Sorting

Wool is a natural fibre: as well as giving warmth, the 'crimp'-like permanent waves give added strength to the yarn after being spun.

The main sources for raw wool for Witney blankets were as follows: Australia for the fine merino wool used solely for making 'Merino' blankets; South America, long strong crossbred fibre, known as 'B.A.' after the port of Buenos Aires from where it was normally shipped; New Zealand for the typical 'slipe', i.e. a wool removed from the skin of sheep and lambs after they have been killed for meat; and lastly the British Isles, particularly from Wales and Devon.

Mike French