Piecing old blankets to make a quilt
 

Has anyone ever pieced together old, wool blankets to make a quilt? (s/a Hudson Bay, or Pendleton blankets.) If so, how did you attach the pieces together? I have a lot of old blanket scraps and pieces that I'd like to make something out of. I've used some of them for pillows, which turned out nice, but I have enough for something larger, like a quilt. Please post your tips...thanks.

My grandmother made a wonderful crazy quilt out of old wool coats.....very dull colors....I think it has just the regular stitched together seams...no fancy embroidery stitches like one thinks about with crazy quilts.....but...she did add a bit of whimsy....there is a bunny out of a gray fuzzy wool....and a funky caterpillar marching its way across in a few scraps of brighter colors....and a pinkish butterfly....it is also extremely thick and heavy.....not sure what the filling is....but it definitely is not batting.....we used to use it up at the cabin that only had a wood stove for heat up in northern minnesota....nobody ever said they were cold while sleeping under that quilt

That's what a lot of the "old, scrap" quilts were made of.

Sometimes a couple of old sheets (or the good parts of old sheets) were used for lining/batting.

They usually ended up weighing a lot. I think that is where some of us equate "heavy" with "warm."

If I remember correctly my Mom cut them into about 4" squares and did a single crochet in fine yarn (using a teensy metal crochet hook) around them and then joined them with crochet, like a granny square.

Would it work to just butt the pieces up against each other and zigzag along the join? Like putting pieces of batting together into a large piece. Or use a fancy zigzag-like stitch if your machine has something like that. Could use contrasting or variegated thread to join blanket pieces together. Haven't tried this myself, but I want to weave some lengths of wool fabric to make a blanket so I will be anxious to see what others suggest!

It might be fun to make a rag quilt with them. I have only made one rag quilt and it was out of flannel. I think your blankets may cut up to make a good rag quilt.

Rather than using them as the "outside" ... they make awesome battings in a quilt.

The first I had was a "quilt" made for me by a friend ... two pieces of fabric, with the batting/blanket between, and simply tied/quilted together with yarn.

The most cozy comfy quilt ever!!!!!!!!!!!

I would be afraid it would be too heavy. If you just sew them together without any batting or backing would make a nice cover to use while watching TV.

I agree with Hemlock. Depending on the thickness of each blanket making a regular seam might be too bulky.
Also the suggestion of using as batting might work well also.

I might try making a pieced pillow first and see how that works out. I like the zig-zag stitch idea. I may use an old sheet as backing for stability.

That sounds so sweet. I love the idea of bunnies, butterflies and caterpillars on it! I might just try that.

Wool blankets make wonderful linings for pot holders.

For wool scraps, I've seen the crocheted/embroidered technique many times. Sometimes not much fancier than a blanket stitch around the edges and then the edges butted together and stitched together.

For using larger scraps as batting, typically you just overlap about an inch, sew typically two sets of seams about 1/4" from each of the raw edges. You are only putting together two thicknesses and no folding. Sure, can zig zag the seams even if you are concerned about raveling. I grew up on army bases and have used more than one army surplus green wool blanket as batting in my time...

My husband didn't really appreciate it at the time, but before we were married (we met online and were quite a distance) I had found a "better days gone by" Red and Black Hudson's Bay Blanket at the thrift store. It had a few condition problems and some moth as well as what looked like cigarette burn holes, it was not one of my perfect scores but still plenty of warmth and use left in the wool. I used black yarn and mostly chain stitching/darning, I made folk animals and flowers to fill the holes and I was very pleased with the project.