What Is The Warmest and Softest Fabric For Blankets? (Top 5)
Blankets are a necessity of life. They help keep you warm when you have been soaked in water. They keep the cold away from you in winter and best of all, they help you feel comfortable when you are watching your favorite romantic movie. Life wouldn’t be the same without blankets.
We know we are going to start a big row when we put our warmest and softest blanket fabric up here but here goes. Flannel and cotton seem to be two of the best fabric options when you want soft and warm features. Wool may be a good 3rd.
If you want to learn more about which fabrics make up the warmest and softest material for blankets, just continue to read our article. Just keep in mind nothing is written in stone and it is okay to have a different opinion.
Fabric for Blankets 101
What is The Best Material for Blankets?
Some say the Chanasya faux fur throw blanket is the softest one you can find anywhere. Its reversible nature makes it perfect for those different situations you encounter. Also, it is very hypoallergenic.
This fabric better be good as it comes with a nice $30 price tag on some versions. But faux fur has not cornered the market just yet. Cotton is a very good fabric if you are looking for soft and warm. Its versatility is well known and it is affordable for everyone.
Fleece and flannel; are not far behind in this comparison and they may have their supporters for first place.
What is a Blanket Fabric Called?
There may be a technical term for blanket material but in our research, all we could find were the names of the different fabrics used to create blankets for you and your family. When you go shopping you may have to use words like ‘cotton fabric for blankets’ or ‘fleece fabric for blankets’ to get the right material.
Then you may have to use words like Minky, comfy fleece, chenille white, and other names to find the exact material you need to make a good blanket. The thicker fabrics may only need to be called flannel, fleece, or faux fur before the saleslady knows what you are looking for.
Different Types of Fabric for Blankets
There are lots of different materials that can be used to make blankets. If you want the softest and warmest fabric, then you are looking for cotton, flannel, wool, fleece, acrylic, and polyester.
But since the blanket is a generic term that includes throws, comforters, bedspreads, and other thick bedding options, you may find many more fabrics to choose from. They all won’t be soft and warm but their thickness will make up for some of that lack.
Which fabric you pick will be determined by your geographical location, the season you are in, and which family member is going to receive the blanket.
Fleece Fabric for Blankets
Fleece is a very versatile fabric and that is because it is both soft and warm. It is a material used for clothing, jackets, as well as nice warm winter blankets. Plus, it doesn’t always pill on you when you clean it.
One of the characteristics of fleece is that it can trap air heated by your body. This barrier keeps your body heat inside the blanket and the cold air out. Then it also wicks away moisture so you do not overheat or feel wet and clammy when wrapping yourself in a nice fleece blanket.
Heaviest Fabric for Blankets
Some blanket experts say that a medium weight fabric is the best fabric to use when creating your blanket. That weight class would eliminate silk, fleece, and other lightweight fabrics from being included in your project.
That leaves cotton and wool as your choice for the heaviest fabric to use when making a very heavy blanket. Both fabrics are great at keeping you warm and they both come in a variety of colors and designs to make the blanket fit in with your decor.
Also, they are soft fabrics so you won’t lose out on any comfort when you want to sit in front of the fireplace.
Wool Fabric for Blankets
This is a nice medium weight fabric that does an excellent job of warming you up and keeping you warm when the weather turns cooler. The key to receiving this great treatment is to make sure the wool content is at 70% or higher.
Then wool comes in different qualities, colors, and designs. That makes it a very flexible choice when you want to have certain colors or designs brighten your home, camping trip, or picnic.
Also, you have lots of different wool styles to choose from. Wool is a great fabric that can be turned into a variety of blankets to fit your lifestyle
Cotton Fabric for Blankets
Cotton is also a very versatile fabric. It can be woven thin enough to help you endure the summer heat and keep you cooler when you sleep. Or it can be woven thicker to meet the demands Autumn and Winter bring.
Like wool, it is also a medium weight fabric that comes with lots of colors and designs to brighten up your life. It can be used at the beach, in the park or on your bed or sofa. Cotton will be there to comfort you when the temperatures go down or when you are watching a scary movie or two.
Flannel Fabric for Blankets
Versatility is one way of becoming a top fabric in any comparison or competition. Like wool and cotton, flannel is also very versatile. It is at home in a comforter as it is in a baby’s blanket.
Its soft and fuzzy nature helps anyone relax when they place a flannel blanket over them. Then you can find flannel in designs that complement any decor or purpose you have in mind for it.
Flannel is very comfortable and you are not losing anything when you choose this fabric over the other options already mentioned here.
Fuzzy Fabric for Blankets
A lot of people seem to like fuzzy characteristics on their blanket. One way to get that fuzzy feeling and look is to turn to fleece. It creates that perfect fuzzy look in your blanket project.
Fleece is a very durable and tough fabric that can stand up to most situations without getting torn or damaged. Also, it retains a lot of warm air so you do not feel cold when the low temperatures invade your space.
Fleece may not be as soft as cotton but it does have its uses and it is great in a pinch when you want to support your favorite professional team.
What is The Softest Fabric for a Blanket?
This section will stir up some dissent as everyone has their own opinion of which fabric is the softest. But with that said, cotton is probably the softest material you can use when you want to be comfortable all night long or when you are watching television in the living room.
Other fabrics will rival cotton but this fabric has been around for thousands of years and it just has that perfect nature for creating a softcover. You may have a different preference and that is okay. Cotton stands out as the best when it comes to softness.
What is The Warmest Fabric for Blankets?
This title should go to wool. It too has been around for thousands of years and blanket makers in all countries have found ways to weave wool to keep it the warmest fabric possible.
The good thing is that wool comes in a variety of styles and they all help keep you warm when you need it most. Just make sure your wool blanket is made of 70% or more of wool fibers.
Anything less and the wool blanket won’t be able to compete for the title of the warmest blanket. Again, you may disagree but that is alright. Everyone has their preference.
What Fabric is Used for Baby Blankets?
You have 3 top choices when you want to make a baby blanket for your young child, your grandchild, or your friends’ kids. You can choose from fleece, cotton, or wool to make those baby blankets.
One honorable mention would be cashmere if you can afford the cost of that fabric. Wool absorbs moisture quite well as well as being perfect for those cooler nights. Cotton is breathable, lightweight, and endures many washings.
Cashmere is the high-class baby blanket material and it looks good at special occasions. Along with that cashmere is very soft, lightweight as well as being very warm.
Best Fabric for a Picnic Blanket
Here you may want to choose from the many outdoor fabrics that resist dirt and water. But if those do not do it for you, you can use cotton, polyester, or vinyl. The last material is probably the one that tops the rest.
It is durable, tough, and keeps water from ruining your good time. These are the same materials that can be used for your tablecloths. Tablecloths are very versatile and come in handy when you want to eat somewhere other than your kitchen or dining room.
Polyester or cotton will probably be easier to clean one the picnic blanket gets dirty.
Best Fabric for a Weighted Blanket
As can be expected cotton heads this list, It is one of the most popular fabrics people use and its versatility justifies that popularity. The benefits that cotton has, like hypoallergenic, make sit a great fabric to use in this instance.
Then you can use fleece which is a very warm alternative for those people who cannot use wool. After that fabric comes satin-cotton. This fabric helps soothe your body with its smooth exterior and feel.
Finally, there is flannel. It doesn't snag your bedding and it allows your body to breathe. You can get this fabric in different thicknesses.
How Many Yards of Fabric do I Need to Make a Blanket?
How many yards you need to make a blanket depends on its purpose, its use, and how big or small you want it to be. The amount may also depend on if you use a sewing method or a non sew method.
In the latter case, a 50 by 60-inch blanket needs about 2 yards of fabric. If the size is 55 by 80 inches then you are looking at needing 3 yards of fabric. A baby blanket, depending on its design, may require 2 yards as well.
Some people say you can get away with 1 1/2 yards on smaller blankets.
How to Measure Fabric for Blankets
If you are making a single-layered blanket then you just need to measure to size. Plus, all you need is enough fabric for that layer. If you are making a reversible blanket then you need to pieces measured to the same size.
As you measure make sure to add enough length and width for the seam allowance. That additional fabric can be 1/2 to 1 inch in size. If your blanket is just going to cover the top of the bed here are the sizes you need without the seam allowance: Crib 27 by 52 inches; twin 39 by 74; full 54 by 74; queen 60 by 80 and king 78 by 80.
How Much Fabric for No-Sew Blankets
Again, the size and purpose of the blanket will help determine the amount of fabric you need to finish this project on time and without having to go back to the store for more material.
For a smaller 50 by 60 inches blanket, you can get away with using only 2 yards of material. But mistakes happen and you should factor in 10 to 20% more material just in case. That practice is good for all fabric projects you do.
For a larger blanket 55 by 80 inches, you are looking at using about 3 yards of material. You can use those figures to help you calculate fabric amounts for larger blankets.
How Much Fabric for a Baby Blanket
Your baby may not need a lot of space but for comfort, they should have a decent-sized baby blanket to cuddle up in. Again you can make baby blankets different sizes and one crib size measures 27 by 52 inches.
You may need 2 yards of fabric to make a blanket to fit that crib size. But some people say you may only need 1 1/2 yards of material to do the job right. It is up to you how much fabric you buy and how you design your baby blanket. Your design may call for more yards than mentioned here.
Fabric for Blankets Cost
The sky is the limit when it comes to buying fabric for blankets. You can go to discount stores and wholesale fabric outlets and get material for as low as $1.99 a yard. If you do that, there is no guarantee on the quality of the fabric.
At Joann’s quilt fabric can range between $4.50 to $10 a yard and up. The same price range should be at the other national fabric outlets. You can try big box stores like Home Depot, Walmart, and so on to see if their fabric prices are cheaper without sacrificing quality.
Amazon and other internet outlets may have lower prices as online shopping brings them different benefits than traditional brick and mortar stores have.
Where to Buy Fabric for Blankets
Start locally and support your neighbors. Your local stores are trying to compete with the big box stores and they are having a difficult time with it. There may be no other option in some local areas and it is a great way to support your community.
If your local fabric stores do not have the kind you want then check out your other options. You have big box stores, national chains, and department stores you can always check.
Discounters and wholesalers are other good options, along with internet outlets. There are a ton of places you can go to to get the right price and the right fabric for your blanket project.
Some Final Words
While the softest and warmest fabric for blankets is up for continuous debate, at least you have a starting point when you want to make a great blanket. Cotton, wool, fleece, flannel, and even some polyester are great fabric options for blankets.
Which one you consider the softest and warmest may be determined by your individual experience with all fabrics. Get the fabric that meets the requirements of your geographical location and your personal preferences. Then you will have the softest and warmest blanket around.
