Wool Throws

Warmth you can see. Scottish lambswool, pure merino and chunky hand-knits, weighted from a light 300gsm drape to a heavy 800gsm winter blanket, thrown over an arm or folded at the foot of a bed. The natural texture a plain scheme is missing, and the sort of piece that quietly outlasts the sofa it sits on.

Scottish lambswool and merino throws hold warmth at only 300 to 500gsm, easily taking the chill off a cool evening without the bulk of a duvet. For colder rooms or draughty spaces, a heavyweight wool blanket of 800gsm and above gives genuine winter warmth and lasts for generations.

Most pure wool throws should be dry-cleaned or gently hand-washed in a wool-specific detergent at 30 degrees, then laid flat to dry rather than hung. Shaking the throw outdoors weekly refreshes the pile between cleans, and storing with cedar in summer deters moths.

A three-seater sofa suits a throw of around 130 by 180cm, large enough to spread across the seat or drape over an arm. For larger sofas a 150 by 200cm throw drapes more generously, while anything under 130 by 150cm reads as a lap blanket rather than a finishing layer.

Merino is finer and softer against the skin, so it suits a throw you wrap around yourself, while lambswool is a little more robust and springy, holding a chunkier, more textured look. Both are warm for their weight; the choice comes down to feel and the look you want.