Creative Ways to Use Crochet Afghan blankets

Crochet blankets are back in style and with good reason. A crochet afghan blanket is a versatile decorating item that can be used in many ways and in various styles. Let me show you some creative ways to use crochet blankets in your decor and how to care for your old afghan blanket.

I have a confession to make. I have a bit of an addiction….

I am in love with vintage crochet bedspreads and I keep collecting them….

And when I see a brand new crochet blanket I cannot resist either….

And when that blanket is a handmade vintage granny square blanket I tend to lose control…..

Maybe you share that problem, and now you have more crochet blankets than you know what to do with? 

Or maybe you have been gifted a family heirloom vintage crochet bedspread and you want to love it but you can’t make it look good in your home?

Maybe you are looking for a way to add a bit of color, or vintage style to your decor?

And maybe you are wondering how to care for that precious handmade crochet blanket?

Well my friend I have answers and ideas for you.

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How to Use and Care for Crochet Blankets and Bedspreads

I own quite a few vintage and handmade crochet blankets. I have owned and subsequently sold a few too. I love them so much I even made one myself (my one and only big crochet project so far). 

I cannot stop myself from hunting for them at flea markets. And when I find dirty and damaged blankets I still buy them and use them in craft projects.

So many uses for an old crochet blanket. Let me inspire you for some great uses so that you will go and find your own. Let’s start exploring the myriad ways to use an old or vintage crochet blanket in your home.

If you can’t live without at least one more crochet bespread in your life then don’t worry, I have hand-selected some favorite ones online for you and list them at the bottom.

Decorating with Crochet Blankets

Old afghans and granny square blankets are so versatile and lovely to decorate with. They are also pretty easy to handle and much sturdier than you might expect. 

Use them as a Crochet Bedspread

Of course, the most common use for a crochet afghan is to use them as a bedspread. Many are specifically made for that purpose. 

A crochet bedspread looks great when completely covering the bed. It gives a neat and finished look, with a nice vintage touch. 

A vintage crochet bed coverlet also works well as a top layer at the bottom of the bed. It adds a lovely touch of hominess without making the bed look heavy.

Turn them into a Crochet Tablecloth

Another great use for a crochet blanket is to use it as a tablecloth. When the pattern is very open the crochet blanket can be used over a colored base layer. That gives a lovely effect and is easy to change up with seasonally appropriate colors.

I have seen a lot of pictures of very romantic boho-style weddings where they used a crochet blanket as a tablecloth. A smaller crochet throw would work very well for this.

Hang them over a Blanket Ladder

Decorate a blanket ladder with a crochet afghan blanket for a nice vintage touch to a modern decorating staple. Simply fold up your granny afghan and layer it on the ladder. Add some more decorative items like a string of lights and you have a beautiful decorative corner in your home. Blanket ladders come in all kind of styles I really like this two-toned blanket ladder.

More Lovely decorating ideas for you

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How to decorate with wooden ladders

How to upcycle lamps

How to decorate with wooden crates

Simply use them as a Throw Blanket

A crochet blanket works perfectly as a throw blanket over your bed, sofa, or armchair. I love the look of a draped afghan over the back of a sofa. If your afghan is large, fold it in half lengthwise and then drape it across the entire back of your sofa. 

You can also fold a crochet blanket neatly over the back, or the armrest and let it hang freely.

And of course, you can throw it down onto your bed or sofa in the most casual way as you should with a throw blanket.

Turn your Crochet Afghan Blanket into a Curtain

An unexpected but pretty use for a lightweight crochet blanket is to use it as a curtain. You can simply attach some curtain rings in the open weave of the blanket and hang it as a pretty and decorative curtain. 

How to Repurpose and Upcycle a Crochet Blanket

When you have or find an old crochet blanket that really is no longer good to use as a bed cover or throw blanket then there are still so many ways you can use them.

Crochet work is really easy to work with and you can generally simply cut it without it unraveling. This is especially easy in the case of a granny square blanket since the grannies were made separately, to begin with.

Make Crochet Pillow Covers

If the good parts of your blanket are large enough you can turn them into pretty crochet pillows. Simply sew two parts together by hand with large stitches and a similar yarn as the blanket is made off. Don’t forget to wedge a pillow in between….

Use them for Upholstery or Chair Seat Covers

The wonderful thing about crochet work is that it is quite sturdy and resistant to unraveling. Unlike knitwork for example a good crochet blanket will not fray, stretch, or be damaged easily. This means they are strong enough to use as upholstery and you can cover a chair seat or a stool with them. 

Use Leftovers and Small Pieces in Craft Projects

Smaller pieces of a vintage crochet blanket are still useful. Split a granny blanket up and use the four grannies together as a potholder, or individual grannies as coasters. A longer piece of an antique crochet bedspread makes for a beautiful scarf.

And I have cut up a ripped crochet blanket into smaller pieces that I starched and used as lovely Christmas ornaments.

My macrame wall hanging was made with a handmade crochet curtain, but I could have just as easily used part of a crochet blanket as well.

Use as a Unique Photography Prop 

A crochet blanket can be a perfect backdrop for a photography session or used as a nice prop to add color and interest to an image. One of the vintage crochet bedspreads that I sold, traveled all the way to Australia where it is now used for portrait photography. I received a photograph where my flea market find is used. 

How cool is that!

How do you Care for and Wash a Crochet Blanket

In general, even vintage crochet bedspreads are easily washable and don’t need a lot of special care or cleaning products. 

When you wash a crochet coverlet choose a mild detergent and set your washing machine to a gentle, cold water setting. Add only other items to the machine that are soft (like towels) and do not have buttons, zippers, or hard edges (no jeans). Alternatively, wash them by hand. Dry your crochet afghan flat on top of a towel or sheet.

If your antique crochet bedspread is very fragile put it inside a pillowcase or an oversized mesh bag before washing.

Where to Get (Vintage) Crochet Blankets

Have I convinced you that you can not go another day in your life without at least one more crochet blanket?

Maybe you want to make your own. I found some easy tutorials online and a couple of books that can give you lots of ideas.

And just in case you get the urge the crochet your own blanket, but don’t have a lot of time: I found some great tutorials for how to crochet a bedspread in one day. I liked the one by Mama in a Stitch best. And here are some more make-in-a-day crochet blanket ideas.

Not in the mood to DIY your own crochet blanket?

If you desire a vintage crochet blanket Etsy is the place to be. You might even find one from time to time in my shop. New blankets can be found on Amazon.

Let me show you some of my favorite new and vintage crochet blankets and bedspreads that I found online.

Shopping Ideas for new and vintage crochet blankets and bedspreads.

I hope I have given you lots of ideas for how to use crochet blankets in your decor. If you have any more questions, just post them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Have fun decorating and crafting with your crochet blankets!

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