Artist Designed Blanket - From Her Vase x Russell Abrahams

The centrepiece of the Yay Abe x Something Good Studio collection, this intricately patterned knitted blanket transforms Russell Abrahams’ (AKA Yay Abe) most elaborate artwork for the series into textile form – a masterful fusion of craft and storytelling that honours the quiet beauty of connection, care, and daily rituals.

This piece was inspired by a study on how women are often depicted in illustration – fragmented, objectified, or isolated – Russell sets out to reimagine women as whole beings, engaged and present in everyday life. Here, the scene centres on a female figure seated next to a vase marked with a peace sign, an emblem that runs throughout the collection. From above, water cascades down toward her, nourishing the vessel and the plant that blooms from it – a symbol of generosity, growth, and renewal.

Russell’s formal approach is influenced by the ornate motifs of blue-and-white china – cherished family heirlooms in many South African households – and the bold, timeless compositions of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera, whose work Russell encountered first-hand while painting a mural in Guadalajara in early 2025. Through this confluence of different sources, the design carries a sense of both intimacy and monumentality.

For Russell, the blanket is more than a functional object. Bold and textured, it’s intended to be lived with and used – wrapped around shoulders on cool mornings, or offered to a guest. Yet it’s also crafted to be cherished as a work of art, the kind you might frame and hang on a wall.

A feel-good piece, rich in colour and spirit, it embodies both warmth and artistry – something to keep close, in every sense.

🏆 Proudly awarded in the 2026 Africa International Design Awards for " Product Design – Homeware & Decoration".

Pictured here is artist and illustrator, Russell Abrahams, with his wife, Kristen Abrahams, in their Cape Town home and studio.

PRODUCT INFO

FABRICATION: 100% cotton sourced from BCI-accredited farmers 

COLOURS: Royal blue, baby blue, ecru

PROCESS: Jacquard machine knitted with ribbed border

SIZE: 140cm x 180cm. Note that sizing may vary slightly per batch

WEIGHT: Approximately 2,2kg per piece

CARE INSTRUCTIONS: View detailed instructions here

PACKAGING: Beautifully folded & supplied with an A6 print of the relevant artwork