The Best Wool Blankets

Interesting Facts

• Creating wool fabric begins with shearing or combing the wool from a sheep or other wool producing animal. Preparing the raw wool to be spun into thread and loomed into fabric may include processes of cleaning, washing, dyeing and combing. Wool is water resistant, flame retardant, moisture wicking, insulating and breathable. It has the ability to warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Wool fibers mix well with synthetic fibers to create blended wool fabrics.

Cashmere

• Cashmere blankets are the ultimate choice in exquisite luxury, softness and comfort. The usual source for cashmere is the Kashmir goat from Tibet, Mongolia, Australia and New Zealand. Cashmere blankets generally require more care than other types of wool blankets, including dry cleaning, which is the preferred method of cleaning. Due to its natural fiber makeup, cashmere is not the most durable wool, and is significantly more expensive than sheep's wool. Despite its downfalls, some people prefer luxurious cashmere over any other variety of wool blanket.

Allergies

• A washable wool blanket is a superb choice if you are allergic to dust mites or chemicals. Dust mites do not like wool, making them less likely to reside in a wool blanket. If you are allergy sensitive to synthetic fabrics, choose a 100-percent pure merino and organic wool blanket. These are washable without the blend of synthetic fibers. Colorfully dyed wool blankets using organic plant-derived dyes are chemical free and an exceptional choice for chemical sensitivity.

Uses

• Depending on its use, assortments of wool blankets are utilized by a variety of institutions and individuals due to wool's natural warmth, durability and flame retardant characteristics. The military, correctional institutions, hospitals and airlines use wool blankets. Backpacking campers will appreciate the coziness of a wool blanket on cold nights. Storing a wool blanket in your vehicle for use in emergency situations is a recommended safety precaution.