Edie-I don't know if I would wash the blanket in cold water, unless that's how the completed quilt will be washed. If it's going to shrink, then let it shrink before it's in a quilt, in my opinion. It should be fine, the quilts that I've used the wool blankets in, didn't shrink.

Those of you that used the Dream wool, did you machine wash and machine dry it? I don't have anywhere to hang a quilt to dry.

I love wool batting. The batting I'm using right now is Hobbs. All the quilts I make for my house have wool batting and I wash them when they need it in the washer and dry them in the dryer. I've had absolutely no problems with it.

Do you wash these woolen blankets in warm water and then put them in the dryer so they will shrink or will cold water shrink them too?

Have DH's green wool blanket from WWII. It does indeed weigh a ton.
It's been tossed into the washer and has shrunk. Has some moth holes.
It's still warm.

i wash all of my wools in hot hot water!!! rinse in cold=then dry in a hot dryer- when they are done they are (felted) do not fray- and thick- luxurious- and will no longer shrink-
i go to yard sales- thrift stores and shop for wools all the time- they always go into the washer with the hottest water i can get- i usually heat my tea kettle and add boiling water too-
then the wools are ready for what ever you want to do with them=use for a batting- use for appliques- use for piecing- use for clothing-
i love working with wools=
they are wonderful to (over-dye) and wash up beautifully!!!
once they are felted they are done shrinking- then they are ready for what ever you want to do with them.