What kind of wool?

A fine wool blanket/throw would be perfect, if I could find one I could afford. Tell the truth, what I really want is a cashmere blanket. I have one, old and soft and gorgeous, but it was a gift (third hand when I got it) and is the only cashmere I own or ever likely will. have you priced cashmere???? And wool prices -- well, one would start to believe that sheep have become endangered species. Anyway, I'm looking and hope someone on our group will know something that helps me get what I want for not much money. LOL -- isn't that what we all want?

Yes, trip to MIL will be good. I'm so sorry that you've run out of moms. My darling MIL has truly been the kind of mother to me that my mother never quite managed. She has taught me about handling oneself with grace and discretion and living well despite difficult situations. And love. She has taught me that love comes packaged in all different ways and that it doesn't all look the same.

Hugs, Sunny

Have you thought about checking thrift shops and auctions for a wool blanket (or wool yardage)? I know bedding goes for pennies at our local auctions and garage sales, etc. Just a thought.

Good luck!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.- where we are having a lovely spring-like day with frigid, stormy weather coming in overnight (sigh!)

Wool flannel is more readily available than it used to be, and often reasonably priced for wool. I use challis for ladies suits fairly often. It is pretty lightweight.

If you fancy cashmere, look into the blends. Cashmere/cotton is probably the cheapest of the lot, I have seen it as low as $12 a yard. I would launder it as for plain cashmere. There are a fair number of blends that mix cashmere with various kinds of wools and hair fibers. You also find it blended with silk fairly often.

Last time I looked, raw cleaned cashmere was fetching around $125 per pound. Makes me want to buy some goats.

NightMist

Google for a lambswool blanket. Single bed size ought to be enough. If that sounds too heavy, you could maybe find some wool crepe and felt it. If the store will give you a sample swatch, measure it carefully (draw around so you have the exact size), then toss in the machine with your regular laundry and agitate. Dry in a hot dryer, and then check how much it shrinks. You might need to seam 2 lengths together. Felt before cutting the poncho.

Pers>I want to make myself a poncho/shawl to wear while I'm traveling --

Sunny, the way it is going you may not need a wrap in January here in Phoenix. We are having record high temperatures, and even a sweater is pushing it at the moment. Of course, we may also go into the New Year with record cold, it is hard to tell. sigh

If you want to felt the wool, it needs to be pretty close to 100% wool. Many of the blends were created to have "washable wool" that wouldn't shrink/felt when washed. For a soft, drapey wool, you may want a crepe, or challis weave.

BTW, I wonder if part of the expense of wool fabrics is that in the time it takes to process the raw wool into fabric, and ship it, a lot of it may be lost to insect invasion? I have had some wonderful wools, but there is so very little time to wear wool here that it isn't worth it for me.

Hope we get a chance for a longer get together when you are visiting this time, Sunny. Maybe a quilting/sewing meetup??? (With your MIL ???)

Have fun, Holiday Blessings, Pati, in Phx