How to choose and care for a woolen blanket?

An original blanket made of natural wool is an indispensable item for any modern interior: you can lay it on a couch, bed, sofa or armchair, and then it will become a catchy accent and add comfort to the whole home.

Wool textiles are extremely popular: they are warm, durable, environmentally friendly and fairly easy to clean. Natural materials are usually difficult to dye, for this reason, the choice of woolen blankets is limited to natural colors: gray, white and black, brown and beige.

Animals from which fleece is sheared (sheep, camels, merino and others) freely graze on green meadows. The wool sheared from them is stored in a safe container and quickly goes to production. Wool has unsurpassed properties:

• natural warmth;
• environmental friendliness;
• hygroscopicity;
• a wonderful feeling of security;
• presentable view.

For the production of high-quality wool products, materials from different animals can be selected, but at the same time, any raw materials used differ in their characteristic features.

• Sheep's wool. One of the cheapest materials, therefore the most popular. Blankets made of warm sheep wool are not at all prickly. It is better to choose such blankets for cool off-season nights, in addition, they will perfectly warm their owner in cold summer.

• Due to its fine structure, New Zealand sheep wool will be able to trap most of the air and therefore will act as a natural thermostat. In winter evenings under these models it is very warm, and in summer it is not at all hot. The service life of such products is more than 20 years.

• Merino down and wool. Merino is a special fine-haired sheep breed. Textiles come out much more airy, surprisingly soft and maximally elastic. Such a blanket perfectly maintains the most acceptable temperature for the human body and at the same time will perfectly “breathe” and dry out quite quickly. Another undoubted plus is that merino wool is not electrified. The best is Australian merino wool. It makes beautiful thick knitted blankets.

• Cashmere. This kind of material can only be obtained from the delicate down of Kashmiri goats. Their coat is surprisingly thin, airy, warm and very delicate to the touch. Cashmere bedspreads are a status item for a luxurious interior. The price of these models is extremely high, and they require careful attitude to themselves - this material can easily be damaged.

• Camel wool. The warmest of all materials offered. It will warm you up, very light and soft. A blanket made of camel down or wool is the best choice for the cold Russian winter, it will perfectly replace the usual heavy blanket. However, such blankets are almost impossible to paint over well, and therefore they differ only in natural brown-beige tones.

• Alpaca wool. One of the most durable and quite dense materials, great for winter. Alpaca wool has a unique composition: dust mites or moths will not start in it. These products have a rich color palette - more than 20 shades.

• Yak wool yarn is also very soft and warm, it attracts with useful qualities. These products do not wrinkle, they will keep warm perfectly. In addition, yak wool is very delicate and fine, the products are characterized by strength and long service life.

The design of the product should be ideally combined with any interior of a modern home.

For the classics, a discreet-looking model is suitable. It is better if the monochromatic product is a tone and a half lighter than the general decor of the selected room.

Textiles in classic light or white colors are selected for minimalist style and French Provence, Scandinavian dwelling and classics. Dark variations are ideal for a loft or hi-tech, while bright pieces complement a boho or bold pop art design idea.

A color block is a combination of large “blocks” of contrasting colors in one model. Blankets in this style look creative, they are extremely versatile.

The classic print for the modern plaid is the famous Scottish checkered pattern. This option is suitable for country houses, as well as for decorating rooms in fashionable youth styles.

Plaids are also produced with geometric patterns: unexpected zigzags, even circles, original waves, stylish stripes. These models are selected for cold decor, and restrained options in the most neutral solutions are suitable for the design of the minimalism style.

Drawings with imitation of the color of various animals, as well as with images of plants - this is a really bold decision, best suited for the boho style.

Prints as close as possible to luxurious rugs from Persia or woven tapestries from Asia are also very effective choices. True, the neighborhood with such a decor will not be able to withstand any completed interior, but only styles such as Art Deco or Japanese minimalism, which is popular today.

It is best to choose a decorative type of blanket of oversized parameters - a wide or long product can bring disharmony to the interior design. Large knitted blankets are best purchased for large-scale sleeping places, not armchairs.

Popular shapes include models in the form of rectangles and squares. Children's blankets have rounded corners. Each company has its own original variations of the execution of blankets.

To get a good blanket, first decide what purpose it is needed for.

• If you buy a product to decorate your decor, rely on the criteria for size and composition. The material should be easily washed. It must also be resistant to wear and tear.
• Choosing a blanket for a cold summer or frosty winter, we focus on the thickness of the product.
• It is very important to assess the condition of the folds of the purchased blanket. If the pile falls off or wipes off quickly, this product will not last long.
• Pay particular attention to the quality of the finish. The edge should be well stitched, folded, it can be processed with tape or braid, sometimes with fringe. The stitching in good garments should be perfectly straight.
• Look closely at the pattern: you should see symmetry in it.
• View the entire surface of the product: a smooth, even, almost uniform texture will confirm its quality.
• The blanket should suit you by touch and externally.
• The colors and images should ideally match the overall design of the room. Plaid can be successfully combined with furniture or curtains, with wallpaper. If the interior is too bright, choose products that are monochromatic or with muted colors for it.
• Delicate lamb wool is suitable for children.

The best blanket makers today.

• Paters. Latvian company, whose production combines classics and modern fashion trends. Natural yarn (most often New Zealand wool) is considered a popular material. It is characterized by fine hairs that can trap a lot of air.

• Biederlack. A German company that produces blankets from delicate cashmere and sheep wool. Blankets made from natural or artificial materials are distinguished by their striking design.

• "Fleece". Blankets from this brand are very warm and soft. The factory from Russia presents 20 current collections, you can choose products in 160 colors, in the 5 most popular sizes. Sheep and camel wool and down, alpaca wool are used.

• IncAlpaca. In 1996, IncAlpaca TPX SA was founded, producing blankets from alpaca wool. The catalog contains both combined wool and synthetic products and models made of 100% Peruvian wool.

• Steinbeck. Steinbeck blankets from Germany are also well known. The "suppliers" of wool are 2 types of animals: alpaca and sheep. The Baby Alpaca is highly regarded by professionals for its amazing softness and thermal properties.

• Johnstons of Elgin. This Scottish company is known as the largest manufacturer of fabrics in classic Scottish colors, as well as the official supplier of the Court of His Majesty Prince Charles. If you want to buy real luxurious cashmere plaid blankets, then you should get acquainted with the rich assortment of this company.

It is necessary to regularly clean the woolen blanket from accumulated dust, and in order to clean it efficiently at home, you can use a regular clothes brush.

In principle, woolen models can only be washed by hand. In a typewriter, the product can be so seriously damaged that it remains only to throw it away or use it in exceptional cases. A professional dry cleaner will help you to clean this kind of product.

If you nevertheless decide to wash a semi-woolen blanket in the washing machine, select the most delicate mode without spinning at a low temperature, for no more than 35 minutes. After washing, you should not squeeze the blanket, it is necessary that it retains its shape as much as possible. It is better to dry it naturally at room temperature and horizontally (to preserve its structure). In the summer you can dry it outdoors if the weather is cloudy and slightly damp, and in the winter you can knock it out on clean snow.