Do you know all the benefits of weighted blankets? If you struggle with finding deep sleep, then a weighted blanket can be an incredible sleep aid to help you get restful sleep that energizes you the next morning.
The right weight and fabric design can be different for everyone who uses it, for example, do you prefer warmer or cooler blankets? Do you prefer snuggly fabrics or silky ones? This is why we prefer making our own weighted blankets, since it’s easier to customize the blanket just how you like it.
The most important thing to consider in a weighted blanket is the size and weight of the filling itself, but the fabric plays a big role in how the blanket will feel when you tuck yourself in.
So, what are the best types of weighted fabrics? There are many great weighted fabrics to choose from, whether natural or synthetic. Natural fabrics include cotton, flannel, wool, bamboo, linen, and silk. Synthetic fabrics include fleece, minky, chenille, and polyester.
In this article, let’s learn more about the best types of weighted fabric that will make an amazing weighted blanket.
Natural Fabrics
Natural fabrics are usually plant-derived fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, or linen, or animal-derived fabrics like cotton or silk.
Natural fabrics have a lot of great qualities. Most of them are highly breathable and hypoallergenic, making them a great choice for the family.
Let’s take a look at some popular natural fabrics for weighted blankets below.
1. Cotton
Cotton is the most popular fiber in the world, so it’s no wonder that it’s also a popular choice for a weighted blanket fabric.
Cotton is a prime candidate for something that will touch your skin 8+ hours a night. It feels soft to the touch, feels highly breathable, and can fight away excess heat while keeping you warm, especially during the winter months.
This is an ideal feature for those who tend to run a bit hot since this material will help regulate your temperatures while the blanket applies gentle pressure to hug your body.
Since cotton is a natural and organic material, it’s especially friendly for children and those with sensitive skin since it will not cause any allergies or rashes.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can opt for organic cotton. Organic cotton production doesn’t have the same harmful effects as the traditional cotton manufacturing method, which is not only great for the environment but also for your skin.
If you have sensitive skin, opting for organic cotton may help minimize the risk of getting a negative reaction from the product. Cotton’s also quite durable and really easy to care for, so you don’t have to worry too much about maintenance or cleaning.
2. Egyptian Cotton
Egyptian cotton is very fine cotton that has been treated to the final step, meaning that it is much softer and gentler on the skin than traditional 100% cotton. This material feels quite luxurious, and you can often find Egyptian cotton fabrics with a very high thread count.
Similar to pure cotton, Egyptian cotton is also very breathable and friendly to the skin, with a bonus soft touch that makes your weighted blanket extra comfortable. This material will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud!
However, the luxury of Egyptian cotton comes with a high price tag that makes it very expensive to purchase. There are also sometimes fabrics that claim to be Egyptian cotton but are sold at a less expensive price, so you can probably tell that it won’t match the quality expected of this luxurious material.
3. Flannel
Flannel is a loosely woven fabric that’s commonly made from cotton fibers, although you can also find flannel made from wool or synthetic materials. Flannel is brushed on one side, so this fabric feels incredibly soft and snuggly to the touch, making it quite popular for bedding or pajamas.
Because of the cotton composition and the loosely woven construction, flannel often feels very airy and breathable, but the brushed fabric still works to capture heat and keep you warm. Being made of cotton fibers, it’s also quite low-maintenance and doesn’t get worn out too quickly.
Keep in mind that this material is only popular during the colder months since flannel is quite effective at capturing heat and keeping you warm. For warmer months, a weighted blanket made of flannel may run too hot and feel quite uncomfortable.
4. Wool
Wool is another cold-weather material that will make an excellent weighted blanket. There are many, many types of wool that are often named after the breed of sheep that gave you the wool, including Merino wool, Alpaca wool, and so on.
The common feature that all types of wool have is that they can be quite snuggly and insulating, and some types of wool are also known for being highly breathable and soft against the skin, so this type of fabric will make amazing materials for a weighted blanket for the winter.
Of course, different types of wool will have different levels of softness, so keep that in mind and find the best type of wool that feels soft and comfortable against the skin.
Keep in mind that depending on the type of wool that you have, caring for your weighted blanket can be quite high-maintenance since some types of wool demand to be dry-cleaned or hand-washed, which can get quite cumbersome.
5. Bamboo
On the other hand, if you are looking for a great material for a summer weighted blanket, then bamboo fabric is a great natural fabric choice.
Bamboo is an incredibly breathable natural material that can absorb moisture and sweat really well. Similar to cotton, this fabric is naturally hypoallergenic, feels great against the skin, and can naturally fight off bacteria, making it an amazing choice for children.
For warmer summer months, this fabric has a great cooling effect that can make the hottest nights feel quite nice and comfortable. Not only is this material very low-maintenance, it can also become softer after each wash, which is a huge bonus.
6. Linen
Similar to cotton and bamboo, linen is a very durable and lightweight natural material. Its natural water-wicking properties make it a good choice for warmer weather.
Linen comes in quite a few varieties, and how the fabric feels against your skin will depend on how the linen was treated and how the weave looks. Linen that has been processed and has a tight weave with a higher thread count can feel quite soft and comfortable, a perfect material for bedding.
Similar to other natural materials, linen is naturally hypo-allergenic and highly breathable with superior absorbent ability, making it really comfortable during the summer months.
Linen is also a material that gets softer and softer the more you use it, so it can be useful for you for years and years with very little maintenance required.
On the other hand, linen is more costly than other fabrics and is prone to wrinkling. In this aspect, it’s a less preferable material for a blanket, but if you don’t mind, linen can be an incredible bedding material during the summer months.
7. Silk
Silk is known for its soft and luxuriously smooth texture. This fabric can be used for bedding sets that are stylish and comfortable, and silk is known to be very kind to the skin and hair, which is why it makes a great material for a weighted blanket.
There are a ton of benefits to using silk in your bedding material. Not only is it soft and luxurious, but it’s also hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. While silk is a very lightweight material, the right filling can turn a silk fabric into a great weighted blanket, especially for the warmer seasons.
Of course, silk is not a cheap material to buy, which is why it’s not a popular material for weighted blankets. In addition, silk also requires dry cleaning, so it’s a bit more high-maintenance than other types of fabrics on our list.
Synthetic Fabrics
Just because some fabrics are synthetic doesn’t mean they are not great for your skin. Some synthetic fibers, such as polyester, are designed to have superior moisture-wicking abilities, while others, like fleece or Minky, can feel really soft and snuggly during the winter months.
Let’s take a look at some synthetic fabrics that will make really great weighted blankets below.
1. Fleece
Fleece is a synthetic material made from polyester, but it is designed to resemble the coat of a sheep, which is why it feels really warm and snuggly.
This material is designed to keep you warm and provides insulation for cold weather. Because fleece is made of polyester, it can trap heat inside the blanket really well, but it also means this material is not very breathable.
However, for really cold winter nights, this material can still feel really amazing against the skin and give you a good night’s sleep, thanks to its soft and textured fuzz.
While this fabric is easy to care for, it can sometimes lose its softness after a few trips through the washing machine. When you care for fleece, make sure to use fabric softener when you wash the blanket to make sure that it maintains its softness after some use.
2. Minky
Minky is a type of plush fabric that is made from polyester. It is even more textured and snugglier than fleece, which is why it is commonly used to make baby blankets, clothing, and accessories.
Minky has a lot of similar characteristics as fleece. It is very, very soft, which makes it really cozy to snuggle up to during winter nights. Because it is made of polyester, this material is not breathable and can trap heat really well, creating a warming effect that feels amazing during the winter months.
Minky is also quite durable and stain-resistant, which is a huge bonus for those with young children looking for something low-maintenance that can withstand a child’s mess and constant use.
This is a great fabric if you are looking for a material that is friendly to children, and you’ll find that it is quite low maintenance and really comfortable during the colder winter months.
Similar to fleece, we also suggest that you always use fabric softener while running this fabric through the wash to maintain its softness over time.
3. Chenille
Chenille is another polyester fabric that has a raised texture similar to fleece and Minky. However, the raised texture of chenille can be quite subtle, similar to a butterfly’s wings, but it can still give you the warm, fuzzy touch that is perfect for colder nights.
As a polyester fabric, this material is also great at trapping heat and creating a warm atmosphere with its warming ability and fuzzy texture. Although this fabric is thinner compared to fleece or Minky, it’s still not suitable for summer nights since it can become quite hot and not breathable.
The texture of Chenille also needs to be carefully maintained. It’s best that you dry-clean or air-dry the fabric to maintain the fuzzy texture since the heat and friction of the dryer can cause the fabric to lose this classic look.
4. Polyester
Other types of polyester or poly-cotton blends are also great options for weighted blankets. You often see these types of fabric in bedding items because they are wrinkle-resistant and quite affordable.
Some types of polyester, especially ones that have been heavily processed and treated with chemicals, can be quite soft and snuggly as well.
Polyester is not a very breathable material, however, but it does have some moisture-wicking abilities that can make a polyester weighted blanket feel quite comfortable during the summer months.
This fabric is also very durable and low maintenance, which is why a lot of people love this option for their weighted blankets. This material can stay new for years and years with little maintenance, but it can definitely lose its softness with time.
Keep in mind that if you are making a blanket for young children or people with sensitive skin, this fabric may not be suitable, as it can cause allergic reactions in your skin.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, choosing the right material for your weighted blanket is a matter of personal preference and seasonal characteristics.
For example, during the warmer months, you will need a fabric that is highly breathable and feels soft and smooth against the skin, such as bamboo or silk.
Similarly, if you tend to run hot, you will want a fabric that has a “cooling” effect, like bamboo. This is a life-saver, especially for women with menopause who often experience hot flashes.
During the colder months, fabrics that can trap heat inside, such as wool or fleece, are the better options. People who are perpetually cold will appreciate the warming abilities of these types of fabrics.
Of course, there are universal fabric options such as cotton, polyester, or cotton-poly blends that can work year-round. Depending on your preference in terms of texture and feel, you can select one that is perfect for you.
Each fabric also has a unique texture that generates cooling or cozy feelings. Really soft and smooth fabrics like Egyptian cotton or silk can feel very cooling and luxurious to the touch, while fuzzy fabrics like flannel or fleece are great for the cozy atmosphere around the holidays.
Care is another important consideration. While some don’t mind the special care required for Egyptian cotton, wool, or chenille, it can become quite cumbersome for others. For households with children that just want a low-maintenance option, then fabrics like linen or polyester can be quite suitable.
Keep in mind that most of the fabrics mentioned here are not necessarily heavy fabrics, so you will need to add filling to the blanket to make it the perfect weighted blanket for you.
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