Bernat

From weaving supplies to modern craft yarns

Bernat’s craft history extends beyond today’s blanket yarns. A surviving Bernat looms and accessories catalogue in the Southern Appalachian Digital Collections documents the name’s connection with weaving supplies in the early twentieth century. It is a useful reminder that the brand’s background includes more than the plush textures now prominent in its collection.

Today, Bernat is presented through Yarnspirations, where yarns sit alongside project kits, lookbooks and free patterns. The emphasis is practical: selecting a material and finding a project that uses it. Blankets, cushions and baskets feature prominently, alongside clothing and other accessories.

Different ways to make a blanket

The Bernat Blanket family is central to the current range, but its names identify different products. Blanket, Baby Blanket, Blanket Extra and Blanket Extra Thick should not be treated as interchangeable simply because they share a family name. Alize Blanket-EZ is another distinct option: its looped construction is designed for hand stitching without knitting needles or a crochet hook.

Bernat also supports projects made with more traditional yarns. Its Super Value patterns include crocheted blankets built from familiar stitches, offering a different route from the oversized, plush look of the Blanket family.

Before choosing an alternative, decide which aspect of the original project matters most: its scale, stitch definition or surface texture. Match the specific yarn’s construction and gauge, and calculate the total length needed. A similar-looking ball or a shared brand name is not enough to predict the finished fabric.