How to Turn an Afghan Into a Cardigan

How to Turn a Thrifted Afghan Into a Cardigan

Take inspiration from vintage yarns to create new threads.

Updated on August 1, 2023

The cozy knitted afghans that coordinated perfectly with your grandparents' home may not align with your own décor sense, but you can still incorporate them into your daily life by reworking them into a stylish upcycled cardigan.

For this project from stylist Claire Gilbertsen and our video editor Abbi Linden-Chirlian, you'll need a blanket with a Granny Square pattern. In this pattern, the blocks are made individually and then joined, which allows you to separate them along the seams and sew them back together in a different shape. Look for one in good condition; it doesn't have to be flawless, but broken yarn and pilling can indicate weak spots that you'll need to remove.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Yarn needle
Yarn
Small sewing scissors

Materials

Granny Square-pattern afghan

Instructions

Choose an afghan:

Whether you're scouring the secondhand store or going through your grandmother's blanket chest, look for a square-patterned afghan with visible seams. You don't want to have to cut a square in half, so make sure the pattern is small enough to cover your torso evenly. Hold it over your arms to make sure it's soft and swingy enough to become a piece of clothing you'll actually wear.
Take measurements:

As a rough guide, you can hold the afghan around yourself to make sure it covers your torso and arms. To guarantee enough fabric for the size cardigan you want, use specific measurements: For a long-sleeve cardigan, measure wrist to wrist (across your shoulders) for the sleeves and shoulder to hip for the front and back. Then choose an afghan that's as long as the wrist-to-wrist measurement in one direction twice as long as the shoulder-to-hip measurement in the other. (If you're still in doubt, err toward a blanket that's bigger than you think you'll need.)
Visualize a pattern:

Mark out two L-shaped pieces of blanket to create a simple pattern. The short sides of the L will be stitched together down the center of your back, while each long side will be stitched to itself to create a sleeve.

The size of the blanket pattern and size of the finished cardigan may impact the amount of pieces you need.
Cut the pieces:

Gently pull the squares apart to see where they join; then carefully cut along these seams to release the squares from each other.

It's important to cut between the squares—not through them. This could leave you with uneven lines and cause the blocks to unravel. Cut the sleeves separately, use several rectangles to create the back, or opt for longer or shorter pieces to make a cropped or flowing sweater.
Sew the cardigan:

Use yarn that coordinates—or contrasts—with the edge of the squares to attach the pieces together with a yarn (or tapestry) needle and a basic whipstitch. Sew the longest seams first and move outward to the shortest. Secure with a knot at the end of the seam, leaving a 2-inch tail that you can weave back into the seam to reduce friction on the knot.