Granny Square Afghan to a Jacket

Can you believe there aren’t hours and hours of crocheting to make this Jacket?! It’s a super quick up-cycle project but still high on sentiment. Check out this easy peasy way to make a Granny Square Afghan to a Jacket.

My Big Secret:

First let me say; this project is a dedication to all those Granny’s; the ones who would lovingly spend days & weeks to make you a lovely blanket. Sadly before you know it, you tire of the colours and you donate it.

Well, that’s where I come in. I often shop those thrift places since I appreciate and cherish certain fabrics and fibres. Having sewn my own clothes for most if my life I understand what fabric is and know that some of the older ones are quite special. I often up-cycle many natural fibre sheets and blankets when I Eco Print and hand-dye. It pains me when I see perfect, hardly used afghans just waiting for a home. Looking at them I have often yearned to figure out some way to give them more deserved loving.

My Beautiful Specimen:

Can you believe that this was $5?! This is a typical Granny Square Afghan that is made with individual (10 x 10 = 100) squares that are attached after crocheting. They are often made with all kinds of colours. This one is about 48″ square. When deciding if your found afghan is big enough it should be wide enough to wrap around you and long enough for double the length of the jacket (once for body piece, once for arm lengths; my mom taught me some ‘ballpark’ ways to figure how much fabric needed)

When in doubt, make a small model… Haha, yup sometimes it helps to do a hands-on test. Since this pattern is all made of ‘squares’ I used some paper towel to make a mini one. Draw, cut, and tape and it worked!

The Pattern:

These afghan pattern pieces are designed to remain as rectangular as possible due to the way they are made. The Main body is one piece (no side seams) and the arm holes are opened up. Two Rectangular sleeves fit the arm holes, and a hood is made from the leftover (or no hood if you choose).

Cut the yarn to undo the squares from each other & open the seams (check if they are crocheted or sewn together). This afghan was crocheted together so cutting the single crochet would easily open the seams.

Pull on the yarn (try each direction) and it will start to come apart easily. Only take apart along the red lines of pattern above.

The sections where the seams of the opposite direction cross the openings you will also need to open.. I just carefully cut them and then stitched them well to prevent unravelling.

Here you see the simple shapes clipped together.

All Pinned Together:

Fold the front sides toward the middle to utilize the already finished edges at the front and bottom. The sleeves fit into the slots on the body sides. The shoulder seam determines the neck opening. Make sure the neck opening matches the width of the hood. It is a square hood with a straight bottom that matches the width of the neck. Sew or crochet the seams together.

I used the single crochet stitch to close the seams with the yarn that was pulled from the deconstruction. The hood did need and bit of extra stitching to match the edging… (see funny story below)

I am quite happy with the result… However, the person I made this for thought it would look better without the fancy edging and I agree it looks much more ‘Bohemian’ now and less like a baby blanket.

A bit Simpler Edges

Yes, a simpler design, as the edging pulled off very easily. It is roomy as it has extra width in the front to overlap. The sleeves are straight & wide.

I read somewhere that someone invented the ‘Oodie’ (an oversized hoodie) Really?! I imagine many other blankets can also be translated into an oversized jacket or even ‘hoodie’, so then Grandma would smile when you posted your selfie on Instagram! (if grandma has IG)

My sweetie loves hers and matches her eclectic style. Come on, ‘own’ your unique one-of-a-kind style!Smiles are always welcome and are enough payment… Go ahead and rescue some poor granny’s hard work from ending in a landfill and convert a Granny Square Afghan to a Jacket . I guarantee it will make you feel good. Stay warm and make happy!

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