100% Cotton thermal blankets. Year-round. I hate Vellux - it's static-y and has a weird texture. lol

Lol! I never liked the vellux blankets either. I like blankets like this throw blanket. Target Link My family loves these and they get used everywhere including trips. They feel good on the skin and are warm. The kids will often throw off the other blankets and snuggle up with these instead.

What are you looking for in a blanket, ladypat? I take several naps during the day and have an assortment.....but I do like the vellux because it is hypoallergenic and holds up to frequent hot washes.

I agree with imstillcloecat, I’m not a fan of polyesters and I really really hate the Microfiber blankets (or microfiber anything for that matter). It’s everywhere in the stores now. Bleh! It feels so gross and cheap to me.

A blanket that is 100% cotton thermal or even non thermal has a nice weight to it and a comfortable amount of warmth. Most people don’t realize this but cotton is also hypoallergenic and washes well too, especially in hot water. AND...unlike a blanket made out of polyester or microfiber, they breath and that is good for people who tend to run warm.

My favorite blanket is a down blanket. No, NOT a down comforter, a down blanket. they are delightfully warm, never hot - just perfect. I've gotten mine at Target in the past. Sizes are odd - for my queen size bed, I bought a king size blanket and I turn it sideways.

Remember when choosing a blanket that natural fibers (cotton or linen) are breathable) manmade fabrics such as polyester are not breathable. What this means is natural fabrics will not make you sweat like poly will. They will keep you warm without becomming hot and sweaty. However they will cost more. Down is a natural so it will keep you warm without the sticky sweat also providing you use a natural fabric duvet cover on it and not synthetic.

I use a medium thickness winter down comforter with a 100% cotton duvet cover or a wool blanket inside a cotton duvet cover which is truely lovely.

So my advice is to first consider a natural fabric than of course how much warmth do you need. Light, medium or heavy. I'm in Pennsylvania where it can get very cold so we use a heavy thickness but if your in a warm climate you may only need light weight.

Another thought is natural fabric is much easier to clean where as poly can be a real muck trapper.

I haven't seen a nice Vellux blanket since mine gave up and died. I wish, I could find a replacement. I totally love the light weight feature of them.

Moni

I'm another for all cotton in my bedding, although I did have a cotton linen blend duvet cover for a while that washed like a dream. And some linen pillow cases that were wonderful - ironing absolutely required. All my nightwear is cotton too, I'm just not comfortable with synthetic fabrics against my skin. Age maybe? I did wear my share of polyester pant suits in the 80's ;0)

My blankets are cotton. I do remember having a velux blanket but way back, and may have been a gift. And no longer here. But Ladypat, if you prefer the velux by all means buy it. I'll make up the bed at my mothers for her - even after buying bedding for her, she will still choose poly bedspreads, blends in her blankets, sheets that are a combo of poly and cotton...it's what she likes.

I like weight occasionally, so I really like cotton as it tends to be heavier.

Conversely, I sometimes feel claustrophobic so I really like down, too...

No help whatsoever, but my point is, it's not just about the fabric and hopefully I don't sound crazy.

We use a lightweight down-alternative comforter (inside a cotton duvet) year round.

When they die ... if you add your cotton, wool, linen, etc. materials to compost, they'll soon fertilize your garden.

Man-made stuff'll break down into tiny pieces, and after composting won't help fertilize the garden in the short term ... whether they will after a century or so, I doubt. Many of those tiny pieces have gone down into the oceans and aren't nutritious to the fish.

ole joyful

I love our thick down comforter upstairs with a 100% cotton duvet, it’s absolute heaven especially when the room is really cold. Last year I discovered a down blanket at Garnet Hill that is really fabulous. I got the throw which is amply sized and has a 100% cotton cover. I bought one for my DH last year and we loved it so much I got a second one for me. They’re a little pricey but the sizing and quality are really good so IMO, well worth it. The colors are pretty too!

Garnet Hill Down Blankets

The reason I got Vellux is because I have two little dogs that sleep on the bed, and anything with a loose weave will catch their little nails. I have seen lots of plush blankets in stores, but I wonder what they will look like after a few hot washings. SO, it is not about me, but the dogs. High washability , low texture for nails and scratching a "nest' before they settle down. Actually the vellux holds up well, but I just wondered what was new out there to try.

I get it with the dogs, I have the same delima with our dog. That’s another reason why I’m such a fan of the cotton, on regular blanket as well as the down, the cotton is a nice weave and really soft. I haven’t washed ours yet, but according to their instructions and reviews, they are supposed to wash well. Doesn’t your Vellux shock you a lot in the winter? I remember having that problem many years ago when we had Vellux. Same with microfiber.

lukkiirish No static, but I run a cool room humidifier in bedroom in the winter. I looked at the down blankets, and I like the looks of them. Better colors than vellux.

My dog Little Lil (very small) is so spoiled. I have a few child sized comforters for her. I used two flat sheets and made a duvet cover for them. This way I can wash her duvet cover every couple days yet only need to wash the comforter every week or so. Her nails don't get caught this way, but I know what you mean.

I have vellux in the guest rooms as I have family that bring their pets. Prior to that, the cotton ones would be embedded in fur and full of snags. As mentioned - these are as tough as nails as far as frequent washings are concerned.

mamapinky0 That's a really good idea! Thank you so much!

I had several of those fleece blankets with the fringed edges left over from my kids when they were babies. They are a really nice size for my dog. I keep one in his kennel for him to lay on and another goes over the top at bedtime.

We mix our bedding most of the time. Fitted sheet is almost always 100% cotton percale and top sheet is always 100% linen, along with pillow cases and a light quilt that's percale on top and linen next to you. During winter, our thermostat sets back to 55 degrees at 9 PM. At 55, two linen top sheets is usually enough for warm comfort. If not, the quilt is within easy reach.

OklaMoni,

Vermont Country Store sells the Vellux blanket:

https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/classic-vellux-blanket/product/62659

They also sell cotton, merino wool, cotton/wool, cotton/acrylic, and flannel blankets:

https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/searchresults?Nr=product.active%3A1&Ntt=blanket&Nty=1&No=0&Nrpp=12&Rdm=932&searchType=simple&type=search

Where do you buy your wool blankets? Do they wash well? I saw one at the Company Store that is called washable wool. We have two down blankets from them but they do take up room in our top loader.

mayflowers, wool blankets require special washing care and should not be washed often. Cool water, little or no agitation, dried flat preferably as opposed to hanging. They do have their good qualities, too, however.

Drying flat would be a problem.

The cotton blankets aren't warm enough. I hate the thermal ones with the open weave, which always gets pulls.

Our guest bed is made with a waffle weave and the guests love it. But, most of them are 11, 8, and 5. Ha!

You’re in luck if you do want to check it out Ladypat, they have a 25% of sale going right now. :c)

JC Penney sells Vellux blankets too. They wear very well. I also have some of the plush ones, and love them. Great grandkids wrap up in them to watch tv, and put them over chairs to make tents, so they are in the wash all the time, and wash really great. They still look like new. I have had vellux on my bed for years, and it still looks like new after countless washings too.

I make quilts so I put those on the beds and layer them if it's really cold. All cotton and very washable.

Washable wool has at least 10% nylon in it to prevent shrinkage. Follow washing instruction carefully though!

I absolutely loved this blanket. Pacific Coast down blanket with cotton cover. It is missed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GG2KC4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511067013&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=pacific+coast+down+blanket&dpPl=1&dpID=41t99BXmV4L&ref=plSrch

The vellux (might be microfleece though, not sure) I bought several years ago is now used on the futon/loveseat in the basement tv/computer area, mostly by the dog - the sizing was weird anyway; a queen size long enough to tuck in at the foot of the bed but the width barely reached the sides so making the bed with 'hospital corners' as is our preference was impossible. We bought an electric blanket in the king size which was on sale at Costco back in October so it is big enough to cover the two of us without one of us fighting for the thing in our sleep. There's also one of those old-school poly cotton blend blankets with the satin binding on all four sides on the bed now, which I think was bought from lands end. My winter jacket is also Lands End and I've been wearing it a lot more now that we've moved to NE from SoCal, don't know what I'll buy when it has to be replaced.

Yes, we do occasionally get shocked by the static - normally once we're in bed that's not much of a concern, it's the static buildup from shuffling along the floor in slippers en route that gets us when we're getting into bed.

I'm not an advocate of dryer sheets as they have been known to cause dryer fires but occasional use is ok.....use a half of one, unscented is good when you dry the vellux blanket. That should eliminate static.

Give me a *woven* blanket, please, not that stiff Velux that feels like a layer of steamrollered foam. Woven cotton weighs a ton.

I have an old acrylic with satin binding all around that looks and feels like wool. I use it under our down comforter when it's as cold as it is now, below freezing. We sleep with a window open a little bit. I also have a nearly-fifty-year-old electric blanket on my side of the bed, under the mattress cover. Still works fine.

Have you seen Berkshire blankets at Bed Bath & Beyond? Soft and cozy. I recently saw them on QVC, too. Not terribly expensive.