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Wool blankets made from real sheep's wool

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Hand-woven wool blankets made from genuine sheep’s wool have been trusted companions for centuries against the cold, at camps and during long nights outdoors – and for good reason: no synthetic fibre can replicate the natural properties of pure new wool. Here you’ll find blankets that are still made today just as they were in the Middle Ages: hand-spun, woven on old wooden looms and hand-sewn — for medieval camps, re-enactments and at home.

Virgin wool vs. wool: what’s the real difference?

Many terms are used interchangeably in the trade — yet the difference between ‘wool’ and ‘virgin wool’ is crucial to the quality of a blanket. Virgin wool refers to wool that has been shorn from a live animal — not a by-product of slaughter, but a renewable raw material. This is not only more ethical, but also of superior quality: the fleece remains intact, and the fibres are longer and more elastic.

Virgin wool (from a live animal)
  • Sheared from a live sheep — renewable raw material
  • Long, intact fleece with high elasticity
  • Contains natural lanolin: water-repellent, dirt-resistant
  • Mountain sheep’s wool: robust, hard-wearing, ideal for bedding
  • Merino wool: finer fibre, softer, more suitable for homewear
Wool (general term / mixed)
  • May also contain slaughter wool or torn wool
  • Shorter, less elastic fibres possible
  • Often lower lanolin content due to industrial washing
  • Often blended with synthetic fibres (e.g. 80/20 blends)
  • Cheaper to produce, but with inferior performance characteristics

The mountain sheep’s wool used in our hand-woven blankets lies between these two extremes: more robust than merino, and significantly higher quality than stretched blended fabrics. The lanolin it contains — the natural wool grease — makes the fibre dirt-repellent and water-resistant without the need for chemical treatment. For use in storage, at medieval markets or outdoors, this is a decisive advantage over any synthetic fibre.

How woollen blankets were made in the Middle Ages — and why our blankets preserve this knowledge

Wool was the most important textile fibre throughout the entire Middle Ages — for clothing, blankets, cloaks and the furnishings of camps and tents. The processing techniques developed back then have proved so effective that they are still passed down today in traditional family businesses.

Early Middle Ages

Wool as a resource for survival

In the Germanic and Viking worlds, wool was ubiquitous. Blankets, cloaks and sleeping bags made from woven wool protected warriors, traders and farmers from the cold of Nordic nights. Hand-spinning with a spindle and weaving on simple frame looms were everyday practices in every household.

High Middle Ages

Wool weaving as craft and trade

In the High Middle Ages, wool weaving developed into a significant economic sector. Flemish and English wool were sought-after commodities. Looms became more complex, patterns more varied — stripes and geometric shapes were popular and historically documented. Wool blankets were standard equipment in every military camp.

Late Middle Ages

Specialisation and quality grades

Guilds controlled quality and production. Heavy, densely woven woollen blankets for military use differed from finer household textiles. The basic techniques — hand-spinning, weaving, sewing — remained the same, however, and were passed down through generations.

Today

Maramures Mountains: living craftsmanship

In the Maramures Mountains of Romania, there is a family-run business where all generations work together — from sorting the raw wool and hand-spinning to sewing the finished blankets. The wool comes from local mountain sheep, is washed with spring water and woven into blankets on old wooden looms, with patterns and weaving techniques that follow historical models.

What makes a good woollen blanket — an overview of the most important characteristics

Not all woollen blankets are the same. The material, quality of workmanship and lanolin content are crucial — factors that directly affect warmth, water resistance and durability.

Feature Rating Importance for everyday life
Thermal insulation Very high Dense weave + heavy wool; retains thermal performance even when wet
Water resistance Natural Lanolin makes the fibre water-repellent — a light shower barely penetrates
Dirt resistance Self-cleaning Lanolin prevents dirt from becoming firmly embedded in the fibre
Breathability High Wool actively regulates moisture — no sweaty feeling as with synthetic fibres
Durability Decades A well-maintained virgin wool blanket will withstand many years of intensive use
Synthetic content None 100% virgin wool — no compromises on materials

Which blanket is right for you? Sizes, patterns and uses

The range includes blankets in various sizes and colour options — from compact runners to large duvets for two people, as well as hand-woven woollen sleeping bags as an authentic alternative to modern sleeping bags.

Small runner

70 × 150 cm · from approx. €66

A versatile companion: as a shawl, seat cushion or decorative wall hanging. Available in off-white, with green or orange stripes. Ideal as a starter piece or to complement larger blankets.

Standard blanket

140 × 220 cm · approx. €125

The classic single blanket for camps and re-enactments. Colour options: off-white, grey-brown, off-white/grey, dark stripes, light stripes, as well as versions with orange, red or green stripes. Covers one person completely.

Large blanket & sleeping bag

210 × 220 cm · from approx. €159 | Sleeping bag up to €234

The 210 × 220 cm blanket is suitable for two people or as a heavy camp blanket. As a woollen sleeping bag (single size 70 × 210 cm or double sleeping bag 140 × 220 cm) — more authentic and significantly warmer than modern synthetic fibre sleeping bags.

Care and washing: How to keep your virgin wool blanket looking good for a long time

Virgin wool blankets do not like hot water or vigorous spinning. Wash them by hand or on a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30°C. Use a mild wool detergent — no heavy-duty detergents or fabric softeners, which would strip the natural lanolin from the fibres. The gentler the wash, the longer the water resistance will last.

After washing, do not wring out or hang up the blanket — this stretches the heavy wool and distorts the fabric. Instead, lay it flat to dry on an absorbent towel or a flat rack. Avoid direct sunlight and heat from radiators; wool dries best at room temperature with good air circulation.

New virgin wool blankets shed during the first few washes — this is not a quality defect, but a normal process. Short, protruding wool fibres are shed during initial use and washing. After two to three washes, the surface stabilises significantly. Shedding in a virgin wool blanket means: genuine natural wool, not synthetic fibre lining.

Lanolin, the natural wool grease, is the key factor in water resistance and dirt repellency. Harsh detergents and excessive washing break it down. For blankets used in storage, airing them out and laying them flat in the fresh air is often better than washing them. Stubborn stains can be treated spot-by-spot with lukewarm water and wool detergent without washing the entire blanket.

Wool blankets in medieval camps: an essential piece of kit

Wolldecke im Mittelalter-Lager: Unverzichtbares Ausrüstungsstück

In everyday camp life, a good woollen blanket is not a luxury but essential kit. It serves simultaneously as a groundsheet, sleeping blanket, cloak and, in an emergency, as a makeshift rain cover — no modern outdoor product fulfils these four functions so effectively with a single item. Anyone who has ever spent a night in a military camp knows: the quality of the blanket determines whether you wake up rested or freezing.

For a complete camp setup, we recommend combining it with sheepskins as a groundsheet and medieval tents for wind protection. Additional camping essentials such as cooking pots, lanterns and canteens are also available. The hand-woven woollen sleeping bags in the range are an authentic alternative to the classic blanket: they are significantly warmer than modern synthetic fibre sleeping bags and look the part in a historical setting. If you combine the sleeping bag with an additional sheepskin underlay, you’ll sleep comfortably even in low temperatures.

The woollen blankets are equally at home in everyday life: as a throw on the sofa, a sturdy travel blanket or a decorative item with genuine artisanal character — the natural colour variations and striped patterns blend into many interior styles without looking out of place. Anyone already familiar with their medieval cloak or plaid will immediately recognise the similar material logic: virgin wool works because nature has spent millennia perfecting it.

Questions about sizes, care or suitability for specific events? The Vehi Mercatus team is available by phone Mon–Fri 8am–12pm and 1pm–3pm — with over 20 years’ specialist retail experience and direct links to the medieval scene.

Whether for your next military encampment, the medieval market or simply as a sturdy natural wool blanket for the home — these hand-woven virgin wool blankets from the Maramures Mountains combine historical authenticity with genuine practical value. Browse through the range and find the blanket that suits you.

Frequently asked questions

Virgin wool refers to wool that has been shorn from a live animal — as opposed to wool from slaughtered animals or so-called ‘recycled wool’, which is recovered from old textiles. Virgin wool has longer, more intact fibres and generally contains more lanolin, the natural wool grease that makes the fibre water-repellent and dirt-resistant. Products made from 100% virgin wool are therefore of higher quality and more durable than blended products or wool of inferior origin.

In the Middle Ages, woollen blankets were the standard item for sleeping and bedding — wool was the most important textile fibre of the era, widely available and offered in various grades of quality. The blankets were hand-spun, woven on simple wooden looms and hand-sewn. Linen was used more for undergarments and lighter textiles, whilst heavy woollen blankets provided warmth, weather resistance and durability. Authentic replicas, such as the blankets from the Maramures Mountains, are still made today using the same techniques.

The key factors determining warmth are fabric density, wool weight and lanolin content — not just size. Heavily woven virgin wool blankets made from mountain sheep with a high lanolin content provide exceptional warmth, as wool retains its insulating properties even when in contact with moisture. Among our products, the large-format blankets (210 × 220 cm) and the hand-woven wool sleeping bags offer the best thermal insulation — the latter completely envelop the body and prevent heat loss through open sides.

Virgin wool blankets should be washed by hand or on a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 °C — using a mild wool detergent that does not strip away the natural lanolin. After washing, never put the blanket in the tumble dryer; instead, lay it flat on a towel or rack to dry at room temperature. Hanging it up straight away can cause the heavy fabric to lose its shape. Pilling during the first few washes is normal and does not indicate a quality defect.

Yes, the hand-woven virgin wool blankets work excellently as living room blankets — the natural colour variations (off-white, grey-brown, striped) and the robust feel suit many interior styles. Wool actively regulates moisture, making it more comfortable against the skin compared to synthetic cosy blankets. The standard sizes of 140 × 220 cm are particularly well suited for the home; the small runner (70 × 150 cm) is an affordable alternative for sofas or armchairs.

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