Cover Stories : When it comes to curling up with a good yarn, nothing beats an afghan. Store-bought or hand-made, they’re cozy accents.

There’s something unmistakably comforting about wrapping up in a soft, snuggly afghan on a chilly night. Enveloped within its folds--whether to read, take a nap or watch old movies--there’s warmth and security.

Afghans are being rediscovered not only by creatures of comfort but by the design-conscious. Homemade or purchased, they seem to be turning up everywhere: draped across sofas, chairs, benches and beds.

Whether it’s a family heirloom knitted by Grandma or a throw featuring a modern motif, the popularity of afghans is easy to understand: They are practical, personal and often beautiful.

Nobody seems to know how these throws came to be referred to as “afghans,” but some believe that the name was derived from the people of Afghanistan, whose custom it was to weave small, brightly colored rugs for a variety of purposes.

While many afghans are reasonably priced today, that wasn’t always the case. At Orange-based American Roots, a shop specializing in American country antiques, several “woven coverlets,” as they were commonly known in the 1800s, are on display.

“Throughout the 1830 to 1860s, traveling merchants circulated throughout the Midwest and coastal regions, weaving these coverlets on order,” said Linda Fox, one of the shop’s owners. “They would travel from town to town, carrying their looms with them, and stay as long as it took to weave their orders.

“Many of the coverlets from this time period feature the President and vice president of the United States at that time, prominent buildings in the area, eagles or other patriotic symbols, or a jacquard print.”

If you weren’t lucky enough to have inherited a throw or aren’t patient enough to make your own, they can be purchased in a variety of specialty stores. Prices range from as low as $20 up to several hundred dollars, depending on materials and craftsmanship. An antique coverlet, depending on its age and condition, can cost from $300 to $2,000.

Modern versions such as cotton and wool throws in solids--blue, hunter green, eggshell, burgundy--and in patterns--plaids, shells, seed packages, bears, basketballs, daisies, grapevines, florals--are sold at Three-D Bed and Bath stores throughout Orange County. At Z Gallerie shops (one in the MainPlace/Santa Ana, one in Fashion Island Newport Beach), customers can choose among solid colors--white, green and burgundy--and prints. One of the best sellers, according to manager Nick Morales, is a waffle-textured white throw.

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As comforting as curling up in an afghan, say knitters and crocheters, is making one. The afghan is a popular project with beginners as well as experienced needle crafters.

Some believe that the start of creating afghans at home, at least in America, began during World War I, when women who began leaving home to join the work force discovered the relaxing qualities of needle craft. In fact, in 1915, an ad for Arden’s Crochet Cotton boasted: “. . . the army of Women Workers has arisen, who find that the weariness of manual and clerical labor is appreciably relieved by a change to the restful pastime of ‘doing a bit of crochet.’ ”

Among those who find it an enduring pastime is Judy Snitzler of Santa Ana, who learned to knit as a child in the 1950s.

“As I grew older, I stopped for many years. Then, in the 1970s, when I was home with small children, I picked it up again. I found it very relaxing. While my husband was away on business trips, and after I’d tucked the children in, I’d bring out my knitting needles and get to work.”

Over the years, Snitzler has knitted several afghans and always keeps one on hand as a gift.

“Everyone loves them,” she said. “For me, the knitting is a pleasurable, solitary pursuit. And I love to see the expressions of delight when people receive a handmade afghan. I’ve made several in pastel colors or white with a lavender or green ribbon for baby cribs. They’re wonderful.

“I also like to work in colors that correspond to those in a certain room. Afghans have a nice way of tying everything together. And if you make them yourself, you can choose the exact shades you want.”

For Wanda Brainard of Anaheim, a knitting and crocheting instructor who teaches throughout Southern California (including classes in Fullerton, Cypress and Yorba Linda), there’s nothing like creating something by hand.

“In my classes, afghans are great first projects,” she said. “They can either be knitted or crocheted, or a combination of the two can be used. For instance, many people knit the afghan and use crocheting to embellish the edges.”

In her classes, Brainard has seen a trend toward knitting afghans in traditional patterns.

“People are looking for a classic, natural look,” she said. “I don’t see as many colors, but a lot of white, ecru and soft beiges. Since knitting an afghan is such an investment of time, knitters want to make sure they aren’t creating something too trendy that will look funny years from now. I believe that most hope their afghans will become family heirlooms that will be appreciated for decades to come. For that reason, they’re sticking with a more traditional look.”

That is the case for Sherrie Priebe of Yorba Linda, who estimates that she has created “at least a dozen” afghans over the years for family and friends. She’s currently working on her second eggshell-colored afghan to give to one of her daughters.

“I have two daughters and a daughter-in-law, and I promised them all afghans,” she said. “When I made the first one, the others liked the look of it so well that I think I’m making two more identical ones!”

The afghan is called a classic Americana pattern, and it will take Priebe about 60 hours to complete. The design consists of eight alternating rows each of patterns with names such as “double crochet,” “shell stitch” and “bauble.”

“I really enjoy making afghans because it’s so relaxing,” she said. “When I sent one to my daughter who lives down South, she was so thrilled that she called and left a five-minute message on my answering machine. I think when you make something like that, it reminds people of you every time they see it.”

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Some of the most popular and enduring patterns are the granny-square and ripple afghans.

With the granny-square pattern, different squares, often featuring several colors, are crocheted and then placed next to one another in panels. The ripple afghan, one of the most well-known, features alternating scalloped ridges that provide texture and color.

While there is a tendency to stay with classic stitches, according to Brainard, some like their afghans to retain a bit of whimsy.

“I have some students who knit or crochet them in the college colors of their children or who want to incorporate Navajo designs into their afghans to correspond with a Southwestern motif,” Brainard said. “There are hundreds of different patterns to choose from.”

There are also hundreds of yarns to choose from in a range of colors, unlike in early times, when yarn was more scarce and often gathered from a garment beginning to fray. Over the decades, needles have also grown so that struggles with delicate, thin needles are greatly reduced.

To ensure that an afghan will stand the test of time and use, only quality materials should be used.

“When you think of the time that goes into an afghan, it just doesn’t make sense to cut down on quality to save a few pennies,” Brainard said. “If you start with high-quality yarns, you’ll find them more durable, and the colors will last. Surprisingly, for as delicate as some of the designs look, if cared for properly and if made of high-quality materials, they are very durable.”

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Meanwhile, back at home, new afghans are taking shape.

Jean Young of Orange County is working on a multicolored afghan with a “church window” pattern, in which small panels of multicolored yarn are framed by off-white yarn.

“I liked it because of the colors,” she said. “With all the white surrounding it, the colors you see are a little more subtle.”

Fran Goodwin of Placentia also crochets afghans of different colors; she recently completed a ripple-style afghan in more current colors of steel blue, mauve and eggshell.

“I wanted something warm to curl up in that would also look nice,” she said.

“These colors coordinate with my TV room, and it looks nice draped over the sofa. It just makes the whole room look a little softer and warmer.”