Which wool blankets are the softest and warmest

Which wool blankets are the softest and warmest

A wool blanket is one of those items that one is never enough. Nothing is better than snuggling under a wool throw or blanket on a chilly evening while watching your favourite film or reading by the fire.

I am often asked which is the warmest wool blanket and which is the softest wool blanket.

There are so many different types of wool blankets and throws on the market that choosing the throw which will help keep you warm and cosy can be daunting.

First, let’s consider the different types of wool. Country Mouse sells merino lambswool, Gotland wool, recycled wool, Swedish lambswool throws, and blankets.

Merino lambswool: Soft, drapey, lightweight, finest, highly breathable. Merino lambswool comes from Merino sheep, which are bred for their wool.

Swedish Lambswool: This wool comes from sheep farms in southern Sweden. It is thick, soft, highly breathable, and has not been chemically treated.

Eco Lambswool: Our eco lambswool blankets are made from Swedish lambswool. They are tested by an independent laboratory and are guaranteed to be free from pesticides. These wool throws are thick, soft, and highly breathable.

Gotland wool: Silky, soft and full of lustre.

Recycled Wool: Varies from soft Swedish and merino to coarser British recycled wool.

All of Country Mouse's blankets are made from lambswool. Lambswool is the first shearing of a sheep at around 7 months old. It is softer and more elastic than adult wool, which adds to its softness. 

 Which wool blanket is the warmest?

Gotland wool blankets are warm and cosy.

Wool is a natural fibre that helps you thermoregulate by letting heat out while keeping you warm. Wool is clever because it can breathe and trap air between you and the wool blanket, keeping you at the right temperature.

With wool looks can be deceiving. Thicker is not necessarily warmer. Our merino blankets are the thinnest and most lightweight we have, but they are incredibly warm.

This is because merino fibres are long, crimped, and wavy and have air pockets. These pockets trap air, helping to keep you warm and cosy. Merino lambswool throws, considering their weight, are warm and cosy. Merino blankets are perfect for autumn or summer. 

Merino lambswool throws are lightweight, soft and incredibly warm.

Our Swedish lambswool blankets are incredibly warm, and I am including my Gotland wool blankets here as well. However, it is a personal choice. If you want a lightweight, soft, drapey throw, merino is a perfect choice. If you want a thicker, snuggly blanket, Swedish lambswool or Gotland wool is a perfect choice. 

Both throws are warm; it depends on which wool suits you.

Recycled wool blankets retain all the benefits of our other wool blankets and throws. These will keep you just as warm as the others. 

Which wool blanket is the softest?

Merino lambswool is a technical fibre which can be worn next to the skin. The fibres are long and narrow and bend when touching your skin. This makes them very soft and gentle.

Swedish lambswool and Gotland wool are still soft but not as soft as merino. I would say that Gotland wool blankets are probably softer than Swedish wool blankets. Gotland wool fibres are very fine, soft and silky. Earlier, I mentioned that all our throws are lambswool, so they will still be softer than pure new wool blankets and throws.

Our Swedish and Merino recycled wool blankets are also soft, Gotland wool fibres are very fine, soft and silky. Our British recycled wool throws can vary from soft to relatively coarse. They will keep you warm, but they won't be the softest.

 Why are wool blankets better than synthetic blankets?

Wool is a natural fibre made from proteins. At the end of its long life, it will biodegrade back to the earth and release nutrients that will support plant life. Synthetics are man-made from oils and petrol chemicals, which, when discarded, will take up to 200 years to break down, releasing polluting chemicals that damage the environment. Wool blankets are sustainable, and synthetic man-made blankets are not.

Wool lasts longer than synthetics.

The natural fibres of wool are elastic and stretchy due to their crimp. Wool can withstand constant use, making it incredibly durable. Much more so than synthetics, Wool can resist spills, tearing and mildew. This is largely due to the way the fibres are shaped and the lanolin in the wool. If you spill something on wool, it will bead. All you have to do is dab and spot clean; it rarely soaks through.

Wool needs infrequent washing.

Yes, you read that correctly. Wool needs infrequent washing. Infrequent washing will prolong the life of your wool throw. In a world where we are so used to synthetics and the need to wash clothes after every wear, wool is a dream.

Wool naturally absorbs moisture. When wool dries, it releases that moisture back into the atmosphere. One of the best things you can do to keep your wool blanket fresh is to air it. Just hand the throw or blanket outside on a dry day for an hour or two, and it will be lovely and fresh. There is no need to wash it.

Whichever wool blanket or wool throw you choose, I am sure you will love it as much as I enjoy choosing what will go into my wool blanket collection. Each wool blanket is handpicked for its colour, pattern and softness.

Once you buy a wool blanket, you will quickly discover that one is not enough.

If you have been inspired to buy your warmest and softest wool blanket to stay warm and cosy, you can browse our full collections in our online shop at Country Mouse.