I’m sure you’ve seen the beautiful patterns and intricate stitching of Kantha throws before (if you haven’t, check out our collection of quilts here!), but what can they be used for?
Whether you’d like to embellish an existing colour scheme in a sophisticated living space or create a more relaxed bohemian vibe – here’s five reasons you need to get yourself a Kantha quilt to bring some light, history and fun into your life!
1. Bed spread, quilt or coverlet
Probably the most common modern use for the Kantha quilt – they’re great all year ’round. Wonderful layered, for that true ‘boho’ look, they can provide instant warmth on those chilly nights, but they can also be light enough to use in warmer months if they have more delicate cotton layers.
2. Instant colour, or CALM
Got a dark little corner that you can never seem to brighten up? We have the perfect fix. Lay a kantha quilt over a cabinet, or on a lonely couch to shed some much needed brightness. Vice versa, a chaotic and overly bright space can be cooled with an indigo quilt and calmed down with a Kantha featuring a much calmer and delicate print.
3. couch throw or blanket
Another favourite in our home is a couch throw – whether it’s literally thrown onto the couch to give a much needed splash of colour or pattern, neatly folded or hung on the back of the sofa or armrest, the Kantha throw can be used to liven up a couch or as a blanket for snuggling up under (with popcorn of course)!
Alternatively, a fun weekend break from night re-runs of Friends or Breaking Bad could have you set up some floor cushions and layer them with kantha quilts for a romantic setting. Perfect for that cheeky glass of wine and Indian curry you’ve been dreaming about all week.
4. Wall hanging and tapestRy
Kanthas make great wall hangings and can be an incredible talking piece for a lounge feature – or even an office space. The best thing about it is the 2-in-1 feature of the kantha – as they are double-sided they can be flipped creating a dynamic wall space!
5. Picnic Blanket
Our favourite use at O&M HQ is the picnic blanket. Kanthas are the ultimate picnic blanket – versatile, colourful and even reversible – so you really get a choice of 2 designs each time! Light enough to carry or stash in your bike basket, you’ll be the envy of all the other plain plaid blanket owners in your local park. You can keep a small kantha rolled up in your glove compartment for the impromptu country picnic getaway at any time, you can even have an indoor picnic in the middle of your lounge.
TIP: If you’re worried about putting the kantha down on grass, don’t worry – since they are cotton and strengthened by the kantha stitch they can be machine-washed easily. Grass stains rarely seem to occur as they are so full of colour already and even so, they have slight imperfections due to age, dyes and their handmade style, so their spirit can’t be crushed that easily! If you are still not convinced, but love the look, you can always put another blanket down first:)
How do you use your Kantha quilts?
Comment, give feedback or ask questions below!
Related reading: Another 8 awesome uses for your kantha quilt
Hello Sabina,
I have another idea to propose. I think if you have five or ten pieces of different designs Kantha embroidery, you can fold each of them to make some sort of flowery design. Folding each of them and arrange each of them like a petal. That being said, having one piece of it looks good based on the positioning in your room as you mentioned. It’s nice of you to share some creative suggestions.
Hi Tar!
Thanks for your ideas! I love combining the extensive variations of prints and colours of kanthas together – a lot of fun with beautiful eclectic results! A flower pattern would be wonderful. Do you mean the kanthas themselves, or kantha stitched fabric to create an artwork?
I actually had never seen this kind of quilt before i stumbled on this page but they are lovely. To me a pretty blanket is a pretty blanket but the lady a work for is really into this kind of stuff. I shared this url with her. i think she will enjoy it.
Thanks for your comment Devon, and for sharing my blog 😉 I appreciate it.
All the best,
Sabina
The quilts are beautiful indeed and you have a great selection. It’s a wonderful way to repurpose sari and support the people putting in all the hard work to make them as beautiful as they are. I definitely will return to so I have bookmarked the website. The quilts will make great gifts for family and friends. Are the quilts large enough for a queen-size bed?
Hi Rina. Thanks for your comment.
Yes, I believe in supporting handmade as well as rural artisans ~ they deserve to be known and celebrated!
Lovely ~ they are great as gifts:) Some will cover a queen-size bed – please refer to FAQs (at the bottom of each listing or on the main page of my Etsy shop) for more detail on sizing. You can also see the dimensions in cm of each quilt in the listing. Feel free to message me on Etsy with any queries you may have!
I didn’t know about Kantha quilts until I read this blog post. Looks like something my grandma would make for us back in the 80’s with left over fabrics from the tailor shop. They give you a very local and homey feeling.
I’ve been searching for something to layer the backseat of my car and I see that you sell your own products. Do you have anything that’s tailor made for car seats? Thanks!
Hi Cathy!
Yeah they are very homely:)
Ah, although I don’t have anything specifically tailored to car seats, I use my kantha throws this way ~ it’s a great way to bring colour and personality into your car;) I change it up with different pieces, and because they are so easily machine-washable, they work well. Added bonus: they double up as a blanket/wrap when it’s cold or a picnic rug when the mood arises!