Textile Textbook: Is Your Sofa Wearing a Sweater?
Discover the joy of weaving knitted and crocheted textiles into your home decor
Cozy crochets and classic cable-knits add such irresistibly folksy charm to a room, it’s no wonder they occupy a well-entrenched place in our hearts and homes. As snuggly accents, touches of cable-knit radiate warmth and seasonality and, as you’re about to see, they’re more versatile than you might expect.
What is a knit fabric? Knit fabrics distinguish themselves from wovens by their basic construction: When a fabric is woven on a loom, multiple warp and weft fibers are laced over and under each other perpendicularly to get a tight, flat and strong product. Fabrics that are knit, whether by hand or machine, turn one continuous yarn into a seemingly endless array of loops and braid formations; these tiny loops are what give knits their characteristic stretch, which makes them unsuitable for most home decor uses that require durability and strength.
The classic cable-knit blanket. You’ll find these draped over sofas, benches, chairs and beds for classic down-home appeal, and the fact that nearly everyone seems to favor the traditional off-white color suggests that there’s something universally comforting about pure cotton yarns knit in this familiar pattern. Dressing the entire bed in a king-sized cable-knit cover hints that comfort, the humblest of luxuries, was the foremost aim of this bedroom’s design.
Did you know?
Cable stitches were first popularized in fishermen’s sweaters in Ireland. Entire families pitched in to create the patriarch’s wool outerwear, and each clan had a signature pattern that was guarded closely and passed through generations.
Did you know?
Cable stitches were first popularized in fishermen’s sweaters in Ireland. Entire families pitched in to create the patriarch’s wool outerwear, and each clan had a signature pattern that was guarded closely and passed through generations.
Sofa sweaters. If they can cover beds, why not furniture? The canopy shields the soft fibers from the elements here, and this whole tropical Bohemian oasis proves that a knit throw can hang in warmer weather too.
Soft storage solution. Tiny-house dwellers in Saginaw, Michigan, scored this brilliant knit storage system from Ikea. Perhaps the material’s coziness resonated with the home’s intimate scale, or maybe the homeowners genuinely needed something that wouldn’t hurt when they inevitably bumped into it. Either way, knitted bins do the trick.
Hand-knit heirlooms. This knit rug perfectly suits the artsy handmade character of this midcentury-styled room. Treasures like these, especially when they’re a gift crocheted with love by a grandparent or crafty friend, deserve to be featured prominently in any decor. These elements, after all, are what make a house a home.
Versatile poufs. These knit ottomans have been popping up everywhere as highly functional footstools, spare seating and little side tables. They’re unassumingly chic and perfect in a nursery like this one, where Baby can comfortably bounce, stretch and toddle all over its rounded edges.
Cute cozies. If you find yourself snowed in and hankering for a quick and satisfying project this winter, how about hand-knit plant cozies to keep your buds snug during a cold snap? Your pets will thank you for sparing them another doggy sweater.
Arts and crafty. You wouldn’t expect to find layers of cuddly knits in a sleek LEED-certified home in San Francisco, but this crocheted artwork adds a playful organic touch that balances out all the chrome and glass.
Shelving standout. Nestled into a bookshelf in Jessica Craig’s Dallas abode is another quirky way to sneak some knit fabric into the decor.
Crocheted chairs. Because there’s an exception to every so-called rule, I just had to include this photo of two crocheted chairs looking perfectly avant-garde in this eclectic Italian dwelling. The punchy knit textile is perfect, provided these chairs are either infrequently used or their owner doesn’t mind making new covers when these wear out.
DIY tip: If you’re going to try this in your own home, start by choosing easy accent pieces like stools or slipseats (chair seats that unscrew or pop out from the frame).
More Textile Textbook: Meet Your Must-Have Synthetic Fibers | Fall in Love With These Prints From Around the World | Get Ready to be Wooed by Wovens
DIY tip: If you’re going to try this in your own home, start by choosing easy accent pieces like stools or slipseats (chair seats that unscrew or pop out from the frame).
More Textile Textbook: Meet Your Must-Have Synthetic Fibers | Fall in Love With These Prints From Around the World | Get Ready to be Wooed by Wovens