I would think using a wool blanket would be a great idea. Even after it shrinks from washing, you'll have a much bigger piece of wool than you would ever get buying it by the yard.
We used to buy Pendleton wool at the mill when we were going through Pendleton. The last time we stopped by, all their wool fabric was cut into
2 yard pieces. I liked it lots better when I could get whatever yardage I wanted.
My DH loved the tour through the mill, except that the tour guide wouldn't let us watch the different steps as long as he wanted to!
I'm not sure what makes it washable. A nice tight weave, fairly smooth to the touch, not fuzzy or felted. Think of the fabric in a lady's nice woven wool blazer. Tailored blazers are usually dry cleaned to help keep their crisp shape, but the fabric could be hand or machine washed on a wool cycle, in cold water with the proper detergent.
Yes, a wool blend, heavy on the wool, would work. More chance of it being washable wool too. I'd ask for sample swatch or buy a small amount of the fabric (1/4 yd or less) and give it a wash to see how it fares in the washing process. You can measure the swatch before and after washing to find out the percent of shrinkage too.
I know that in the US a lot of things are listed as dry clean only to avoid returns by those who would ruin garments by heavy agitation in an improper type of wash cycle. Most people don't read a washing instruction label beyond the first two words, "Wash In" or "Dry Clean", so washing disasters occur often. Folks like that started making the garment or fabric industry pay for replacements so much that most makers now just list "dry clean only" to eliminate the return problem. I just don't know if the same thing has happened across the big pond. Debra in VA See my quilts at
If you get over to the Portland area, stop at the Pendleton outlet in Washougal, Washington. As of a few months ago, they still had bolted fabrics... some with flaws that I can cut around easily for $3/yd . I really liked the day they were selling out anything with rayon in it for $0.50. Won't tell you how many yards of silk-rayon I went home with, but it took three trips to carry it to the car....
If you are going to felt it anyway, it shouldn't matter if it is labeled dry clean only. The reason they do that is so you don't wash it improperly and end up with felted wool.
And I bought loads of navy cotton tracksuiting material from Croft Mill. I can send you one of their catalogues if you'd like. It was a very reasonable price. I like to make loose trousers for cycling.
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