You’re not going to believe how fun and easy it is to make a work of art with these 7 beautiful Native American crochet patterns.
Considering that the word “art” or “artist” rarely even has a place in Native American languages, the creativity of these rich and diverse cultures is nothing short of breathtaking.
In fact, perhaps the reason Native American arts and crafts are so beautiful and original is that there was rarely any push to create for creation’s sake. Rather, the created had to serve a practical or magical purpose.
When viewing art created by members of the group, words like “effective” and “powerful” would be used in lieu of words like “beautiful”.
However, I think we can all agree that “beautiful” really does fit the bill as well, and it just so happens that Native American design aesthetics are also incredibly well-suited to crochet.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the most beautiful Native American crochet patterns on the web.
10 Beautiful Native American Crochet Patterns
Navajo Blanket Shrug Crochet Pattern
Absolutely beautiful shrug with this gorgeous traditional Navajo design on the back. And the pattern is so easy to read, it’s definitely a project worth making.
Source: Make and Do Crew
Vintage Native American Blanket
As soon as I laid eyes on this gorgeous Native American style Afghan, I completely fell in love with it, not just for its beauty, but for its authentic representation of Indigenous American aesthetics.
Featuring traditional patterns interwoven with the symbol of a bird, which in Native American culture usually represents the physical manifestation of a guiding spirit, as well as freedom, this blanket is the product of good research and flawless crochet skills.
The colors are perfectly curated, and the way they stretch out across the width of the blanket seems to mirror the lush diversity of the vast American landscape.
Perhaps accidentally, these colors also have a very neutral appeal, meaning they’ll fit right into just about any room with an already established style.
Of course, unless a product is made by a Native American and purchased by a Native American, there is always going to be some level of cultural appropriation to consider.
However, what this pattern does well is to avoid offensive parody, focusing instead on a serious and beautiful celebration of Native American arts.
Source: Etsy
Diamond Hanging Dreamcatcher
I was obsessed with dreamcatchers (or Asabikeshiinh) when I was a child, not just because I liked the way they looked, but because I often suffered from night terrors, and they provided me enough comfort to drift off to sleep each night knowing the horrors that awaited.
To this day, I still have a one on my bedroom door that my sister made for me when we were kids, but sorry, Natasha, I think I’m going to have to replace it with this stunning dream catcher design from Addicted2theHook.
Huge in scale, with beautifully circulating, symmetrical patterns all rushing in towards the central nexus, it’s big enough to hold a lifetime of dreams, although these talismans were actually apotropaic, meant to stave off evil in all its forms.
The vegans out there may have a problem with the feathers used on the tails, but feel free to use synthetic feathers instead, and have a go at crocheting one anyway.
Source: Etsy
Navajo Square Thrown in the Round
A fantastic pattern that makes a nice sized blanket while working in the round. So fun to watch this pattern emerge while you work, too!
Source: Stitchery Projects
Southwestern-Style Native American Blanket
Here’s another beautiful blanket created with a nod to Native American visual aesthetics, this time with a southwestern tinge.
The entire blanket is crafted in SC (single crochet), so it’s suitable for the adventurous novice/intermediate maker, and the final product is truly spectacular.
While the patterns aren’t overly detailed or intricate, they all come together wonderfully to make a super cozy blanket with a low-key, yet attention-grabbing appeal.
Source: Etsy
Vintage Navajo Blanket
This Navajo-inspired blanket is perfect for those looking for something with pale rose and tan colors to act as a counterpoint to a darker room, or perhaps as a warm accent in a very bright room to reduce sterility.
It’s crafted from medium thickness, worsted yarn, which means it’s great for beginners who are still building up muscle memory and stitch skills.
Worsted yarn is also fantastic for thick winter knits, so if you’re really feeling the nights getting colder, crocheting this blanket will help keep the heating bills at bay and your toes nice and cozy — hurray!
Source: Etsy
Navajo Sunset Blanket
Looking for a bit of color to spruce up a drab space? This Navajo sunset blanket is an absolute delight for the eyes, bursting with oranges, yellows, and sky-blues.
The patterning is large and bold, demanding just as much attention as the vivid colors, making it a great throw for middle-of-the-room furnishings such as pouffes, or perhaps even small coffee tables.
It’s made with worsted yarn, which, as I mentioned earlier, is ideal for beginners, so don’t be intimidated by this pattern. Give it a go. You might surprise yourself.
Source: Etsy
Navajo/Kilim Blanket
Okay, so first of all, I’m a sucker for monochrome, so this awesome blanket basically jumped out at me when I stumbled across it.
There’s just something about the stark contrast of white on black and black on white that really makes a blanket pop!
It’s also really quite refreshing to see someone choosing monochrome shades for their pattern, as crochet designs tend to lean quite far into wild and wacky colors, which I’m not complaining about, but it can certainly get to be a bit too much of a muchness.
Having said that, it’s not completely devoid of color, as the monochrome panels are intersected by strips of red, yellow, and green, that help to zhoosh it up and draw the eye for a closer look.
One last thing I’d like to mention that I really appreciate about this blanket is that it doesn’t solely draw from Native American stylings, rather it borrows from a lot of different sources such as Turkish Kilim rugs and traditional Icelandic knit patterns.
It doesn’t feel derivative or stolen in terms of cultural aesthetics, but something entirely new, which I wholeheartedly support, as the appropriation of Native American cultures is still a huge issue not just in the U.S. but around the globe.
Source: Etsy
Easy Apache Tears Hat
Simple and beautiful, this hat is a great way to display this complex design in a smaller project.
Source: Nickis Homemade Crafts
Pamela The Mountain Spirit
I absolutely adore the craftsmanship that went into creating this beautiful image of the Native American spirit/god of Penobscot tribe legend.
It’s said that Pamela is the guardian of Mt. Katahdin in Maine, and is responsible for the onset of cold weather after the summer months have elapsed.
It’s also revered as the god of thunder by many in the tribe, and as a gesture of respect, they abstain from exploring Mt. Katahdin.
With the wings and talons of an eagle, the head of a moose, and the body of a man, it’s not an easy pattern, so it’s probably not the best design for novices to have a go at, but if you’ve got the skills, it’ll be a fun and rewarding challenge.
However, and I know I’m flogging a dead horse here, but unless you have Native American heritage or plan on gifting it to a Native American friend or family member, I’d leave this pattern well enough alone.
It’s one thing that Native American art and design has been appropriated, but it’s quite another to rob them of their spiritual deities.
Source: Etsy
Summing Up
I tried to find makers of Native American descent in order to represent the culture as best I could, but makers themselves rarely share any personal information, so I decided to focus on design authenticity or originality instead.
I’m sure we’d all agree that these are some beautiful crochet patterns, but please, please try to be respectful of Native American cultures when you consider making, gifting, or selling them. Besides that, enjoy, be happy, and keep on crocheting!
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