Big Blanket Love: Cosy Up This Winter with a Giant Sheepskin Blanket

Searching for giant blankets can seem tricky. Is a weighted blanket worth it? Where can I buy a big soft blanket? How do you make a large thick blanket? How do you display large blankets? How do you store big blankets and pillows? Which is the best big blanket for me? At Wilson & Dorset, they're quite possibly one of our favorite things. Here's our review of everything to love about kingsize blankets and finding the right one for your purpose.

Sheepskin has stood the test of time for centuries. When you're on the search for an oversized blanket that will make a statement, you can't go past sheepskin and wool. If you want to invest in a nice blanket for yourself or you're handy enough to make your own big blanket, we've got you covered.

Weighted blanket versus sheepskin blankets

There are limited studies on the benefits of weighted blankets. Generally, scientific evidence suggests that a weighted blanket will reduce anxiety and may even improve insomnia in some situations. Anecdotal reports suggest they can help with alleviating stress and sleeping soundly. So rather than shelling out for a synthetic fabric blanket with plastic beads or other inserts sewn in, if you purchase a huge blanket or two, you can test how the weight and feel works for you and the whole fam.

When compared with other blankets, sheepskin is worth the price and investment, and with the proper care and maintenance, you'll have yours for a lifetime. They're actually easy to care for too. A good vigorous shake and regular vacuum will keep it in tip-top shape. Learn more about caring for big sheepskin blankets here.

Can sheepskin blankets be used for duvets or comforters?

If you're using sheepskin in place of comforters or duvets, you'll be guaranteed a comfortable night. Its breathability is perfect for bedding (and also clothing, which is why we wear wool so much!). Many mattress underlays are made from wool for this reason.

Wool is naturally temperature regulating - it provides amazing insulation and thermal qualities, yet is breathable and cool in the heat. It literally adjusts itself to your body temperature. Wool blankets are the ideal solution for keeping you warm in the cold months, while their moisture wicking properties have got covered in summer.

Mt Gold Long Wool Octo

What's more, wool blankets are stylish as well as practical. They're the type of item that can be purchased once and will last for generations, making a gorgeous statement in your bedroom, kids room or guest room.

Where can I buy a big blanket? Are sheepskin blankets available in large sizes?

Yes! Sheepskin blankets are the epitome of comfort and no matter your interior design style, they'll cohere with current trends or more traditional vibes. Not only that, they come in a vast range of sizes and color options.

A quick browse online will show you Wilson and Dorset's size range is broad. The Octo Sheepskin rug consists of eight sheepskin pelts sewn together and can be used as a large bedroom throw, a floor rug, a sofa throw, and more. Scroll to find the ultimate in cozy blankets, save a selection to your pintrest or test-drive a sample. For folks in NZ, you can visit our concept store or one of our stockists in person too! We are also happy to send you sample color swatches and examples of our different wool lengths.

Some good things to know about Wilson & Dorset sheepskin:

Sheepskin is one of nature's most well-designed materials. It's a fine quality fabric that really can't be beaten. It's important to note that sheepskin is the hide of a sheep, tanned with the wool fleece intact. When talking about sheepskin, we are referring to the soft-to-touch, luxurious wool fibres that bring them a gold star rating for natural comfort and style. Sheepskin is:

• Luxuriously soft: Running your hands through the fluffiness of sheepskin will feel warm, super soft, silky and luscious. There's nothing harsh and abrasive about it. It's extremely tactile, soothing and calming to touch.

• Non-allergenic: There is a thin waxy coating on every wool fibre called lanolin. Naturally occurring, lanolin contains fatty acids that repel water, dust and dirt. This in turn inhibits the growth of allergy inducing bacteria, mould, mildew and dust mites.

• A natural insulator: In contrast to synthetics, wool is an active fibre with a complex structure that reacts to changes in body temperature and changes in the atmosphere, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.

• Durable and elastic: Wool fibre can be bent 20,000 times without breaking and still has the power to recover and return to its natural shape. This means your natural sheepskin product will retain its original stretch and appearance for longer.

• Odour suppressor: Odour molecules are absorbed into the wool fibre, effectively becoming trapped and less readily detected by the human nose.

• Flame retardant: Wool is naturally flame resistant and offers a greater level of fire safety than other fibres. Wool’s inherent fire resistance comes from its naturally high nitrogen and water content, requiring higher levels of oxygen in the surrounding environment in order to burn.

• Stain resistant: Lanolin, the waxy outer coating of wool fibre, helps to repel liquids. This means if you accidentally spill anything on your sheepskin, it is likely to simply roll off. Any residue left behind can be easily wiped away. Natural sheepskin products do not require regular washing, unlike synthetic fibres.

• Grown in Aoteara, New Zealand: Time and time again New Zealand sheepskins are regarded as the finest produced anywhere in the world. New Zealand takes great pride in its natural landscape, and in nurturing and growing healthy, well cared for sheep using environmentally sustainable practices.

• 100% biodegradable: Products made from natural sheepskin have a long and luscious lifespan. If the day comes when they are past their useful life, they will biodegrade naturally, returning to the land from which they came.

Does blanket size have to be the same as the bed size?

Mt Gold Long Wool Quarto

Not at all. A blanket really just needs to cover your body, in which case it can be a throw blanket and not a full-size blanket.

However, if you're using blankets as your main form of bedding insulation, then you'll want it to at least fall over the sides of the bed and over the foot end a little.

How do you display large blankets? Should my blanket match my bedroom decor?

It's great if your decor and bedroom accessories tie in together, but they certainly don't have to all be the same colors. In fact, contrast is better as it offers a little more interest and depth to your bedroom space. Think of these items as accessories, a little like jewelry, where it's nice to tie an outfit together, but doesn't have to be matching.

A blanket can lift a bedroom space and transform a reading nook with a little texture, depth, and color. Take stock of your decor and needs before you shop so you know what you're looking for.

A big blanket or throw is a wonderfully versatile addition to any space, not just a bedroom. They can live in the bedroom for the cooler months and find a home in a basket by the door to your outdoor entertaining area in the summer.

How do you make a large thick blanket?

There are lots of online tutorials, 'extreme knitting' workshops and DIY hacks for making your own beautiful woven blanket creation. For the sheer size of this huge, stretchy and luscious blanket that is straightforward to knit, we recommend the Mega Cabin Blanket pattern and video how-to from our friends at The Woven. We also absolutely love the patterns from Kiwi XXL knitting company, Plump & Co.

How much wool or yarn do you need to make a big blanket? What dimensions is an oversized king blanket?

When it comes to size, an oversized king blanket is exactly that - a larger size than the standard king. Typically, for a super king bed, you're looking at around 265cm x 220cm.

The width is usually the same, and the oversize portion is in the length. This is true for a king single size and other larger-than-standard bed or blanket sizes.

To make your own chunky blanket, you'll need to follow a pattern, which generally suggests you'll need one or two 'bumps' of wool like these.

What is the difference between a comforter and a bedspread?

A bedspread can be a comforter, but a comforter is not necessarily a bedspread. The biggest difference is that a comforter is usually insulated with some kind of fill, and a bedspread is not.

Comforters, duvets, blankets, and bedspreads can all be used for warmth and for bed coverings to provide comfort. The preference is up to you and what will work best for your needs.

Can I fit a sheepskin floor rug under my bed?

Absolutely, although a sheepskin rug can really make your bedroom sing and be a focal point within the space so you may want more of it showing, than having it hidden under the bed.

A rug can sit halfway under a bed so that it can still be seen well and offer a plush landing for bare feet when climbing out.

Sheepskin rugs are also perfect to place at a bedside to help anchor a bedroom and create interest and style in your space.

How do you store big blankets and pillows?

There are so many stylish and practical solutions for storing your big blanket or pillows. Here are our top tips:

• Scour the op shops and thrift stores for a blanket trunk, glory box or wooden chest.

• Stash them in built-in storage below your bed, on the top shelf of a wardrobe or in an ottoman.

• Display your beautiful blankets in large wire or wicker baskets

• Create a blanket ladder like the ones we use at our concept store.

The takeaway:

No matter whether you shop for a large blanket to cozy up with each night, or a smaller throw blankets for more occasional use, you can't go wrong with wool blankets. And in this case, bigger is better! If you're feeling crafty, then why not join the extreme knitting craze and get a group together to knit a unique big blanket! Change them out seasonally to spruce up bedroom spaces.

A woollen throw or an oversized blanket of any dimension, is an excellent idea for a gift, is super versatile and a house can't have too many of them! Toss on the kid's twin bed for snuggling under, throw over the back of a couch for extra comfort and warmth while relaxing, wrap them around multiple people when you're having a movie night or a fireside sundowner, take them camping, on picnics, build epic forts, lay them out to luxuriate under when you're dining alfresco in the cooler months. Nothing beats getting under the covers with a great big blanket.