb!

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  32. Amazing!...Absolutely Amazing...

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  33. The heaps of praise is well deserved for such a wonderful, cozy family blanket. Beautiful!

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  34. What a great idea!

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  35. Anonymous10/27/2007

    If one can't give up their own or don't have enough...how about going to Good Will or similar consignment/used clothing shop and purchase a few for 'little" cash???

    Make several for the family! Then everyone will be happy! Yes???

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  36. Oh MY this looks like a cozy blankie. You are soooooooooo creative, makes me ill. Ha! Love your latest finish - looking forward to the next creation.

    Enjoy the weekend,
    Tanya

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  37. again, with the "not necessary but absolutely nice" stuff. you're amazing.

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  38. Anonymous10/28/2007

    oh, i wish i had the blanket. or that many sweaters to make one. it is beautiful.

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  39. heeehhee, look at those cute little feet peeking:)This would be my favorite blanket too! I love EVERY color you put together here. Esquisite!
    How did you stop the yarn from unraveling on the sweaters squares? Did you quickly use reinforced stitches all the way around? I would have loved to see photos of this in the process. That's the part I love about everything being made, the process:)

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  40. I so want a sweater blanket and yours look fabulous.... staring with emerald eyes....lol

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  41. Ooo - what a freaking FABULOUS idea. I have *tons* of old sweaters that I never wear anymore!

    I don't know if project linus would take something like this, but what a great gift for a hospital kid... I might just have to start trolling for sweaters at the flea market...

    Thanks for the awesome idea! :D

    PS - I love the little toes peeking out in that picture.

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  42. That is just beautiful! Makes me wish I had old sweaters to cut up.

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  43. aw- share with your hubbie! i love this idea...you never disappoint!

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  44. Thank you for the great idea -something fum for those old worn sweaters!

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  45. It looks so gorgeous and cozy. The colours are all in the same family of muted tones - you have great taste in sweaters. But I must confess I had a gasp-for-air-she-cut-her-sweaters moment! I don't think I would have had the courage :)

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  46. Anonymous10/28/2007

    Gorgeous! I've seen lots of recycled items, but I love this one best. I can see why the whole family calls it.

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  47. what a great idea!!! it is the perfect time to get it out too - it got cold here today!!!

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  48. What a beautiful blanket! It looks so soft... and how creative!

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  49. Anonymous10/29/2007

    that looks very very snuggly. I think a rota might be in order here to keep things fair!

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  50. Great idea! Might have to use that one someday.

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  51. Great idea! Might have to use that one someday.

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  52. Too cozy, even those little toes sticking out look cozy!

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  53. Such a great idea for a cozy blanket!

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  54. Awesome ! Your works are really fantastic. It never fails to motivate me. Thank you.

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  55. That is so smart I can't stand it. I am also glad to note that I am not the only one who gets the same article of clothing in different colours if I like it well enough.

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  56. You are incredibly creative. You just have this gift of seeing the potential in everything. I admire and envy that!
    Enjoy that unbelievably comfy looking blanket.

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  57. Anonymous10/30/2007

    I would like to do this as well. Genius, I say!

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  58. Anonymous10/30/2007

    What an absolutely awesome idea this is! You never cease to amaze me, that's for sure! Perfect!

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  59. that looks soooo cozy

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  60. What a fantastic idea, Leslie! That blanket is great. Now I know what do with my old sweaters. Another way that you amaze me with your talents.

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  61. oooh, what a great idea! it looks sooooo snuggly!

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  62. so incredible!!!
    i can feel how cuddly it is thru the screen!!!
    i might just buy old sweaters to cut them up and make a leslie blanket! lol.
    and then mom will copy b/c she adores you ;)

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  63. Anonymous10/31/2007

    amazing! i'd 'call' that one too if it were in my home.
    thanks for inspiring!

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  64. Anonymous10/31/2007

    i just discovered your blog -- and love, love, love that blanket. i'm inspired to gift something similar this holiday season. how did you reinforce those seams, ensuring that the unfelted sweaters don't go unraveling up to the seam? maybe that's not a problem?

    thanks for the inspiration!!
    jessica

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  65. Looks absolutely beautiful, and soooo soft. Did you topstitch at all around the squares, to keep the lining from shifting?

    I just discovered your blog; it looks lovely!

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  66. Anonymous11/08/2007

    It's so pretty! I've been collecting and felting sweaters for a couple of years so I can make blanket, too. I have plenty of sweaters now, but haven't gotten around to actually make the blanket. One of these days... :) (Now that I see how nicely your blanket drapes, I'm thinking I shouldn't have felted the sweaters.)

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  67. I love this blanket! Is there any chance that you could write more detail about the making of it? How did you finish the edges? I

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  68. i love this. what kind of sweaters did you use? do you have to do anything special to keep them from unraveling? these colors work so well together!

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  69. I have a huge collection of thrift store sweaters I've been using to make bags and things and I've wanted to do a blanket. You've inspired me with yours. Thanks.

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  70. I know a couple people have asked, but did you do anything special to sew them together? did they stretch much when you did sew them together? I've been slowly buying grey wool sweaters at the goodwill to make something just like this. Yours is beautiful!

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  71. absolutely love this. i have saved sweaters for pillows before but never thought of making an afghan. what a wonderful idea.

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  72. That is the best idea ever

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  73. I was searhing online for instructions on how to make a blanket from old sweaters and came across your post. I found a bunch of nice old sweaters at the Goodwill yesterday but didn't buy them as I wasn't sure how to pull off the blanket making and thought I should figure that out first. Did you sew yours together on the sewing machine, and did you tack the backing to the front in any way?
    Many thanks,
    Georganna

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