The Cozy History Of Afghan Blankets: Unraveling The Afghan-Afghanistan Connection

The knitted or crocheted blanket known as an afghan is indeed named for the people of Afghanistan. The word afghan first entered the English language in the late 1700s as a name for the Pashtuns of eastern and southern Afghanistan. Afghanistan is known for its distinctive textiles, colourful carpets, and lustrous karakul wool, so it is perhaps logical that afghan was picked up to refer to knitted or crocheted blankets. The word became mainstream in America in the early 1800s, describing blankets and shawls made from multi-hued yarn.

Afghans are usually knitted or crocheted blankets

Afghans, or "afghan blankets", are usually knitted or crocheted blankets. The name "afghan" is derived from the word used for the people of Afghanistan, and the country is known for its distinctive textiles, colourful carpets, and lustrous karakul wool. The word "afghan" was first used in the English language in the late 1700s to refer to the Pashtuns of eastern and southern Afghanistan.

By the mid-1800s, the patterned textiles of that region became fashionable and were referred to as "Afghan shawls". This was eventually shortened to "afghan", and the term was applied to handmade, colourfully patterned, crocheted or knitted blankets. Afghans are often used as bedspreads or as decorations on the backs of couches or chairs. They can be made in various styles, including single-piece afghans, mile-a-minute afghans, join-as-you-go afghans, motif afghans, and graphghans.

While knitting and crocheting are not traditional Afghani crafts, it does get cold in some parts of Afghanistan, so warm, woolly items are commonly used. Afghans made by the Kuchis people of Afghanistan are often brightly coloured, especially in red and green, and made from pieces of fabric.

Afghans are sometimes called throws

Afghans are indeed sometimes called throws, and this is because the terms overlap, with no hard-and-fast definitions. In general, a blanket is a large piece of fabric used for keeping warm, typically as bedding; a throw is a small blanket often used as a decorative element, perhaps over a couch; and an afghan is a crocheted or knitted blanket.

However, there is some nuance to these definitions. For example, blankets are defined by the size of the bed they are intended to cover, and will usually be larger than a throw or afghan. Commercial throws are typically 40–50 inches wide and 50–60 inches long, but they can be whatever size you choose if you're making one yourself. Afghans can be any size, and on the smaller end, lap-sized afghans (about 36 inches by 45 inches) are sometimes called lapghans. Afghans made in bed sizes usually cover only the top of the mattress and don't hang over the sides. Interestingly, baby-sized afghans are almost always called baby blankets rather than baby afghans.

Blankets are usually functional, and may be hidden under other bed coverings. Throws and afghans, on the other hand, are primarily decorative, adding texture and pattern to your décor. They are often chosen for colours and patterns that accent the room they are in, and are displayed by draping them on sofas, chairs, or across the foot of a bed.

Blankets are often, but not always, woven. Because they are functional textiles, the edges are often hemmed or bound to prevent fraying. Throws can be woven, knitted, crocheted, quilted, or pieced together from materials like fur. The edge is often treated as a focal point and finished with fringe, tassels, or a contrasting border. Afghans, by definition, are hand knitted or crocheted.

The word afghan refers to the people of Afghanistan

The word "Afghan" refers to the people of Afghanistan. The ethnonym "Afghān" was used to refer to ethnic Pashtuns. The Arabic and Persian form of the name, "Afġān", was first attested in the 10th-century geography book "Hudud al-'Alam". The last part of the name, "-stan", is a Persian suffix meaning "place of". Therefore, "Afghanistan" translates to "land of the Afghans", or land of the Pashtuns in a historical sense.

The word "Afghan" in the English language, referring to a textile object, dates back to at least 1831, when Thomas Carlyle mentioned "Afghan shawls" in his "Sartor Resartus". By 1860, "Afghan" as a noun, not an adjective, denoted a type of handicrafted object shown at state fairs and other exhibitions. Afghans are often used as bedspreads, or as a decoration on the back of couches or chairs.

The word "Afghan" in English, referring to the people of Afghanistan, first appeared in English usage in the late 1700s as a name for the Pashtuns of eastern and southern Afghanistan. The country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The country's forbidding landscape of deserts and mountains has laid many imperial ambitions to rest, as has the tireless resistance of its fiercely independent peoples—so independent that the country has failed to coalesce into a nation but has instead long endured as a patchwork of contending ethnic factions and ever-shifting alliances.

The modern boundaries of Afghanistan were established in the late 19th century in the context of a rivalry between imperial Britain and tsarist Russia that Rudyard Kipling termed the "Great Game". Modern Afghanistan became a pawn in struggles over political ideology and commercial influence.

Afghans are often used as bedspreads or decorations

Afghans, or Afghan blankets, are usually knitted or crocheted blankets or shawls. They are often used as bedspreads or decorative pieces draped over couches or chairs. Afghans can come in a variety of styles and sizes, from single-piece afghans to mile-a-minute afghans, made up of several strips sewn together. Afghans can also be made up of many small motifs or squares, such as the popular "granny square" style, which is commonly associated with grandmothers. Afghans can be made in any size, from small lap-sized blankets to larger bedspreads.

The use of the word "afghan" to refer to these blankets does indeed have a connection to Afghanistan. The word "afghan" first entered the English language in the late 1700s to refer to the Pashtun people of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is known for its distinctive textiles, colourful carpets, and lustrous karakul wool. Over time, the word "afghan" was adopted to describe knitted or crocheted blankets, particularly those featuring colourful designs. By the mid-1800s, these patterned textiles became fashionable in America, and the term "Afghan shawls" was used to describe them. Eventually, the word "shawl" was dropped, and "afghan" became the noun used to refer to these handmade, colourfully patterned blankets.

The name "afghan" may also be linked to the Kuchi people of Afghanistan, who are nomadic and make up about ten percent of the country's population. The Kuchi people are known for their bright and colourful clothing, blankets, and pillows, often favouring the colours red and green. This association with vibrant textiles may have contributed to the use of the term "afghan" for knitted or crocheted blankets.

Today, afghans are commonly used as decorative pieces in the home, adding texture and pattern to a room. They are often chosen for their aesthetic appeal and can be found draped over furniture or displayed as wall hangings. Afghans are also functional, providing warmth on chilly evenings. Whether used as a bedspread or a decorative accent, afghans are versatile and beloved elements in many homes.

Afghans can be made in many styles

Afghans, or Afghan blankets, are usually knitted or crocheted blankets or shawls. They are often used as decorative pieces, draped over couches or chairs, or as bedspreads. The word 'afghan' is derived from the name of the people of Afghanistan, and the use of the term in the English language to refer to a textile object dates back to at least 1831, when Thomas Carlyle mentioned "Afghan shawls" in his work, 'Sartor Resartus'.

Afghans can be made in many different styles, and there are no hard-and-fast definitions for the different types. Here are some of the most common styles:

• Single-piece afghans are the simplest to make and are ideal for beginners.
• Mile-a-minute afghans are made from several strips sewn together, with each strip requiring a minimum number of stitches.
• Join-as-you-go afghans are made from multiple pieces, with each new piece starting where the last one ended.
• Motif afghans are made up of small motifs, such as squares or blocks, that are usually the same size for ease of joining. They can be all in the same design or different designs. Motif afghans are popular because they are portable and versatile.
• Graphghans are made by following a flat chart or grid of coloured squares to create a visual design. There are three main methods for making a graphghan: pixel crochet, corner-to-corner crochet, and tapestry crochet.

Afghans can also vary in shape, size, and colour. They can be rectangular, round, or square, and can be made to fit a baby, a lap, or a California King-sized bed. Afghans can be made in a single solid colour or feature a multitude of hues.

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