Design

Trend Spotting: Kantha Quilting

April 24, 2013

We recently introduced Kantha Blankets to our assortment and I couldn’t be more excited to bring these to our customers. These eclectic, one-of-a-kind quilts each have a special story to tell while brightening up any room. I thought it would be fun to share a bit about the history of Kantha as well as some fun decorating tips.

Decor8, Celadon, Desh Crafts


Kantha, a word meaning “old cloth” or “rag”, refers an age-old art form traditionally practiced by the women of Bengal. Kantha blankets are made from recycling worn saris originally intended to keep warm during the cooler months. In the traditional Kantha style, five layers of used saris are sewn together with a single running stitch to make a quilted blanket. Once the blanket is finished, Bengali women “sign” their pieces with their name, a mark of pride and identity. Such blankets are passed on as heirlooms to future generations. While this tradition dates back to the late 16th and early 17th century, Kantha is still the most popular form of embroidery practiced by rural women. Aside from providing a source of income for Bengali women, the popularity of Kantha products has given this traditional folk art a stake in the modern global marketplace.

Justina Blakeney, Apartment Therapy


Nowadays, this age-old tradition is finding its way into modern home décor and design. Traditional Kantha is used on a wide array of products, from personal accessories, to pillows, and upholstered furniture. No matter what the execution, the unique, one-of-a-kind nature of this traditional folk art is a show stealer. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind and you can truly see the fingerprint of the artisan women who created them.

Hand & Cloth, Justina Blakeney, Anthropologie


I see Kantha as an easy way to incorporate a little colorful, bohemian touch to your living space. Suddenly you can integrate a splashy touch to your otherwise monotone bedding; the blanket, casually strewn over a couch or chair can transform the look of the room to that of one occupied by a world traveler and collector.

7 Comments

  • Reply Silvia April 29, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    They are really beautiful!!!!! *_*

  • Reply Natalia June 17, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    They’re quite nice and colourful. I also got a throw for my living room. I absolutely love it. You can also check some other styles on here http://etsy.com/shop/summerofflowers. Keep blogging x.

  • Reply Kantha Quilts September 5, 2013 at 12:51 am

    The origins of quilting remain unknown, but sewing techniques of piecing, applique, and quilting have been used for clothing and furnishings in diverse parts of the world

  • Reply sachin November 18, 2014 at 12:33 am

    Nice work,keep going.

  • Reply sundoz November 18, 2014 at 6:20 am

    What a good suggestion posted by the peoples.

  • Reply Manju Lata June 11, 2017 at 2:07 am

    Hi,
    I really enjoyed reading this knowledgeable blog. I am an artist from northern part of India and make these handmade beautiful kantha quilts with the help of poor women live in village and do fair trade. Whenever I get chance I show my work to kantha lovers and here it’s link of my collection of kantha quilts where you can find almost every type of handmade kantha throws:

    https://jaipurhandloom.com/collections/indian-vintage-kantha-quilts

    https://jaipurhandloom.com/collections/twin-kantha-quilts

    I hope readers will love them and will enjoy there bedroom, living room and dining room.

    Sincerely,
    Manju
    http://jaipurhandloom.com

  • Reply stephy wintes February 20, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    Beautiful Kantha, really love it

    thank for sharing

  • Leave a Reply to sachin

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