Sometime in the last few months I got it in my head that I wanted a cashmere blanket. Like, really wanted one. I think maybe I started obsessing when I was paging through Handmade Home and saw all the cozy, cozy stacks of blankets. I just wanted to curl up with them. I didn’t want to fork over the money for cashmere, though, so I started scheming. Could I possibly find enough thrifted cashmere to make a blanket?
Sometimes it’s hard to come by, but lo and behold, there was a bumper crop of cashmere at Goodwill this fall. Some of it was in perfect condition, in my size, with classic lines. What?! I washed those and put them in my closet.
The rest of it, the out-of-fashion, the holey, the wrong sizes, I cut into rectangles (excluding the holey bits) after washing it. I added in a few washed and shrunken merino sweaters, too, to round things out and make the blanket a little bigger.
In all I used six sweaters for the blanket. It went together pretty quickly, and the kids were very excited to help place the pieces. Everyone was already fighting over it before it was even done.
I had planned to lap the edges, but kind of forgot that plan until midway through. Oh well. Next blanket, maybe. I already have some cashmere pieces waiting.
Personally I like all the little weirdnesses of sweater pieces, the rolled edges, the seams and ribbing here and there. And it’s kind of nice to have a “smooth” side and a “wrong side.” I like them both.
For sewing the pieces together, I used (I think) a regular machine needle and upped the stitch length a bit. I had no problems with it. If you want specific instructions for sewing a cashmere sweater blanket, check out Betz White’s book Warm Fuzzies.
Random: love loved this fire and ice birthday party over at elsie marley. Almost makes me want to live in a frozen place again.
Also, has anyone been watching Parade’s End on HBO? I can’t fully follow the storyline, but wow, the clothes are incredible!
And lastly, next week I’ll be introducing you to a friend of mine, artist/ photographer Dawn Hanna. So excited! Her work is drop-dead gorgeous.
Okay, folks. Have a great weekend.
Emily Smith Pearce 
Enjoy your blog. I am your moms cousin and got your blog from her. Love your crafts and books. My girls also have websites you might want check out. Kennedys is Explore A World.com. and Sharon’s is Plugged in Parent .com love your second cousin kathi .
Hi Kathi! Thanks for stopping by and looking around. I look forward to reading your daughters’ blogs, too.
Hi Emily! I’ve been thinking about doing this for a few weeks now. It was such a nice surpise when I looked up how to do it and your blog came up with your pretty blanket. Small world 🙂 Thanks for the instuctions. I’d love it if you could come to Portland to help.
Hope all is well with you and the family!
Hey Shannon! What a treat to hear from you here. So glad you made the connection. I wish I could help you, too 😉 We are all well. I hope the same is true for you!
B Hi. Did you put the cashmere in the dryer after you washed them or did you mean hand wash and air dry them? Thanks.
Linda
Hmmm..it’s been awhile and I’m not entirely sure. I think I didn’t put the cashmere in the dryer. If I’m remembering correctly it doesn’t shrink as much as wool but does shrink. This blanket is the overwhelming favorite in our house and is so well used it needs repair now. Planning another in different colors. Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t think I hand-washed, though. I think it was machine wash and air dry.