If, like us, all thoughts of Spring have been buried beneath a blanket of snow suddenly blown in from the East, you may want to invest in some woollies to keep you warm during the cold snap. Our range of beautiful wool throws not only look stunning, they also offer the amazing insulating properties of natural wool. We’ve written before about the inherent benefits of wool, but how exactly does it keep us warm? It’s not something that those fluffy sheep sheltering in the lea of a stone wall will be thinking about, but you can bet they are grateful for their cosy coats while blizzards and snowstorms flurry around them. So, for the curious, here’s why wool keeps you (and the sheep) warm.

why wool keeps you warm

Thermo-insulation

The answer lies in the crimp of the fibres. Wool is able to react to fluctuations in your body temperature due to tiny pockets of air within the fibres that circulate heat. This means that wool will keep you warm when your body is cold, and cool when it’s hot. Which is why, even though those sheep might look all huddled and sorry for themselves, they are actually completely dry and toasty beneath their fleeces.

how wool keeps us warm

Keratin

A naturally-occurring protein in hair and wool, keratin forms an extra barrier along the fibres of wool which also helps regulate temperatures.

Warm when wet

One of the things that makes wool so practical in outdoor wear and for bedding is the fact that even when it’s damp, it still keeps you warm. This is thanks to its high absorbency, meaning it can hold moisture for longer than other fabrics before you start to feel wet. Wool also wicks moisture away from your body, stopping cold, wet surfaces from resting against your skin. The fibres also miraculously generate heat when they are wet, creating even more warmth. Whilst woollen garments might take longer to dry than fabrics like linen or cotton, they really will keep you warmer for longer.

annie-spratt wool

We can’t think of anything nicer right now than to hunker down in front of a roaring fire under a soft wool blanket with a steaming mug of coffee. Race you to the sofa.

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