Best Wool Throws, From American Mills to Sofa

A throw from a working mill will outlast the sofa it sits on. The only real threats are hot water and moths, and both are easy to beat.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated September 25, 20264 picksSave to Pinterest

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Our top picks

4 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallFaribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw
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2
The one you can washPendleton Eco-Wise Wool Fringed Throw
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3
The heritage stripePendleton National Park Wool Throw with Leather Carrier, 54 x 72 in
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4
The quiet oneFaribault Mill Frontier Wool Throw, Natural
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A wool throw earns its keep on the first cold evening and then for the next few decades. Wool holds warmth when damp, resists stains better than cotton, and does not need washing often. A good one from a mill that has been weaving for a century costs about the same as a dinner out for four.

The differences between throws come down to fiber, weight and finish. Everyday wool from Rambouillet and Merino sheep is warm, springy and tough. Lambswool, from a sheep's first shearing, is finer and softer. Cashmere, from goats, is lighter, warmer for its weight and far more delicate, and it costs several times as much. A napped or brushed finish feels softer and looks fuller; a flat weave shows the pattern more clearly and pills less.

We looked at mills that still weave in their own country and publish what the throw is made of: two American mills with more than a century of weaving between them. Care instructions vary widely, from machine wash to dry clean only, and that difference should drive the choice as much as the pattern does.

How we chose

Where it is woven. Mills that weave in their own country and say so, not brands that source anonymously.
Fiber, stated plainly. Pure wool, lambswool or cashmere, with any blend disclosed. We note which throws mix in cotton.
Size and weight. Big enough to cover an adult on a sofa, roughly 50 by 60 inches or more, and heavy enough to stay put.
Care. Whether the maker allows machine washing or requires dry cleaning, which matters in a house with dogs or children.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 4 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw

Our take. A real American mill throw, long enough to use, and you can wash it at home.

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Made in: USA (Faribault, Minnesota)
Keeps for: Decades; the maker says generations with care
Fiber: 100% wool (Rambouillet and Merino)
Size: 50 x 72 inches
Weight: 1.75 lb
Edge: Whipstitched
Care: Machine wash, line dry

Faribault Mill has been weaving in Faribault, Minnesota, since 1865, and it is one of the few American woolen mills that still handles the whole process under one roof. The Cabin throw is woven there from a Rambouillet and Merino wool blend sourced from Rocky Mountain sheep farms, finished with a whipstitched edge.

At 50 by 72 inches and 1.75 pounds it is longer than most throws and heavy enough to feel like a blanket without being a burden in the lap. The maker lists it as machine wash and line dry. It has several hundred reviews on the maker's site, the large majority five stars, with softness and weight the usual praise.

Wool from Rambouillet and Merino is soft for wool, but it is still wool. Anyone who finds wool itchy against bare skin should look at cashmere or a cotton throw instead.

The catch. Still wool against the skin; sensitive sleepers may prefer cashmere.

The one you can washNo. 2

Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Fringed Throw

Our take. Pure wool from Pendleton's American mills, treated to survive the washing machine.

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Made in: USA
Keeps for: Many years, even with regular machine washing
Fiber: 100% wool
Size: 54 x 60 inches plus 3 inch fringe
Care: Machine wash cold, gentle; line dry
Certification: OEKO-TEX

Pendleton has woven blankets in the Pacific Northwest for more than a century, and most of its wool blankets still come from its mills in Oregon and Washington. The Eco-Wise line is its machine washable wool: 100 percent wool, colorfast, and made to resist shrinking and pilling. It is OEKO-TEX certified.

The throw is 54 by 60 inches plus a 3 inch self fringe. Pendleton's instructions are to machine wash it separately, cold, on a gentle cycle, with no bleach, and to line dry. That is the whole reason to choose it over a dry clean only throw: the dog can sleep on it and nobody has to make a trip to the cleaner.

It is a flat, practical wool, not a lofty, brushed one. If you want the famous Pendleton patterns, note that many of the jacquard throws are wool and cotton blends that must be dry cleaned.

The catch. Shorter than most throws at 60 inches, so it will not cover a tall adult head to toe.

The heritage stripeNo. 3

Pendleton National Park Wool Throw with Leather Carrier, 54 x 72 in

Our take. Pendleton's National Park stripes in a sofa-sized throw that rolls into a leather carrier for the car or the cabin.

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Keeps for: Decades, with dry storage and moth care
Fiber: 90% wool, 10% cotton
Size: 54 x 72 in
Includes: Leather carrier with shoulder strap
Design: National Park stripes

Pendleton has woven blankets in the Pacific Northwest since the early twentieth century, and its National Park stripes are among its best known designs. This throw is 90 percent wool and 10 percent cotton, 54 by 72 inches, big enough to drape over the back of a sofa or across the foot of a bed.

It comes with a leather carrier and shoulder strap, so it rolls up for picnics, games and road trips, which is what makes it a good gift as well as a good throw. Pendleton supports the National Park Foundation with each purchase.

Skip it if you want something quiet. The stripes are bold by design, and in a spare, pale room they will be the loudest thing in it.

The catch. Bold stripes that do not suit every room, and wool against bare skin is still wool.

The quiet oneNo. 4

Faribault Mill Frontier Wool Throw, Natural

Our take. All wool, made in Faribault's own Minnesota mill, in a natural color with a restrained stripe that suits any room.

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Made in: USA (Faribault, Minnesota)
Keeps for: Decades, with dry storage and moth care
Fiber: 100% wool
Size: 50 x 72 in
Weight: About 1.75 lb

Faribault Mill has woven wool in Faribault, Minnesota since 1865, and the Frontier throw is made there: 100 percent wool with a fine hand, in a natural color with a classic stripe inspired by the American West.

At 50 by 72 inches and about 1.75 pounds, it is lighter than a camp blanket and easy to fold over the arm of a chair. The natural color is the one to choose if you want the throw to blend in rather than stand out.

Skip it if you need a throw you can machine wash. For that, Faribault's Cabin throw and Pendleton's Eco-Wise line are the easier choices.

The catch. Pale, natural wool shows marks more than a dark or patterned throw.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Faribault Mill Cabin Wool Throw	Best overall	USA (Faribault, Minnesota)	Decades; the maker says generations with care	Check priceAmazon
Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Fringed Throw	The one you can wash	USA	Many years, even with regular machine washing	Check priceAmazon
Pendleton National Park Wool Throw with Leather Carrier, 54 x 72 in	The heritage stripe	Not stated	Decades, with dry storage and moth care	Check priceAmazon
Faribault Mill Frontier Wool Throw, Natural	The quiet one	USA (Faribault, Minnesota)	Decades, with dry storage and moth care	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

Keeping moths out

Clothes moth larvae eat keratin, the protein in wool, cashmere and other animal fibers, and they strongly prefer fabric that is soiled with food, sweat or skin oils. University extension entomologists are consistent on the fix: clean the throw before storing it, then store it in a sealed bag or box.

Cedar helps less than its reputation suggests. Cedar oil can kill very young larvae, but only while the oil is fresh, and it does not affect older larvae or adult moths. Use it as a supplement to clean, sealed storage, not a replacement. A throw that is used and shaken out every week is at much lower risk than one folded away in a closet.

Washing wool without ruining it

Wool felts and shrinks with heat and agitation together. That is why makers who allow machine washing specify cold water, a gentle or wool cycle, and line drying. Never tumble dry a wool throw unless the maker says you can.

Between washes, air it outside on a dry day and brush it gently. Wool releases odors and dust with air alone, and it needs washing far less often than cotton.

A note on Brahms Mount

Brahms Mount, the Maine weaver known for textured throws on old shuttle looms, joined Faribault Mill in 2022 and still weaves in Monmouth, Maine. Its current range leans heavily toward cotton. If wool itches, a Brahms Mount cotton throw is the American made alternative worth a look.

Frequently asked questions

Is cashmere warmer than wool?

For its weight, yes. A cashmere throw gives similar warmth to a much heavier wool one. It is also far more delicate and costs several times as much.

Can I put a wool throw in the washing machine?

Only if the maker says so. Faribault Mill's Cabin throw and Pendleton's Eco-Wise line are machine washable on cold and gentle with line drying. Check the label on anything else; many wool throws are dry clean only.

What size is a throw?

Throws usually run from about 50 by 60 inches to 55 by 75 inches. For covering an adult on a sofa, look for at least 70 inches in length.

Why is my new throw shedding?

Loose surface fibers work free in the first weeks of use, especially on brushed wool and cashmere. It settles down. Pilling on cashmere can be removed with a cashmere comb.

How do I store a throw for summer?

Clean it first, since moths are drawn to soiled wool. Then fold it into a sealed bag or airtight box. Store cashmere folded, never hung.