Finding Keepers
blanket statement
Wrap yourself in natural fiber, letting its soft touch and snuggly warmth fend off the chill of a high-desert winter.
Clockwise from left, Coyuchi red organic cotton jacquard woven bedspread/blanket, $159; lightweight organic wool and cotton comforter, from $300; organic cotton fleece blankets in green and white, from $120. Casa Natura 328 Sandoval Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/820-7634, casanaturainc.com.
Crispina throws, starting at $250; pillow with velvet trim, $95, all made from 100 percent wool sweater mill ends. Casa Natura 328 Sandoval Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/820-7634, casanaturainc.com.
Bamboo throw, 46 x 68 inches, $123, also available in queen and king sizes. Pandora’s 500 Montezuma Avenue, Suite 119, in Sanbusco Market Center, Santa Fe, NM, 505/982-3298, pandorasantafe.com.
Daniel Stewart Design throws, top, “Navajo”; bottom, “Chippewa,” starting at $275, also available in queen and king sizes. Pandora’s 500 Montezuma Avenue, Suite 119, in Sanbusco Market Center, Santa Fe, NM, 505/982-3298, pandorasantafe.com.
Hand-woven, hand-dyed throws in cotton chenille by Santa Fe artist Gretel Underwood, 39 x 56 inches plus 11 inches of fringe at each end, $640; 39 x 72 inches plus fringe, $710; 54 x 72 inches plus fringe, $950. Pandora’s 500 Montezuma Avenue, Suite 119, in Sanbusco Market Center, Santa Fe, NM, 505/982-3298, pandorasantafe.com.
One hundred percent wool blankets, made in the USA, standard robe size, 64 x 80 inches, begin at $180, queen and king sizes available. Pendleton The Courtyard 1100 San Mateo Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/232-0088, pendleton-usa.com.
This article first appeared in Winter 2008 Su Casa
For westerners, blankets are tied to our history. In the early American West, Pendleton blankets were used not only as a source of warmth for bedding, but also as partitions, doors, sunshades, and currency for trading. The company’s first design was the Indian blanket, which was not an actual duplication of a Native American blanket but was inspired by the traditional motifs. Today’s Pendleton is as beautiful and functional as ever.
Blankets play a very personal role in our lives as warm-blooded creatures. A blanket is the first garb we acquire at birth in an effort to simulate the womb. This relationship continues, expands, and deepens with time. Blankets develop personalities, complete with blanket names. (The ever-popular “nummie” comes to mind.) When you are cold and tired, wrapping up in a blanket can offer solace and replicate a good hug. That’s worth a lot.
If you want to buy organic, Casa Natura in Santa Fe has much to offer. The store’s lightweight cotton-covered wool comforter is great on the couch, on the bed—anywhere you find yourself. The wool is sheared from sheep raised on Texel Island off the coast of Holland, where strict environmental laws translate into healthier wool. The cotton is hand-harvested, resulting in a clean, debris-free product.
Casa Natura sells organic cotton blankets in an array of colors and sizes, including baby blankets made of 100 percent cotton fleece by Under the Nile. These blankets are so great that you might be tempted to try the old “candy from a baby” idea. Luckily, the company has a new line of adult-sized blankets just as snuggly as you remember.
Pandora’s in Santa Fe’s Sanbusco Market Center carries another healthy alternative that also addresses sustainability, the beautiful bamboo blanket. The colors are lovely, and the fabric is soft and supple—perfect for nestling in with a good book. Pandora’s also features the work of local designer Daniel Stewart, who has created a line of super-soft knit blankets and throws that feel like your favorite sweater. The patterns and colors are so abundant that you can choose from a swatch book.
For a colorful and fun choice, visit Casa Natura and ask to see the Crispina blankets. Made of sweater remnants called mill ends that are quilted together, the blankets are vibrant and 100 percent wool. The velvet or rickrack binding adds a great finished edge to each piece.
Gretel Underwood’s throws might remind you of sitting with your favorite person at a great party. Made of hand-woven chenille, one of the most inviting of fabrics, the blankets’ color palette would complement any room, and the fringe is, well, like a party, complete with hand-dyed ribbons. This is another favorite for moving with you from room to room. Gretel’s throws are available at Pandora’s.
A blanket is more than an ornament for your home. Make your choice with love and care, and you’ll find yourself in good company.