wow! what a great idea. i didn't think of that. i photograph all that i make [dh idea and he follows up to make sure i do it :) ] and i have done the same with the quilts/quilt tops that i inherited fr my gramma. the photos are a record and the afghans have home where they will be much needed and appreciated. a friend & i used to make them along with slippers and take them to the nearest senior home. we lived in a high mountain town and the winters were long and cold. they were much appreciated over achey knees, wrapped around tired old shoulders.

Why would you cut them? There is no need. Use them for what you Mom made them for; to keep you warm just as they are. If you feel you must back them, back them to a flannel blanket by tying them on at the corner of the squares just like you would a quilt. Tks. GiGi

Use them, rotate them like you do children's toys. Each time you will find something you hadn't seen on them. G

crocheting is a dying art. If you try and cut it, it will ravel out and you will have nothing but pieces of yarn.

As long as the family members have afghans from your mom, contact a local charity or senior citizens' home. Her afghans will be welcomed somewhere with loving thoughts of the kind lady who made them. Think of the smiles they will bring.

I would box them up and as each one of the future children get married I would wrap up one up and give it to them as a gift from her.

Personally I also crochet and I don't think it possible to cut them apart and the crochet item not fall apart. If you find a way please post and let us know. Maybe if all family members has all the crochet afgans that they want. Finding someone or a place to donate maybe. Good luck. I'm sure it is a very hard decision. I want to give you my condolences. I know how hard it is to lose someone so close.

I do crochet tops for quilts, and like any material unless you know what type of fibers make up the yarn you can do nothing good with all ready completed treasures. Enjoy your find or pass them on.

Here's What To Do
 

OK, since the extended family all have multiple afghans from your mom, here's how you make pillows, etc, without destroying the crochet. Take a piece of t-shirt fabric larger than the size pillow you want to make (woven fabrics will not work for this). Lay it out flat. Carefully lay the afghan on top, making sure not to create wrinkles in the t-shirt fabric. Pin in place. Pin a sheet of tissue pager on top of the afghan (to protect it from the presser foote). Using a basting stitch, stitch through all layers. Then stitch again 1" outside of the first stitching. Use scissors to carefully cut between the two rows of stitching (this way both the piece you will use and the leftover piece will be protected from unravelling.).
Hope this helps.

Please don't destroy them. A lot of loving work and labor went into them.