cozy fall blankets by crispina ffrench

The morning air is crisp and cool, the corn is tasseling and I’m itching for a new pair of wedge ankle boots. In my neck of the woods, southeastern Wisconsin, these are sure signs that fall is on the way. The changing of the season also means football games (go Pack!), apple picking (Elegant Farmer and Barthel’s are tops) and other autumnal outdoor endeavors. But to do it all in comfort and style, I have to get my hands on one of used clothing alchimest’s Crispina ffrench’s blanket creations…or read her how-to instructions below and make one for myself.

Berkshire Picnic Blanket, $95, etsy.com

Crispina made this one (above) from old corduroy jeans. I love its soft colors and contrasting persimmon trim. Here are some others:

left: Wool and Cashmere Sweater Throw, $325; right: Pixalated Heart Throw Blanket, $450

We talked to Crispina about her craft. Here’s what she had to say!

FRESH HOME: Why old clothing?

CRISPINA FFRENCH: It’s accessible and either free or very cheap.  And it’s often made of better quality cloth than what I can buy new.

FH: Would you ever use an old sentimental piece of clothing?

CF: Often the sweater that Grandma knit you is not so flattering or has gone out of style. But when you cut it up and make it into a blanket, you honor the maker and often find that the finished product means much more to you.

FH: Your design signature is your wonderful felted wool blankets. When did you first work with felt?

CF: I learned how to make felt in college. Loved the way it felt, but not the process of making it. My father, also an artist, gave me the idea to use felted wool sweaters, and I never made another piece of homemade felt after that.

FH: Can you tell us how you make those blankets?

CF: Sure. I have no trade secrets. Blankets are made in two styles—wool or wool blend. I make the felt by washing and drying wool sweaters in the washing machine and dryer to get them to shrink, and therefore “felt.” I cut the felted sweaters into squares and sew edge-to-edge using an industrial zigzag sewing machine. The edges of my blankets play a special role in that they are wrapped in colorful and luscious fabric—usually silk charmeuse or velvet. This material isn’t recycled.

I make my denim or corduroy blankets by cutting large rectangles from the legs of pants. I overlap about half an inch and zigzag-stitch them together. Once I have the first seam of stitching in place, I flip the pieces over and run another seam on the back, catching the raw edge inside the width of the zigzag stitch. This way all the raw edges are securely held inside the width of the stitch, making the blankets completely flat and durable.

FH: What’s your favorite tool?

CF: Sharp scissors.

FH: Are you able to use the complete piece of clothing, or do you have scraps?

CF: I give away free scrap bags at my studio. On occasion, I do throw a scrap away if I am drowning in stuff.

Well, Cripina makes it all sound easy enough, doesn’t she? My hat certainly goes off to her. What a wonderful way to upcycle those faded cords or the wool sweater that found its demise in the dryer. Now I just have to make a little something to store all my new blankets in!

What about you? What’s your favorite thing to upcycle?