Wool blanket: review, features, types and reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

How nice it is to sit down with a book in an armchair by the fireplace on a cold winter evening, wrapped in a soft, warm and very cozy blanket. Currently, there is a huge selection of high-quality natural wool blankets. Let's try to figure out what material is better to buy this product from: camel, sheep wool or merino. Such blankets can be used as bedspreads and blankets, and will also become indispensable at a picnic.

What to look out for

First of all, you should decide what requirements apply to this product. Experts advise choosing wool blankets according to the following criteria:

• size;
• composition;
• color;
• drawing.

It is possible to choose any size: there are blankets for newborns, children and adults. They are used as seat covers. Despite a wide selection of various modern textiles, natural materials are the most in demand.

Merino wool throw

Sheep of this breed live in the mountainsAustralia, New Zealand, Spain. For the manufacture of yarn, the highest quality wool from the withers of a sheep is chosen. Due to living in cold climatic conditions, wool is able to retain heat well, not absorb odors and moisture. Creatine, which is found in animal hair, has bactericidal properties. It is believed that goods made from merino wool have a special feature - to have a healing effect: warm up for colds, relieve pain in the joints and back, reduce pressure, help with sleep disturbances.

According to reviews, yarn can be easily dyed in any color and made into a plaid for every taste.

From alpaca wool - "little camel"

These animals live in the highlands of South America, in even harsher conditions than merino sheep. Alpaca wool is fine, smooth and does not contain lanolin. A blanket made from the wool of this animal is able to retain heat 7 times more efficiently. In addition, it is 3 times lighter than merino wool. Due to the absence of lanolin, the risk of allergies is significantly reduced, which means that such products can be used for newborns, allergy sufferers can use them. Such rugs are able to maintain optimal body temperature in both winter and summer. According to consumer reviews, alpaca wool products are quite expensive, but they are quite durable and retain good appearance and useful qualities for a long time.

How to care for merino and alpaca blankets

Such blankets can be washed by hand, as well as in a washing machine, for thisuse the gentle wash cycle. The water temperature cannot exceed +35°C. For washing, do not use aggressive powders and bleaches. It is recommended to wash blankets separately from other products. If a stain appears on the blanket, it should be washed immediately using warm water and any soap. Despite the high price of these products, it makes sense to buy them: with proper care, they can last for decades.

Knitted wool plaid

Among knitting enthusiasts, large-knit products are of genuine interest. Such a product can be purchased at the store, or you can knit it yourself. For knitting, they take special, large knitting needles, improvised materials (for example, PVC pipes) are also suitable, and what is most interesting - instead of knitting needles, their own hands are used, in the literal sense - they knit with their hands, on their wrists.

In order to knit a large viscous plaid of merino wool, you need to take 3 kg of very thick yarn. It is enough for a product 150X180 centimeters.

Features of caring for a plaid knitted with a large knit

If there are small dirt on the surface of the blanket, they can be cleaned with a dry brush. Hand washing is recommended. The temperature of the water intended for washing should not exceed +30°C. Special liquid products containing lanolin are added to it. During washing, mechanical movements should not be used, namely: the products do not need to be twisted and rubbed. The blanket can be slightly wrung out to removeexcess water. It should be dried only in a horizontal position, spreading the product on a flat surface. In the event that the blanket is heavily soiled, it is better to entrust it to specialists - take it to dry cleaning.

From camel wool

Plaids made of camel wool are especially loved in Russia, the most valuable wool comes from camels aged 1 to 3 years. Camel wool blanket is light, thin, very soft and warm, has the ability to quickly warm the body, thanks to natural 100% wool. At present, camel wool blankets are made in different colors, which does not leave consumers indifferent. A distinctive feature of these products is that they are double-sided.

Camel wool blankets have a number of features and advantages over others:

• have healing properties;
• hygroscopic;
• does not cause allergic reactions;
• keep body temperature balance;
• in hot weather protect against overheating, in cold weather from hypothermia;
• relieve static electricity.

When buying a blanket, you need to pay attention to the composition, cost, color. Camel wool blankets are quite expensive.

How to wash a camel wool blanket

You can wash the blanket in the washing machine, choosing a delicate wash. Use water with a temperature of +30°C, use special detergents for washing wool. The blanket cannot be wrung out, it should be dried inunfolded or hanging by the edges.

The most affordable plaid

Sheep wool is the most popular and affordable, it is from it that a large number of things are knitted. This raw material is obtained by shearing sheep. Sheep wool blanket is lightweight, very warm, eco-friendly and inexpensive. The quality of wool depends on the following indicators: breed of sheep (fine-fleeced, coarse-wooled, semi-fine-fleeced), in what conditions the animals are kept. The quality of the material is also affected by the diet, gender, he alth status, age of the sheep, as well as the climate. The best is considered wool, which is cut off from the chest of the animal. Let us dwell in more detail on the advantages and disadvantages of a blanket made from sheep wool.

Dignity:

• sustainable;
• hygroscopicity;
• healing properties;
• airtight;
• wear resistant;
• thermo-regulating properties;
• dirt-repellent.

Flaws:

• lanolin found in wool can cause allergies;
• exposed to moths;
• Products made from low quality raw materials are rough to the touch.

Sheep wool blankets come in a variety of sizes and weights.

Care instructions

Hand and machine wash available. Wash in the machine only on a delicate mode, the allowable water temperature is + 30 ° C. Wash with special detergents for wool containing lanolin. It is recommended to squeeze with care, notpulling and not twisting the product, you can not use the machine spin. Dry in a horizontal position in a well-ventilated area. Once every 2-3 months, the blanket should be taken out to be ventilated outside, protected from direct sunlight. Store the product in cotton bags, putting a moth repellent in them. According to consumer reviews, such a blanket can warm you on a frosty winter evening and become indispensable on a trip to nature. The relatively low price, which does not affect the quality of the goods, will not leave you indifferent.

Knitted or crochet blanket

Knitted blankets look very impressive. Such a product can be purchased from the masters, or even better to tie it yourself, choosing a pattern to your liking. Good quality knitted blankets made of wool with the addition of acrylic. If you knit products from inexpensive threads, the plaid will very quickly lose its presentation. The product can be knitted or crocheted. You can knit a plaid as a whole fabric at once, or in parts, which then need to be sewn together.

To create a blanket 166x172 cm, you will need 2.2 kilograms of yarn (equally wool and acrylic). For knitting, you can choose any style, including classic or patchwork. They use different knitting techniques: embossed, double, zig-zag. A very interesting modern knitting technique for plaids is intarsia (multi-color knitting). You can knit an original plaid from all the leftover yarn you have at home.

How to wash a knitted blanket

It is better to wash such a blanket by hand with special liquid products. Waterfor washing should have a temperature not exceeding +30°C. Before washing, let the blanket soak in water for 10 minutes. The blanket is washed, allowed to drain, not wrung out or twisted. Dry on a flat surface.