Recently I was in the market for a wool blanket.
Yes, a real wool blanket: not a poly blend, not cotton, and certainly not a down comforter.
(As I review this post it is now about 15° outside here: very, very unusual for this part of the country. Roads and sidewalks are simply not touched…so we are housebound for the duration!)
Comforters have become the go-to bedding item, haven’t they? I can certainly understand the appeal: they are warm, there is a huge variety of materials available and then a cover can change an entire look of your bedroom.
We use a lightweight down comforter on our bed. But we only use it in the winter and then switch out to a wool blanket, and then, in warm weather a cotton blanket.
So, I was searching for a REAL wool blanket… the old fashioned kind, for the twin beds in our guest room.
This is the one I ended up buying (or two, as they are twin beds) and am very happy with my choice.
It’s the Creswick Luxurious All-Natural 100% Australian Merino Wool Blanket.
I had tried comforters and they just didn’t work: too bulky and with a twin bed they would slide right off (so my guests told me.)
Time was when wool blankets were sold in every department store! Not so anymore. I dare you to try and find one locally. No, you need to look online. And then we come to price points. They do not come cheap! I wanted a blanket with satin binding on the edges. As I said…. the old fashioned kind!
I’ve done a round up of wool blankets, all found on line. It takes a bit of searching and you do have to be careful that they are a)100% wool and not a combination b) solid color and no prints c) available!
Here are the links:
One thing I would watch for is the washability of a blanket. Almost all of these say they are washable. Many say to only line dry…which can, of course, be a challenge if you have a king size. For me, I would only dry clean these unless it is absolutely necessary to wash them. Blankets don’t really get that dirty, do they? I also use a blanket cover which is a post for another day! But several reviewers said their blankets shrank up to 3″ when washed; so consider that when you buy. And, of course, you will need to protect these from moths in the summer. For some helpful hints, see my post on “How to Protect Woolens From Moths.”
Now it’s your turn to weigh in on wool blankets. Do you use them? Do you have any new sources for us?
When decorating the sunporch last year, I found a beautiful grey and cream 100% wool lap blanket at Marshalls that has become a favorite. For bed sizes, I’ve occasionally had good luck at Overstock.com.
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I know, Overstock can be a good source..but very iffy. I had so much trouble i.e. time spent, looking for a good blanket!
Hi Libby…so glad you’re back on the blogosphere! I missed your posts. This info is very helpful because I thought “they” didn’t make nice wool blankets anymore. Thanks! and Happy New Year.
Martha
Martha: You are very sweet! Yes, the great “they” is always a mystery. I’m back, I hope regularly, but we will see!
I haven’t had a wool blanket for years. We use a down duvet in the winter. We purchased it in Canada years ago, and it is so toasty that we don’t need anything else. In the warmer months we use a cotton blanket/coverlet. I do need a new blanket for the guest bedroom however – one consideration is the binding. My son absolutely has to have satin binding on his blankets. It’s been a thing with him since he was young. I wonder how many others like a touch of satin against their skin?
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I could have a million blankets and throws. They are one of those items that I always find myself drawn to, don’t know why. I like buying online from The Company Store. Good products. They have washable wool blankets (not with satin trim). I think in order to be considered “washable” wool they are combined with some nylon it seems. I would not put a 100% wool blanket in the dryer, or only for a minute to remove wrinkles, then I’d line dry it. Too much risk for shrinkage.
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