Make Baby Blankets Out of Old Cashmere Sweaters
Making a blanket using old wool knit sweaters is a thrifty recycling project. A softer, lighter version--perfect for a baby-- can be created by using cashmere sweaters. The cashmere texture is not as scratchy as regular wool and it folds beautifully around a baby, providing a cozy cocoon of warmth. Head out to your local thrift stores to score an abundance of colorful cashmere sweaters to make your own baby blanket. This one-of-a-kind blanket is a thoughtful gift for a baby shower.
Instructions
1. Place three adult-sized cashmere sweaters each into two zippered pillowcases. This will prevent the fuzz from the sweaters from clogging your washing machine hoses. Place the pillowcases in your washer and wash them on the hottest cycle with heavy agitation. Remove the sweaters from the pillowcases to prevent irreversible wrinkling and dry them in a hot dryer. When the sweaters are dry, clean your lint trap well. This process is called "felting."
2. Cut the sweaters apart at the seams and lay the pieces flat. Measure and cut 42 7-inch squares from the cashmere sweaters. Arrange your blanket on a flat surface, six squares across by seven squares down.
3. Insert the right-hand edge of the first, top row square, a 1/4-inch under the left-hand edge of the second square. Pin the overlapping edges. Zigzag stitch over the overlapping edges. Attach the remaining squares in the row in the same way. Attach the squares in the remaining six rows in the same way.
4. Insert the bottom edge of the top row, a 1/4-inch under the top edge of the second row. Pin the overlapping edges together. Zigzag stitch over the overlapping edges. Repeat with the remaining rows in the same way.
5. Lay 1-1/3 yards of flannel fabric right side up on your work surface. Center the sewn cashmere-square blanket top on top of the flannel, with either side down. There is no right or wrong side to the cashmere blanket top. Pin the edges of the blanket top to the flannel. Sew the pinned edges using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 6-inch opening on one edge.
6. Cut away the flannel around the sewn edges. Turn the cashmere blanket right side out through the 6-inch opening. Hand stitch the opening closed. Using the wool setting and iron the edges of the blanket. Topstitch around the edges of the blanket, a 1/4-inch from the edge.
Tags: overlapping edges, edges blanket, 4-inch under, 6-inch opening, Baby Blankets
