Voliere yarns from Knit Picks

Taking sweater and making into square for quilt


Hi! I am taking on the project of taking my grandmothers old knitting projects (sweaters and blankets) and forming a quilt. I need help learning how to take a sweater and making it into a square without destroying it. Please help!

Comments for Taking sweater and making into square for quilt

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 21, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Taking sweater and making into square for quilt
by: Ratchadawan

Hello knitting friend,

That sounds like a beautiful and meaningful project! Here’s how you can transform a sweater into a square for your quilt while preserving as much of the original knitting as possible:

Materials You’ll Need:

• Sharp fabric scissors
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat (optional but helpful for clean edges)
• Ruler or quilting template for square measurement
• Matching thread and needle or a sewing machine
• Fusible interfacing (to stabilize the knitting and prevent unraveling)

Steps:

1. Plan the Squares

• Decide the size of your quilt squares (e.g., 8"x8").
• Identify areas on the sweater with interesting patterns or textures to feature in the squares.

2. Stabilize the Knitting

• Cut a piece of fusible interfacing slightly larger than the square you want.
• Place it on the wrong side of the sweater in the area you plan to cut, and iron it on using the manufacturer’s instructions. The interfacing will prevent the knitting from unraveling.

3. Cut the Square

• Place your ruler or quilting template over the stabilized section.
• Use a rotary cutter or scissors to cut out the square. Be precise and avoid stretching the fabric as you cut.

4. Finish the Edges

• Sew a zigzag or overlock stitch around the edges of the square to secure the knitting further. If you don’t have a sewing machine, hand-sewing with matching thread works too.

5. Repeat for All Sweater Sections

• Continue stabilizing and cutting squares from each sweater. You can mix in pieces from the blankets for variety.

6. Assemble the Quilt

• Once all the squares are ready, sew them together using a straight stitch, leaving a small seam allowance.
• Consider backing the quilt with fabric for extra durability and a finished look.


Cheers!
Ratcha

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own comment! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Knitting Questions And Comments.

spring banner

Samia Yarn from Knit Picks
notesheetpackage2


Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.