For generations, John Atkinson has been creating beautifully crafted blankets from some of nature’s finest fibres. Our heritage may stretch back to 1828, but our approach has always been rooted in choosing the right materials to create blankets that are made to be enjoyed for years to come.
When it comes to luxury, comfort and natural performance, Merino wool is one of the fibres that stands out.
Renowned for its exceptional softness, natural warmth and breathability, Merino wool brings together many of the qualities we look for in a premium blanket. It feels wonderfully soft against the skin, helps regulate body temperature naturally and creates blankets that are as comforting as they are beautiful.
Why Merino?
Exceptionally soft: One of the defining characteristics of Merino wool is its incredibly fine fibre diameter. Finer than many other types of wool, Merino has a beautifully soft handle that feels gentle and comfortable against the skin. It’s this softness that makes a Merino wool blanket particularly inviting, whether you’re settling down on the sofa with a book, adding an extra layer to the bed or wrapping up on a cooler evening.
Naturally warm, without feeling heavy: Wool has an incredible ability to provide warmth without unnecessary weight. The natural crimp of Merino fibres creates tiny pockets of air within the wool, helping to provide insulation while keeping the blanket feeling light and comfortable. The result is a blanket that offers that familiar feeling of being wrapped in warmth, without feeling overly heavy or cumbersome.
Naturally breathable: Warmth isn’t the only quality that makes wool so well suited to blankets. Merino wool is naturally breathable and helps regulate body temperature by responding to changes in the environment. It can help retain warmth when you’re cold while allowing excess heat and moisture to escape when you become warmer. This natural temperature regulating ability means a Merino blanket can provide comfort across different seasons, rather than simply being something to reach for in the depths of winter.
Beautifully soft and luxurious: There is something unmistakably luxurious about Merino wool. Its fine fibres create a beautifully smooth handle and refined appearance, allowing the natural character of the wool to shine through. When woven into a John Atkinson blanket, Merino offers a combination of softness, warmth and elegance that makes it as beautiful to look at as it is comforting to use.
Naturally renewable: As a natural fibre, wool is renewable by nature. Sheep grow a new fleece each year, making wool a renewable material when responsibly sourced. Wool is also biodegradable at the end of its life, while its inherent durability means a well-made wool blanket can be enjoyed for many years. For us, choosing natural fibres isn’t simply about how a blanket feels today. It’s about creating products with lasting appeal that can become part of the home for years to come.
Why Merino rather than other types of wool?
This is something we’re often asked.
The answer isn’t that Merino is better than every other type of wool. Different wools have different characteristics, and those differences can make them better suited to different applications. British wool, for example, is celebrated for its strength, resilience and durability. These qualities have made it an important part of Britain’s textile heritage and continue to make it an excellent choice for many woollen products. Merino is particularly valued for its exceptionally fine fibres. This gives it a noticeably softer handle and a luxurious feel, making it an excellent choice when comfort and softness are at the heart of the product. At John Atkinson, it’s about choosing the right fibre for the right blanket.
Whether we’re looking for softness, warmth, breathability or durability, the materials we use are carefully considered to create blankets that deliver the comfort and quality you’d expect from John Atkinson.
Not all wool is the same
Wool isn’t a single material. It’s a natural family of fibres, with different characteristics depending on the breed of sheep, as well as the climate and environment in which it is produced.
Merino sheep produce some of the world’s finest wool fibres. These exceptionally fine fibres are renowned for their softness, consistency and natural performance, making Merino a particularly luxurious choice for blankets.
For John Atkinson, it’s these qualities that make Merino wool such a natural fit for creating blankets designed for the ultimate comfort.
