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NZ Made Wool Blankets: Choose Size, Fibre and Care
Choose NZ made wool blankets by their actual dimensions, fibre composition and care instructions. A throw for the sofa and a blanket for a bed need different measurements, even when they look alike.
Palliser Ridge wool products, from our December 2020 maker story.
In this guide
New Zealand made wool blankets: begin with the maker
Choose a throw or a bed blanket
Compare fibre, weave and feel
Weight and use through the seasons
Care before and after purchase
Check the product and the delivered price
Your questions
Explore NZ made products.
New Zealand made wool blankets: begin with the maker
Palliser Ridge
Our December 2020 Palliser Ridge story follows a South Wairarapa farm's diversification into wool products. The connection between farm and finished product gives you useful questions to ask about wool, processing and manufacture.
Use our NZ made products hub to explore other home purchases. For a blanket, check where the finished item is made as well as where its wool comes from. Those can be different places, and the fibre name alone does not settle either question.
Choose a throw or a bed blanket
A sofa throw is usually selected for covering one person or dressing a seat. A bed blanket needs enough width and length for the mattress and the way you want it to drape or tuck. Compare centimetres rather than relying only on a size label.
Measure the surface you want covered.
Decide how much overhang you want on each side.
Add the side allowances to the required width.
Allow separately for length and any tuck at the foot.
Check the product's actual dimensions before ordering.
Illustrative calculation: for a surface 150 cm wide with 25 cm of overhang on each side, the desired width is 200 cm. This is a measuring example, not a standard bed size or a particular blanket's specification. Repeat the calculation for your own bed.
Compare fibre, weave and feel
Read the fibre composition rather than assuming all wool blankets are alike. Merino, lambswool and wool blends describe different material choices, while woven and knitted construction affect how a blanket handles and looks. Ask the maker to explain the particular product's feel and construction.
If touch is important, view a sample or ask whether you can see the blanket in person. A photograph shows colour and pattern but cannot tell you how the fabric feels against your skin. If buying as a gift, consider whether the recipient already prefers a particular type of blanket.
Weight and use through the seasons
Think about how you will use the blanket: as a light layer, over a duvet, on a sofa or in a guest room. Compare the listed weight where available and ask what the maker recommends for that use. Room conditions, other bedding and personal preference all affect the choice.
Avoid choosing on thickness in a photograph alone. Ask whether the weight refers to the complete blanket or a fabric measurement, because those are different comparisons. A useful product description gives you dimensions, composition and care together.
Care before and after purchase
Read the care label before buying. Some products need a different washing or cleaning method from others, especially when fibres, dyes or finishes differ. Follow the particular blanket's instructions for washing, drying and storage.
Keep the care label and maker's instructions.
Deal with a spill using the method specified for the product.
Allow the blanket to dry fully before storing it.
Choose storage that keeps it clean and dry.
Ask the maker before using a cleaning method not covered by the label.
For wearable wool layers, use our knitwear guide; garment fit and drying arrangements introduce different questions.
Check the product and the delivered price
Search the maker's name in our register and match the product details. Confirm stock, colour, size, delivery charge and exchanges before ordering.
A blanket can be a thoughtful NZ made gift when you know the recipient's colours and care preferences. For your own bedroom, compare it alongside the dimensions in our bed planning guide.
Your questions
Is NZ wool the same as a NZ-made blanket?
Wool origin and blanket manufacture are separate facts. Ask where the fibre comes from and where the finished blanket is made.
How do I choose a blanket size?
Measure the area to cover and add your preferred drape or tuck. Compare those dimensions with the actual product measurements.
Can every wool blanket be machine washed?
Follow the individual care label. The appropriate cleaning method can vary with the product's fibres and construction.
Your next step
Measure your space, choose the fibre and care routine that suit you, then check the maker and exact blanket before ordering.
