Pure wool blanket

A 100% wool blanket is the warmest throw we make. Ours are pure new wool: 100% New Zealand wool, shorn from living sheep and never used in any product before. In the US, wool that has never been used before is also called virgin wool. On our own 1–5 scale, these throws rate 5 for warmth, the highest in our range, and they start at $54.99.

There is one honest trade-off: pure new wool is a coarser fiber than merino, so it can feel scratchy on bare skin, and it rates 3 out of 5 for softness. It works well the classic way: layered over a cotton sheet, on top of a comforter, or around your shoulders over a sweater.

Sizes and designs

The 51 × 67 in reversible throw suits a reading chair or the couch; the 59 × 85 in one covers the top of a twin bed. The 55 × 79 in throws are long enough to cover you from shoulders to feet, or to lie across the foot of a bed. None is sized as a queen or king bed blanket.

Why a pure wool blanket is so warm

Wool fibers are crimped, so a wool throw holds a lot of still air, and still air insulates. Wool also takes up moisture without feeling damp, so a pure wool blanket stays comfortable when you warm up underneath it, and it doesn't hold on to odors easily. The coarser fiber has an upside, too: it is sturdy, and the throw can take being shaken out firmly and brushed.

How to care for it

Airing is usually all it needs: hang the throw outdoors for a few hours, out of direct sun and rain, then shake it out and brush it. When it needs a proper clean, have it dry-cleaned. Do not bleach, tumble dry or iron, and wash it only if its care label allows. Our guide how to wash a wool blanket explains the details.

Pure new wool or merino?

If warmth matters most, choose pure new wool. If the throw will mostly touch bare skin, a merino throw is softer (4 out of 5) and nearly as warm (4 out of 5). Our guide merino vs cashmere vs wool compares the three fibers. Every throw ships free across the US from our warehouse in New Jersey, and unused throws can be returned within 30 days.