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Pendleton throw blankets comparison
Just purchased a Pendleton blanket. For those of you that have one already, I have a couple of questions about mine; How do you wash it, and does it get softer over time? Mine feels sort of itchy/stiff.
So it looks like it's wool, which means that you can hand-wash it unless the dye absolutely requires dry cleaning. Wool felts with heat/friction, so you want to wash it the same way you'd wash a nice wool sweater, except in a bigger container. When wool felts it shrinks. The blanket is probably already felted but if it's recommended that you don't wash it then it probably has the potential to shrink more and you don't want that.
The way I'd do it is fill my bathub partially with cool water (doesn't need to be ice-cold or anything and it doesn't need to be a ton of water), add a small amount of shampoo or gentle laundry detergent, and let the blanket soak for a few hours. Then swish it around in the tub without agitating it too roughly and when you're satisfied that the sweat and oils have had a chance to wash off, start rinsing. Drain all the water out, squeeze the blanket out gently and replace with clean water. Do this a few times. (This is why you don't use large amounts of shampoo or detergent, because you'll be rinsing it out forever.) When you think it's rinsed clean, squeeze the water out without wringing.
If at all possible, lay it flat to dry. If not, you can get most of the water out by rolling it up in some towels and squeezing, and then try to support it as much of the weight as possible while it's hanging so it doesn't stretch out. Wool is *heavy* when it's wet.
If it gets stained, spot-treat the stain and dab it out, don't rub.
The good news is that wool is a fantastic material. It's breathable in a way synthetics aren't, so it wicks sweat away and doesn't seem to get nearly as smelly as synthetics do. It still feels warm even when it's wet. It's biodegradable.
The bad news is that it is scratchy. Virgin wool is better than some heavy-duty wool I've knitted with, which has the approximate texture of a heavy-duty dish scrubber. And it will get softer over time... but it's not going to be as soft as acrylic or microfiber. If it continues to bother you, use it with a top sheet or duvet cover and then you can have the benefits of wool without the itchiness.
More on reddit.comHave you tried a Pendleton blanket??
My uncle gave my parents a Pendleton wool blanket as a wedding present in 1947. When my mom moved to Florida, she passed it on to me. It is still going strong. No matting, hardly any pills, beautiful blue colors. She is 90, I am 50, and I suspect it will outlast me.
Definitely a BIFL.
More on reddit.comHelp me understand pendleton blankets better
Anybody know the difference in quality, thickness and weight of their throw blankets.
They have their national park blankets in throw size, however it is listed as 90% wool and 10% cotton and made in India. The full size national park blankets are 100% wool and made in America. I’ve been reading the reviews on the national park throws and people complain that they are thin and not as good of quality as the full size. Right now they are on sale for $150 instead of $200.
The other option is the Yakima camp blanket. 84% wool and the rest cotton. Seems to be the same material as the full size Yakima blankets just sized down and still made in America. These are not on sale and the base price is $150.
Has anyone here put hands on these different throw blankets? I don’t live anywhere near a retailer that carries them so I have to order online. I’m leaning towards the Yakima and think maybe the national park is overpriced from the beginning