The holidays are behind us. The busyness and chaos of the season has slowed down. And now you have some free time. It’s too cold to be out in the garden for very long. So spend some of your downtime crafting a cozy sweater garland. All you need for this craft are a few cast-off sweaters and some twine.

I have a confession to make. I’m a sucker for old sweaters. I have a closet full that I purchased at thrift stores to use for crafting. Old wool sweaters are my favorite, but I’ll grab any that have a wintery motif on them. So if you need a few sweaters, hit your local thrift store and dig around in the men’s and women’s sweater aisle. Look for sweaters with monochromatic  colors for this craft.

Related: How To Make A Simple Sweater Wreath

Supplies to Make a Cozy Sweater Garland…

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I can make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for full details.

• 4 or 5 thick sweaters
• Twine cut to desired length (choose sturdy)
• Upholstry or Embroidery Needle (with a large eye)
• Sewing Scissors

Steps to Make a Cozy Sweater Garland…

Step 1:

You can choose whatever colors you want your garland to be. Since this is for a winter garland, I chose winter whites of varying shades. But you might want shades of blue or even bright colors for a pick-me-up.

When choosing your sweaters, consider the weave of the fabric. You want to select a medium to tight weave. If you choose loose weave sweaters, the edges of your squares will fray leaving lots of little sweater pieces hanging off.

To prep your sweaters, start by cutting off the back. Next, separate the sleeves from the front. Although you can use the sleeves if needed, I usually save them for other projects such as wreath-making. They also make great pot covers for your indoor winter plants.

Step 2:

Cut your sweaters into small squares. The size of your squares will depend on how thick you want your garland. If you want a thinner garland cut your squares about 1-2 inch size. For a thicker garland, 3 inches will work. Cut all of the squares the same size.

Note: I find it helpful to create a template to cut sweater strips first. Measure and cut a piece of cardboard (cereal boxes work great) the width of your squares. Mark the square lines on the cardboard. Now you can use this template to cut strips from your sweater. After you have your strips, place them along the template to see where to cut your squares.

How many squares you need will depend on the length of the garland and the thickness of your sweaters. For my 8 foot-long garland, I used 250 sweater squares.

The size of my squares were 3 inches. This does make a heavier garland so be sure to use sturdy twine that can take some weight.

Step 3:

Measure your twine to the desired length of your garland and then add on two feet or more for hanging. Thread your upholstery needle with the twine.

Tip: If you’re having a hard time threading the needle, tape over one end of the twine with scotch tape. Then cut the tip in the shape of a V. The tip should be able to go through the needle eye.

Step 4:

Begin sewing through the center of each sweater square. Be sure to vary the sweater patterns as you go so you won’t have the same pattern all in a row. Leave several feet of twine at the end for hanging as you thread on your sweater squares.

Tie a double knot in the twine where you want your fabric to start. This prevents the squares from sliding off. Press the sweater pieces loosely against each other as you add on new squares.

Step 5:

Continue filling your twine with the sweater pieces. Adjust your squares so they are evenly distributed along the twine. Turn the squares along the strand to provide a pleasing ruffled look.

Tie a second knot in the twine after your last square to hold them in place. Cut the end length of the twine to match the other side. Form loops at the ends of the twine. Done!

Your cozy winter garland is ready for hanging along your mantle. Drape it over a picture frame or hang it along the top of a window.

Sit back, relax and enjoy all the free time you have during these slower, wintery months. Of course, you could always head back to the thrift store to find more sweaters to craft with.