I was at the local Goodwill store today and found a deep red wool blanket for $2.99. I wonder if I should have bought it. I kept thinking there was something crafty I could have made with it. I know wool at the lqs is expensive.

No. I havn't used wool blankets. Others might have....

watch out for red it could bleed

If it doesn't bleed, you can use it as batting.

I don't know. I'm always concerned about red bleeding and with wool I would want to have it cleaned so I probably wouldn't have bought it at a thrift shop.

Wool could be felted and then used for some beautiful applique. I would have purchased it.

One of my former quilting buddies used wool blankets for batting. She didn't use red, but didn't seem to have problems with the other colors. I'm guessing she washed the quilts after they were quilted. She never said there was a problem and we didn't think to ask.

That's interesting to know that wool could be used as batting. It feels heavy to me. This blanket looked like it had been washed too and was smaller than a twin size. Still thinking about what else could be done with it.

Don't know about the wool blanket but I sure would like to have some of that Pineapple Upside Down cake. Looks Delicious!

You can felt it and make a nice bag or purse or felt it and cut out flower appliques.

A woman just showed me a felted wool purse she made......after seeing that, yes, I'd have bought it!!! And felted it and made a purse!!! :)

why can't you use it as a blanket?

Sounds like someone may have begun the felting/shrinking process. I definitely would have bought it....wash it some more and maybe use as batting in a rag quilt (would be great for winter) or as others have suggested bags, flower appliques, felted buttons to trim a quilt (nicer than real ones, you don't get them sticking in to you)....Endless possibilities....

The one and only quilt my mother (and I) ever made was with wools and tweeds cut into 4" squares for the one side and all cottons cut into 4" squares for the other side.
And -
It's still in good shape after 40+ years! Very heavy, very warm wonderful memories. All the fabrics were scraps from all the clothes she had made over the years.

I scoop up all quality wool items at thrift shops. It's the best to appliqué! It is every expensive at the quilt shops a fat quarter runs about $6-$8 for the dyed wool. That's silly to pay that. I have found many gorgeous colors of wool once I started looking for it.

I love buying wool at the Salvation Army. I've felted some and made a wonderful wool lap quilt for my fil. He's in a wheelchair now and has to be pushed a few blocks to dialysis. The wool really keeps his legs warm. I found a great men's wool jacket the other day - interesting rust/amber color. Man bought it to wear though :) He did look good in it.

Good find, of course have it cleaned or wash in cold water and air dry. Throw in a white rag to see if it bleeds if you're worried about that.

Just an off the wall question that bothers me from time to time: if we pick up stuff like jackets, coats, sweaters to cut up and use for other things like quilts or crafts, are we depriving warm clothing to those who can't afford to shop elsewhere? I know, I am very anal sometimes.

I am in Canada, and the Hudson's Bay Company (oldest company in Canada, I think) was a fur trading company and had wool blankets with stripes on the ends on them. Most were white with red, black, green and blue stripes. Some were red and are considered quite rare and worth quite a bit of money. The red ones only have a black stripe on each end. Worth several hundred dollars.

I would have bought it.

I would of bought it! There is so much that can be done with it! Wash in hot water, toss in dryer, make a bag, purse, appliques, scarves, mittens, fabric roses..... the list is endless!

What exactly do you mean by felting it? When you use it for applique does it ravel if you don't turn it under? It had a tweed look too.
I think I am heading back to the Goodwill tomorrow :-D :-D

I have an old red wool blanket that I plan to use as batting for a quilt some day.

Tell me you're kidding? Seriously, I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure the red one I have is exactly as you describe...

Edit to add - I checked, it is not a Hudson's Bay blanket, but IS pretty much exactly as you described. It's made by another Canadian company, though - Horn Brothers. Some quick searching tells me that these blankets are often mistaken for HBC blankets because the label on it has a big "HB" on it. lol

When my oldest daughters left home they left me with a closet full of wool jackets, skirts, slacks, etc. I cut them apart and washed them in batches of the same or nearly the same colors. If they shrunk I ditched them. If they washed well I cut them into blocks and made quilts. They were the warmest, cuddliest quilts you could imagine.

I've seen some lovely felted purses - that might have worked for this

My Mother has her Grand mothers quilt that was made back in South Wales back in the 1900's. It is very heavy, scrappy quilt. It's innards is made from a wool blanket that was from the shipping yard that was close by. If I remember the story correctly.

Do the Horn blankets have a good value? I've not heard of them.

You could make some mug rugs or maybe pin cushions, or even a red heart door hanger, you know the kind that have a couple of hearts hanging from a ribbon with maybe a blanket stitched edge

An old friend in Cleveland would collect wool fabric, from thrift stores, and make quilts from the pieces.

Without hesitation. Wool makes great pincushions, as well as so many other crafty items.

Not that I can tell. But Maybe. Apparently, these wool blankets are a collectors item. There is a couple of books written about them, and it seems that is the only place to get solid information on them...and, well, I'm not buying the book. LOL I'm going to do some more searching today and see what I can find.

I understand how you feel....Sometimes thrift stores here are not super careful about what they re-sell....If I see something that is still very useful/wearable I wouldn't buy it to cut up. If something has missing buttons, torn seams or some ravelling or stains/holes...it's fair game. Sounds awful, but some people think giving holey t-shirts, paint stained jeans and all kinds of wrecked items are good to pass on to charities. I have even seen people put unclean/pet used blankets in charity collection bins!

I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I use the blankets on my bed if they are in good shape. If they are ratty I buy them anyway because in my area people sometimes leave their dogs outside in the winter. It is 4* here right now. I'll give the blanket to the offenders and explain (nicely) to them since it is wool it will keep the dog warm even if the blanket gets wet. I have never had one refused and they are always put out for the dog, or the dog gets taken inside. I figure either way it is a 'Win'

After reading all the post,I say if it's still there,go for it. :thumbup: :roll: :thumbup:

Felt it and make family slippers or mitts etc
M

Wool blankets are really warm but I can't wrap up in them as I have an alergic reaction and get a bad rash. My Mom used wool army blankets for batting. Gosh just thinking about wool I start to itch!

Felting is the process of washing wool over and over to shrink it until it does not ravel. The easiest way would be to run it through a number of wash cycles before the rinse and spin. I know someone that raises sheep and either washes the wool after it is sheared to make felt or has it spun into yarn. There are many different grades of wool and that is based on the type of sheep the wool has come from.

I would have bought it if I thought it was something I would use at some point in time. I also know people that get things like that to cut in very narrow strips to make a type of punch rug which are very pretty.

Thanks for explaining felting. So do you mean I can wash wool to the place it will not unravel? Wow, I didn't know that. Now lets just hope the blankets still there :)

If the blanket was 100 percent wool and in good condition, I'd buy it and boil it and either use for felted wool projects... or resell it to others who do use felted wool. I have made felted wool handbags with applique designs and sold them here by New Englanders for winter use.

I always buy wool blankets at thrift stores and use them to make rag rugs. I always wash them the minute I get home or leave outside till I do since I don't want to bring moths home. I wash no matter what, but hold up to a window and see if you can see any thin spots or holes.