The Case for Wool Blankets

A wool blanket is useful before it is luxurious. It warms without sealing the sleeper away from the room, tolerates an open window and remains serviceable on a bed, sofa or cold train. The fibre can hold a surprising amount of moisture without feeling wet, yet the success of the blanket depends on less technical judgements too: the correct weight, an edge that does not unravel and a surface that softens rather than pills.

A later draft will compare mills, breeds and weaves. The best candidate should not require delicate behaviour from an ordinary household. It should accept airing in place of constant washing, withstand an occasional repair and become easier to recognise after years of use. A good blanket is not seasonal decoration. It is a quiet piece of domestic infrastructure.