The terms “wool throws” and “wool blankets” seem to be synonyms of the same thing – a textile covering made of wool. Is that really so? What are the differences between a wool throw and a wool blanket? While the exact definitions are still subject to discussion, there are some general guidelines for the terms, so let’s see them.
A wool throw is most often used for our indoor life – to cover up while taking a nap, wrap oneself while reading or watching TV, placing neatly on an armchair as an interior detail etc. But wool throws can be very handy outdoors as well. Lets talk about camping!
First of all, we do not recommend taking one of your precious alpaca throws or angora throws out to the woods! One always has a cheap wool throw bought in second-hand shop or discounted wool throw maybe with some defects around the house. Pack those for your camping trip! As long as they are made of pure wool, they will do the job perfectly.
As you all probably know alpaca throws are made out of alpaca animal (which are bread in the mountains of Peru) wool. Being soft and smooth as well as very warm, alpaca throws are appreciated addition to every home.
Items made from alpaca wool fibers can retain heat and regulate the body temperature and therefore they are perfect companions in chilly winter weather.
Interesting fact is that the age of the animal does not determine the softness of the fur – both young and old animals provide alpaca wool that is suitable to make very soft products like alpaca throws, alpaca blankets, alpaca garment.
Cashmere wool is often called the soft gold and it surely deserves that name. Cashmere is widely accepted as the most elegant and luxurious wool in the history of the mankind. Cashmere throws and garments are warm, soft, and beautiful. The name of the wool derives from the word Kashmiri as it is collected from the goats of Kashmir in the Himalaya. These goats are also found in the higher plateau of Mongolia. The best of the best cashmere wool is considered the one that comes from the underbelly of the Kashmiri goat and this illustrates the fact that the quality of the wool depends on the area of the skin from which it is taken. Accordingly, the price varies as well.
Any cashmere throw, blanket or garment will be soft and snug. Cashmere wool products are approximately 8 times warmer than the wool of the sheep, so cashmere is perfect for winter. Cashmere comes in many colors and designs so it’s easy to choose a throw or a piece of clothing that suits your style and personality. Cashmere clothes make statement as they are not only cozy and warm, they look brilliant and elegant, and they are expensive.
Alpaca throws and clothing are on high demand and popular for several reasons. The alpaca wool fibers are similar to ones of sheep but warmer and do not have poky fibers that make other wool fabrics itchy and not that comfortable to wear.
Alpaca wool products make a perfect choice for those who have skin and other allergies but still want to wear wool or use it at home. Sheep’s wool is full of lanolin and this makes it unsuitable for allergic people or those with sensitive skin to wear. Simple as it seems, this is still an important reason that contributes to popularity of alpaca throws, blankets, clothing and accessories.
Wool and products made of it (like wool throws, blankets, wool clothing) are experiencing a revival some last years as the textile market is in a great demand of natural materials. Wool throws and blankets were used for many centuries to keep people warm. By discovering and implementing the method of cutting and combing people started the extensive use of wool to make things that bring warmth and coziness as well as protection. Throws and blankets are among the most popular wool products. Angora, alpaca throws, even cashmere throws found their places is many homes.
To consider oneself a wool-educated person, one has to know the main attributes of wool.
Every autumn and winter, lots of people look for at least one or two additional layers to put on in order to keep warm and stay healthy. Very often a layer of those is made from wool – sheep wool. Unfortunately, it is apparent that most people have never heard of alpaca wool, angora wool or cashmere wool.
Alpaca animal resembles a llama and both originated in the southern Andes, areas that today are part of Peru and Bolivia. In later years alpacas have been most successfully exported to many other countries – e.g. the United States, Australia, and are now bred for their exquisite wool.
Let’s first define what throws & blankets are and then speak of their functions. Blanket is a special form of bed linen. A medium size blanket usually has the size of three feet by five feet. It is used to cover oneself while sleeping. A throw is a very similar home textile item and the only significant difference between them is the purpose of using. A throw serves mainly for decorative purposes.
Throws & blankets nowadays can be produced from wide array of fabrics – there can be wool throws & blankets, they can be made of cotton, silk, velvet, fur, chenille, a mixture of cotton and polyester etc. It’s important to mention that when choosing the material of your throw or blanket the purpose of usage has to be kept in mind. Mainly – whether you buy this piece of textile as a bed linen or only for decorative function.
An important question that people usually ask concerning wool throws is, how should I clean them? The thing is this type of blankets & throws require very little special attention. Here we gathered some tips on how to clean and care for your wool throw or blanket. It’s important to know that unless you have had major accidents with dirt and spill, a wool throw should only be cleaned once or twice a year.
1. If the need to remove dirt or other debris from your wool throw or any other wool item arises, in most cases you can solve this with a simple brush – just brush the item lengthwise and your blanket will look great.
Alpaca is an animal of the camelid family which lives in the high altitudes of the South American Andes. They are gentle creatures appreciated for their ability to produce a superb, heavy fleece of fine, strong fiber that is considered one of the most luxurious in the world. Alpaca fleece is used to produce a variety of products and 100% alpaca throws are among the most popular. Alpaca wool lacks lanolin and this makes it hypoallergenic. And the presence of tiny air pockets in the fiber ensures not only lightness of the wool, but also its excellent insulation properties. All this results in quality alpaca throws that are unbelievably soft and ideal for keeping one nice and comfy when there’s a chill in the air!
Alpaca wool comes in a variety of colors – solid white, black and different shades of them as well as mixes of brown and grey in between.