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Choosing a Throw Blanket That Lasts
Choosing a Throw Blanket That Lasts
A throw is a small purchase that gets used daily, and the difference between one that still looks good in two years and one that pills into a mat in three months is entirely in the fibre and the construction.
Size: most throws are too small
A throw sold at 50 by 60 inches covers one seated adult comfortably and does not cover a reclining one. For anyone who actually lies under it on a sofa, 60 by 80 is the useful size.
For a bed, measure the width of the bed and add the drop you want on each side. A throw intended to sit across the foot of a bed needs to be at least as wide as the mattress.
Check the stated dimensions rather than the photograph. Styled photographs on small sofas make throws look larger than they are.
Fleece: warm, light, and prone to pilling
Polyester fleece is warm for its weight, dries quickly, costs little and is machine washable. It is the most practical everyday throw material by a distance.
Its weakness is pilling. The brushed surface that makes it soft is short broken fibre, and friction gathers it into pills, particularly in the first few washes.
Higher GSM fleece with a denser pile pills less. A very cheap thin fleece will pill within weeks.
Sherpa and dual-sided throws
A sherpa-backed throw pairs a smooth face with a deep pile reverse, which traps considerably more air and is warmer than plain fleece of similar weight.
The pile flattens over time and after washing, which is normal rather than a defect. Tumbling on low for a short period restores some loft; hot drying flattens it permanently.
They are bulkier to store, which matters in a small apartment.
Knit and woven throws
A knit throw drapes differently and looks less casual, which is why they suit a room where the throw is part of the decor rather than purely functional. Cotton knits breathe well and are cooler; acrylic knits are warmer and hold colour.
Open-weave knits snag on rings, watches and pet claws. In a household with any of those, a tighter weave lasts considerably longer.
Chunky knits are heavy when washed and should be dried flat rather than hung.
Washing without ruining the surface
Cold water, gentle cycle, low spin, and no fabric softener. Softener coats fleece fibres and flattens the pile, which is the opposite of what you want.
Wash throws separately or with similar items. Washing a fleece throw with towels transfers lint in both directions and accelerates pilling.
Air dry or tumble on low. High heat melts the fibre tips on polyester fleece, producing a permanently rough surface.
Dealing with pills
A fabric shaver or a fine comb removes pills without pulling fibre out of the base, which is what happens when you pick them off by hand.
Lay the throw flat on a table, keep it taut without stretching, and work in one direction with light pressure.
Most throws pill hardest early and then stabilise. Deshedding once after the first few washes often settles it for good.
Colour and how it wears
Solid light colours show everything; solid dark colours show lint and pet hair. A mid-tone or a subtle pattern hides daily use best, which is the same principle as with rugs.
Deep saturated colours in acrylic hold better than the same colours in cotton, which fades more over repeated washing.
If a throw will live in direct sun on a sofa back, expect fading regardless of fibre.
Storage between seasons
Store clean and completely dry. Fold rather than compress into a vacuum bag if the throw has any pile, since prolonged compression permanently flattens it.
A basket or a blanket ladder keeps a throw in use and off the floor, which is where most of them end up.
Air it for a few hours before use after storage; polyester holds a stored smell more than natural fibres.
Where to go next
Throw blankets and coaster sets are in Textiles & Table.
- Browse Textiles & Table or the full shop.
- Sizing, delivery and payment questions are answered on our FAQ page.
- Delivery times are set out in the Shipping Policy; returns in the Return & Refund Policy.
- Still stuck? Contact us — we reply within 24 hours on business days.
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