Interview about The Naptime Baby Blanket, winner of the A' Textile, Fabric, Textures, Patterns and Cloth Design Award 2025
The Naptime Blanket presents a contemporary take on a traditional concept, drawing inspiration from Finnish forest animals and the traditions of the Finnish maternity package. This jacquard-woven cotton blanket is designed with both function and aesthetics in mind, serving as a versatile textile suited for everyday use. While created to provide warmth and comfort for infants, its carefully considered theme, color palette, and style make it suitable for different stages of childhood.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsWhen I received the brief from Barker Textiles, I immediately knew what kind of blanket I wanted to design. An idea of a group of animals had been in my mind already for some time, and this project was the perfect opportunity to bring it to life. I first drew the creatures as individual characters and then rotated and arranged them to fit the blanket’s dimensions in a balanced way. During the process, I also checked the pattern on screen from different directions, to make sure it would look harmonious no matter how the blanket is placed.
My goal was to design a product that feels timeless. For me, timelessness or classic design does not only mean solid colors or stripes, I believe it can also be achieved through patterns. With The Naptime Baby Blanket, I aimed to create something that is both simple and calm in atmosphere, yet still offers little details for a child to discover. Trendiness is not something I pursue in the same way as in fashion, where trends come and go in cycles. Of course, every era has its own characteristics and influences, and on a larger scale no designer can avoid them entirely.
The pattern was drawn directly with the jacquard weaving technique and the specific product in mind, so the technical aspects did not feel like restrictions but rather guiding principles!
The color palette of the blanket was not chosen only with infants in mind, because unlike baby clothes, a blanket is not something a child quickly grows out of. I wanted the colors to feel suitable for different stages of childhood and even beyond. While designing, I also considered the alternative ways the blanket could be used. For example, it could even be hung on the wall in a child’s room as a decorative textile.
This idea of versatility influenced my work especially in how I approached the composition of the pattern. I wanted the blanket to function equally well from both sides, and I designed it without a single “right” direction. This way it feels natural and balanced no matter how it is placed, whether it is used as a baby blanket, a play mat on the floor, or even hung on a wall as a decorative textile.
Because I don’t work in fast fashion, it can sometimes take a surprisingly long time for a pattern to go from sketch to publication. The main phase I am responsible for is from the initial sketches to the finalization of the design. After that, production continues with creating a sample to ensure that the pattern works exactly as intended in the finished product.
It’s always a pleasure to work with skilled professionals whose expertise ensures that the patterns can truly shine. My focus was on the design of the pattern itself, knowing it would be realized beautifully through their craftsmanship.
The blanket’s high quality is ensured by the skilled professionals handling its production. My role was focused on the pattern design, trusting that their expertise would bring the product to its full standard.
There isn’t a direct connection between my studies in London and this specific blanket, but my education overall has been very influential. I’ve studied a lot of weaving, particularly during vocational training in Finland, which gave me a strong sense of how to work with woven surfaces. My time in London had more of an art-focused approach, while my studies in Finland also included production's technical knowledge. I feel that both are definitely beneficial when you know how to combine them.
Regarding the maternity package, it has been rewarding to see how important the blanket is to its target audience, and how for many it becomes one of those items that is treasured and kept for the child. Principles of sustainable development are important in all production, and in the case of the maternity package, the scoring system has been developed so that products are evaluated for their quality as well. This ensures that the items included are not only safe and functional, but also durable and long-lasting.
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