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mohair throw

Mohair vs. Cashmere – Which One is Better for You?

October 17, 2020 Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments

With Autumn upon us and Winter approaching, our attention inevitably turns to finding new ways to keep ourselves warm. You’ve got the cosy socks and chunky knitwear, but on chilly evenings that’s not enough. One of the best ways to stay warm is a soft wool throw or blanket. With the huge variety of throws to choose from finding the right one for you and your home might feel a little overwhelming. But we are here to help.

One of the main considerations is to think about what type of wool to choose. Two of the most luxurious types – wool and mohair – make ideal throws and blankets. So, in this post we’re going to answer two questions: what is a mohair throw and what is a cashmere throw? And we’ll tell you some of the unique qualities and benefits of each.

What is mohair wool - WoolMe
Mohair throws: benefits at a glance

  • Mohair is produced from angora goats – not to be confused by the fabric we call angora, which is produced from the soft fur of angora rabbits.
  • Due to its softness and sheen, mohair feels lovely to touch and is considered to be a luxurious fibre. This makes it perfect for wool throws, as they are not only warm but also non-scratchy and comfortable.
  • Because of its unique structure, mohair is hypoallergenic which means that even people with wool allergies are likely not to be allergic to mohair. Warm, soft and pleasing to touch  – no wonder mohair is one of the most beloved fabrics in the world for blankets and throws.

What is cashmere wool - WoolMe

Cashmere throws: key features and qualities

  • Cashmere is another unique and luxe wool. Not prickly, deliciously soft and warm, cashmere is ideal for people with sensitive skins and for children.
  • A cashmere wool has superior insulating qualities yet isn’t bulky, which makes it perfect for any season. This natural fabric will keep you warm when it is cold and prevent overheating when temperatures rise.
  • Lightweight cashmere throws are easy to carry around as they fold up surprisingly small and weigh very little. Simply sling in your tote bag for a chilly evening dinner out, or pack for a weekend city break over the Winter holidays.

Read more about Cashmere: The Story of Luxury and why it’s such a sophisticated, sought-after fabric.

Whether you choose a mohair throw or a cashmere throw, both will keep you snuggly and cosy, and will feel luxurious against your skin. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s care instructions to keep your throw looking its best.

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What’s the Difference Between Types of Wool?

March 16, 2019 Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments

Don’t know your merino from your mohair? Don’t worry, in this handy guide we’ll explain the differences between the most often-used types of wool. So you can make the right choice, whether you’re looking for a beautiful cosy blanket or a sumptuous sweater.

Mohair

Harvested from the angora goat, mohair is silky, soft and highly insulating. Often used for baby clothes, suits and blankets, mohair is resilient and dirt-resistant. Garments made from mohair have a lovely drape and the fibres take dyes particularly effectively, as well as having gorgeous natural colours.

Merino

merino wool throw

Merino sheep are generally found in Australia and New Zealand. The fibres of this wool have small scales, making it a lightweight, fine wool that is perfect for base layers and blankets thanks to its great temperature-regulating properties.

Cashmere

One of the most luxurious types of wool, cashmere comes from the supersoft under layer of wool from the Kashmir goat in India, Tibet, China and Mongolia. Thanks to its softness and warmth cashmere is beloved for its silky feel in scarves, clothing and cashmere throws. Due to its rarity it tends to be more expensive and is less durable than other types of wool.

Lambswool

lambswool types of wool

Taken from the first shearing of a lamb when they are six or seven months old, lambswool is very smooth and soft. It’s also resilient, hypoallergenic and perfect for garments that are worn next to the skin, or for bedding. It can only be harvested once, which makes it more expensive that ordinary sheep wool.

Alpaca

Once originally found in South America, fields of these fluffy, camel-like creatures are now commonplace around the world. Alpaca wool is silky and supersoft, with great insulating properties. It’s often used in blankets, knits and sportswear, and has a lovely range of natural colours. As well as being comfortable to the touch, alpaca wool is strong and pill-resistant.

Angora

Harvested from the angora rabbit, this wool is not to be confused with mohair, that comes from the angora goat. Due to its hollow fibres, angora is very lightweight and fine, and is often blended with other types of wool to make it less fragile. It has great temperature-regulating properties, is warm and cosy, and is resistant to odours.

Wool

wool throws

If a garment’s label lists it as composed of ‘wool’ it refers to ordinary sheep wool. The scales on this wool are larger, which can make it feel itchy, but it is cheaper and very warm, making it great for larger pieces like wool throws.

To read more about the benefits of wool go here and here.

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Your Ultimate Wool Throw Gift Guide

November 13, 2018 Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments

If you’re trying to get ahead of the game and make a start with your Christmas gift buying, here’s our ultimate gift guide. We can help you choose the perfect wool throw for your family members or friends, and give them a gift they can enjoy for years to come. In fact, we can’t think of many better things to give at Christmas than a soft, snuggly blanket crafted from the finest materials that will keep your loved ones feeling cozy and pampered. A new wool throw will become part of their own Christmas and wintertime traditions, from curling up under it to watch a holiday movie, to tucking in an excited child who has just hung up their stocking for Santa.

So, here’s what we’re putting on our present-buying list this year:

For Mum

luxury wool throw gift - wool throw guide

Busy mothers can find they’ve barely stopped all day. From the pressures of work to the demands of small children, this time of year can be even more exhausting than normal. Even mums of grown-up kids can still find it hard to properly unwind. Give a mother in your life the gift of a peaceful, precious, moment of relaxation with this supersoft throw. Encourage them to take time out for themselves with a book or a podcast, tucked up and cared for, instead of doing all the caring.

For a mother who loves being in Nature a wool throw is a great present. They can lie back on it and watch the clouds or spread out a picnic feast for friends in the park. It will keep them warm on chilly evenings round a campfire, and can provide an impromptu sleeping blanket for a slumbering babe.

For Dad

alpaca wool throw - wool throw guide

If there’s a dad in your life who loves the outdoors, whether fishing, hiking or camping wild, give him one of these warm, durable alpaca blankets as a companion on his adventures. For dads who like to hunker down with their kids reading stories, a wool throw will not only keep them all snug, it can double as a fort if attention wanders.

For the traveller

For the travel-loving, active person in your life a trusty wool throw can be packed up in their bag of essential kit and will double as a picnic blanket, shawl and extra bedding if they’re sleeping out under the stars. Whether bundled into a backpack or rolled up in a tote, every adventurer needs this versatile piece of kit. And not only are our throws practical and hard-wearing, they’re great-looking too.

For the interior design fan

mohair throw christmas - wool throw guide

If you need a gift for an interiors fan who loves browsing Pinterest for ideas on home improvements or flicking through the latest Elle Deco, then look no further. A beautiful mohair wool throw can instantly refresh the look of a bedroom or sitting room. Draped, tucked or folded, this is the ideal gift for someone with their finger on the design pulse.

For the lover of fine things

cashmere throw christmas gift

For someone who loves the finer things in life, a cashmere throw is the ultimate luxurious gift. They will love the exquisite softness and quality of our cashmere throw, and you will love the price. This is a keepsake gift to treasure for now and well into the future. A truly special present.

For someone who is all of these

Really, most of us love to surround ourselves with beautiful things made from the best, natural, materials. We want to feel loved, safe and sheltered, as well as to protect those around us. Sometimes we feel like hibernating and other times we crave adventure. A Woolme wool throw can do all of this, whatever mood we’re in and whatever life brings us in that moment. Which makes it pretty much the perfect gift for everybody, no?

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What’s So Special About Mohair?

September 13, 2017 Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

We’ve looked at different types of wool in previous posts, and this week it’s the turn of mohair. This beautiful wool is known as the ‘Diamond fibre’, due to its high lustre and inherent strength. But what else is special about mohair?

How to distinguish mohair wool?

Well, first it’s important to distinguish it from another type of wool, angora, which comes from the angora rabbit. Mohair wool actually comes from the angora goat, named after Ankara in Turkey where the goats flourished after moving down from the mountains of Tibet centuries ago. See how things get a bit confusing? Just remember: the angora goat is a large, curly-fleeced creature (from which we get mohair wool); the angora rabbit is a super-cute fluffball of far smaller proportions (from which we get angora wool).

Mohair wool - Angora goat - WoolMe

Mohair goats are now farmed worldwide, with the main areas of production in South Africa and Texas, USA. They are shorn twice a year, then the fleece is washed, combed and ‘worsted’ spun into yarn. It is sometimes mixed with other fibres, but is fantastic on its own. Mohair wool is used in a huge range of products, from bespoke tailored suits to soft scarves, upholstery to teddy bears. The finer wool from younger goats is usually used to make clothes and wool throws, whilst the thicker wool is used for heavier items.

mohair-teddy-bear(Image courtesy of Merrythought.co.uk)

So why is mohair so popular and revered?

The answer lies in its properties. As the fibres have fewer scales on the external layer than sheep wool, mohair is extremely soft, which makes it perfect for people with sensitive skin or who find sheep wool a bit itchy. It is also insulating, without absorbing heat, so it regulates your body temperature. Unwanted odours are avoided thanks to its natural anti-bacterial properties, and it will wick away moisture from your body to keep you feeling fresh and warm. Elasticity is another brilliant function of mohair, as its fibres can be twisted and shaped without being damaged. Mohair is lightweight and also non-flammable unless exposed to an open flame, which has resulted in it being used in some airline upholstery. But don’t let its light weight fool you – this is one tough yarn, withstanding up to three times the rubbing of sheep wool. It also takes dye remarkably well, making it a great choice for vibrant colours.

mohair throw - WoolMe

Want to see for yourself? Snuggle up with one of our elegant mohair throws and experience the joys of this special wool.

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Three Things You Didn‘t Know About Mohair

June 20, 2016 Tags: , , , , No Comments

With wool getting more and more popular and used for different types of products every day it is just the perfect time to find out more about the different types of it. While mohair is one of the most beloved fibres in the world there is still very little known about this unique type of wool. Today we are ready to introduce you the tree things you probably didn’t know about mohair.

mohair

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Press Release: Snug & Stylish Mohair Throws from WoolMe

October 14, 2015 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Perfect for a cold winter’s evening or fresh spring afternoon, the new Michaela Mohair throw from online wool brand WoolMe.com will add a touch of warmth to the home and wardrobe this season.

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