Afghan (blanket)

An afghan blanket

An afghan is a blanket of knitted or crocheted wool.^[1] It is sometimes also called a "throw".

"An afghan is the knitted or crocheted wrap that everyone has seen thrown over the back of a rocking chair or folded at the foot of Grandmother's bed. Afghans are often given as gifts and may become family heirlooms. Many people use an afghan as a throw on a chilly day, as a bedspread, or as decoration for the back of a chair. An afghan also makes a good three-season wrap, adding warmth without a lot of weight."^[2]

Etymology

The word "afghan" refers to the people of the country of Afghanistan. The coverlet was originally produced by the Afghans. The use of "afghan" in the English language goes back to 1831, when Thomas Carlyle mentioned it in his "Sartor Resartus."^[3] The first mention of the word referring to the woven rug was in 1877.^[4]

Types and styles

There are three main styles of afghan: mile-a-minute afghans, join-as-you-go afghans, and motif afghans. Mile-a-minute afghans are usually made in one piece and with a minimum of stitches; they are the simplest style to make and are especially popular with beginners. Join as you go afghans are made up of many different pieces, one of which begins where the last leaves off. Motif afghans, such as the granny square, are composed of many different small pieces, called motifs, squares, or blocks. These motifs may be all of the same design or of different designs, but they are typically the same size, for ease of joining. Some favor the motif style because of its portability and versatility of design. The motif style is still a very popular and a complex design for making blankets, scarves, etc.

References

↑ http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/Afghan
↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-afghan.htm
↑ "Sartor Resartus", Fraser's Mag. VIII 670/1 Afghaun shawls, Thomas Carlyle, 1833
↑ "Life and Letters of Elizabeth Prentiss", pp. 260, Letter: 13 Dec., 1868. Elizabeth Prentiss, George Lewis Prentiss, 1882.

Bedding

Bed types (Bed sizes)	Banig Bassinet Box-bed Bunk bed Cage bed Camp bed Canopy bed Couch bed Cradle (bed) Daybed Four-poster bed Futon Hammock Hospital bed Infant bed Kang bed-stove Lit a la turque Loft bed Charpai Murphy bed Petate Platform bed Sleigh bed Sofa bed Toddler bed Trundle bed

Bed components	Bed frame Bed sheet Bed skirt Cot side Footboard Headboard

Mattresses	Air mattress Featherbed Mattress pad Mattress protector Memory foam Orthopedic mattress Waterbed

Bed bases	Box-spring Bunkie board

Blankets	Afghan Comforter Duvet Electric blanket Hudson's Bay point blanket Patchwork quilt Photo blanket Quilt Razai Security blanket Silk comforter Sleeping bag

Pillows	Acupressure pillow Bamboo wife Bolster Contour leg pillow Cushion Dakimakura Eye pillow Orthopedic pillow Phonetic pillow Sex pillow Speaker pillow Throw pillow

Related items	Bed warmer Couch Nightstand

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