What is an Afghan?

Besides the afghan being a similar idea as a blanket or throw, there are a few other features that make it an afghan rather than something else. Afghans are hand-stitched, often using geometric designs and bright colors. They are usually decorative.

By definition, afghans can be crocheted or knitted using any type of yarn, though the traditional afghans would have been made with natural sheep, angora, or camel fibers.

Much of the time, afghans are made in specific sizes, such as the size of a throw or bedspread. According to Mikey from The Crochet Crowd, " it’s possible that an afghan is considered to be around 5′ feet or less."

The afghan blanket origins are based on location. As the name suggests, afghans were first made in Afghanistan by locals. Modern afghans are built upon the traditional Afghan oriental rugs, which have similar styles.

It is unclear when exactly the Afghan people started creating what we know as afghans but the term made it to America in the 19th century.

According to Amanda Thorogood from SFGate,

"Introduced from the region known around the world for its handcrafted and colorful textiles and carpets, the term "afghan," as it is used now to describe a shawl or handcrafted cover made from multicolored yarn, became a standard term in America during the early 1800s."

There are a couple related terms for afghans. They were invented specifically for afghans but, in modern crochet, they are used for more than just afghans.

So, what is an afghan hook? An afghan hook is also known as the Tunisian crochet hook. It is longer than the average crochet hook and has a cap on the end, which allows crocheters to add more stitches on the hook at once without the risk of them falling off.

There is also an afghan stitch, also known as the Tunisian crochet stitch. It is a boxlike stitch that is used in many afghan patterns, granny squares, and other crochet designs.

Take a look at the video to learn the Tunisian/afghan stitch using the Tunisian/afghan hook.

"There are many styles of afghans: mile-a-minute afghans, join-as-you-go afghans, and motif afghans."  — Wikipedia

1. Around The World Tunisian Afghan (pictured above)
2. Primary Color Checkerboard Afghan
3. Colored Stripes Afghan
4. Setting Sun Patchwork Afghan
5. Mad for Tassels Granny Stitch Afghan
6. Happy Harlequin Crochet Afghan (pictured below)