Your Home & Artful Sensory Living: Sarah Zomer - Throws

Sarah Zomer and her incredibly soft, tactile creations

“I have to touch it!” Yep, those were the exact words that tumbled out of my mouth the first time I laid eyes (and hands) on Sarah Zomer’s throw blankets. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so immediately drawn to a piece of fabric in my life — and trust me, I’ve touched a lot of blankets.

We crossed paths at an art fair, where Sarah was quietly minding her business behind a table while her blankets practically shouted at me, “Hey! Come touch us!” So I did. I touched, I felt, I swooned… and naturally, I bought one. Then another. One for me, one for my mom. (My mom’s still talking about hers, by the way.)

Curious about the woman behind these impossibly cozy creations, I sat down with Sarah to hear the story of how these magical blankets came to be.

Turns out, Sarah has been creating things with her hands for as long as she can remember. “Whether it was school projects, summer camp friendship bracelets, or painting pottery at birthday parties, I’ve always loved making things,” she told me. And like many creative folks, that spark followed her into adulthood — evolving from beaded lanyards to fiber art.

The macramé bug bit first, courtesy of her aunt. “Our porch is basically a jungle now, filled with hanging plant holders,” she laughed. But the real obsession arrived one fateful Christmas when her grandmother gifted her a gift card to AR Workshop, where she took a chunky blanket workshop with her aunt and grandma. “After that class, I was hooked. I started hunting for unique yarn colors everywhere I went, and every spare moment was spent knotting away,” she said. What started as cozy gifts for family and friends quickly became a full-blown creative calling.

“Though I still feel like I’m just at the beginning of my creative journey, each piece I make is infused with love and uniquely made,” Sarah shared. And when you run your hand over one of her blankets, you get it — the care, the slowness, the joy stitched into every loop.

I asked Sarah what makes her throw blankets different — besides their obvious good looks and snuggle factor. “Throw blankets can be deeply personal objects,” she explained. “They don’t just warm your body, they soften the entire atmosphere of a space. The textures I choose invite touch, slowing people down and encouraging stillness. A blanket draped over a couch isn’t just decor, it’s a signal of safety and softness.”

Honestly, after hearing her describe it, I realized her blankets are like those magical props in movies — the ones a character pulls around their shoulders when life gets hard, or when the power’s out and there’s only candlelight and tea. They’re not just blankets. They’re mood-makers.

When it comes to picking yarns and colors, Sarah doesn’t just grab whatever’s on sale at the craft store. “I try to choose yarns that evoke a sense of soothing and gentleness,” she said. She gravitates toward textures that “melt into your hands” and colors that whisper instead of shout. “Earth tones encourage stillness, a muted pink adds emotional warmth, and soft blues can ease a restless mind,” she told me. Each piece is designed to wrap someone in calm — like a hug you don’t have to ask for.

I was curious how this creative process tied into her love of working with her hands, something she’s done since childhood. “There’s something deeply satisfying about the rhythm of handwork,” Sarah said. “It quiets my thoughts in a way nothing else can. It takes me back to being a kid, totally immersed in the simple joy of making.” Honestly, I can relate. Give me a box of crayons and a Saturday afternoon, and I’m six years old again.

Sarah’s blankets aren’t just about keeping you warm on a chilly evening (though they’re excellent at that too). They’re about creating an experience — an opportunity to slow down in a world that seems determined to keep us racing. “A handmade blanket is a tactile reminder to pause,” she explained. “It becomes part of those moments when you disconnect, when you sit quietly with a cup of tea, when you take a break from your phone.”

And let’s be honest — we could all use a little more of that.

I asked Sarah what role she thought handcrafted pieces like hers played in turning a house into a home. “Handcrafted pieces carry the imprint of the maker,” she said. “There’s intention, care, and human energy woven into every part of them.” In a world where everything’s mass-produced, these little soulful details stand out. “A throw blanket isn’t just for decoration,” Sarah told me. “It’s something you reach for when you’re tired, when you need comfort, or when you want to feel held.”

In fact, when I asked her to paint a picture of a perfect “blanket moment,” Sarah described it so well I felt like I was there: “I imagine late afternoon light pouring into a quiet room, maybe catching dust in the air and turning everything golden. Someone curled up in a reading nook with one of my blankets, a warm drink in hand, no rush to be anywhere. The gentle weight of the yarn, soft music playing. Just being fully present, held by your space and something made with care.”

I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in that moment?

For Sarah, her blankets are also a way to share love — not just for the joy of making, but for the joy of giving. “I think love often lives in the quiet gestures,” she said. “Laying out a blanket for someone who’s had a long day, wrapping it around a child during story time, or offering it to a guest as if to say ‘you’re welcome here.’” Her hope is that her blankets become part of those small, tender rituals in people’s homes.

Of course, in today’s hyper-speed, screen-glued world, slowing down is easier said than done. But Sarah’s blankets are like a permission slip for coziness. “There’s a certain slowness stitched into every piece I make,” she told me. “The time it takes to choose the yarn, the repetition of each stitch — it all adds up to something that resists urgency.” She hopes that when someone wraps themselves in one, it invites that same kind of slowness into their life. A gentle reminder that it’s okay to unplug, to pause, and to savor.

I asked Sarah what it feels like when she sees one of her creations in someone else’s home. “It’s incredibly humbling,” she admitted. “When I see a blanket folded over someone’s couch or hear that it’s the one they always reach for, it feels like a piece of me has been woven into the rhythm of their life.” Her blankets become part of movie nights, sick days, snowstorms, and new beginnings — quietly witnessing the life happening around them.

As for what’s next, Sarah plans to keep evolving her craft while staying true to what makes her work feel alive. “I want to keep listening — to the materials, to the people living with my work,” she said. “I’ll keep exploring new textures, colors, and designs that evoke a feeling rather than follow a trend.” Her goal is to make pieces that not only look beautiful but “feel like belonging.” She wants to create blankets that don’t just decorate a space but soften it, turning everyday places into little sanctuaries of ease.

And there you have it — proof that sometimes all it takes is one irresistibly soft blanket to derail your budget and warm your soul. Sarah’s got the magic touch (literally), and I, for one, am already eyeing which color I’m ordering next. If you haven’t wrapped yourself in one of her creations yet, do yourself a favor. Your future cozy self will thank you.

You can contact Sarah Zomer at sarahszomer@gmail.com and visit her instagram page @artisztry.