The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Make | An Upcycled Jumper Blanket

David Parker October 4, 2025

Illustration by Christina Carpenter

A good use for any moth-eaten jumpers – sew them into a patchwork blanket for cosy reading sessions by the fire.

You will need
Old jumpers, throws and blankets; good scissors; paper; an old bed sheet; wool; large needle.

To make
1 Decide how big you want your squares and make somepaper templates – a 20cm square is a good size to work with. Cut a few paper squares, then pin them to the jumpers or blankets and cut out. Keep cutting squares until you have enough. The size of the blanket is up to you but 10 x 15 squares is good.

2 Zig-zag stitch around the edges of your squares to stop unravelling, lay them out on the floor and arrange them in an order you like. Sew together the squares in each long row first, giving you several ‘strips’ of squares. Then sew the strips together. You can do this by hand or use a sewing machine.

3 Place the blanket right side down on an old bed sheet and sew the two together leaving a gap to turn the blanket right side out, then close it up by hand. Using wool and a large needle, blanket stitch all around the blanket’s edge.

4 Curl up on the sofa under it.

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  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Order  our new Celebrations Anthology   Pre-order a copy of  Flourish 4 , our new wellbeing bookazine   Listen to  our podcast  – Small Ways to Live Well
Aug 29, 2025
Aug 29, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Order our new Celebrations Anthology

Pre-order a copy of Flourish 4, our new wellbeing bookazine 

Listen to our podcast – Small Ways to Live Well

Aug 29, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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