WARMTH AND WEIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 July 1938, Page 4

WARMTH AND WEIGHT

NOT SYNONYMOUS IN BLANKETS. SOME PRACTICAL HINTS. There are few household commodities so difficult for the amateur to buy as blankets. A common mistake is to buy blankets by weight, but warmth and weight are by no means synonymous. As much warmth and more restful sleep can be obtained from the same number of light blankets as heavy ones. Except for the cellular variety, even light blankets should be closely woven. They should be held up to the light to test them, for it should not be possible to see through them easily; there should be a good good, well-brushed pile on blankets. Though bound blankets are more attractive than those with whipped edges, a thin bound edge will soon fray and tear and will be a trouble to replace. Bound edges should be of thick, double satin or good quality silk. Because of their lightness, cellular blankets make an ideal bed covering for young children.

In use blankets should never be allowed to wear into holes. They should be examined periodically, and any thin spot darned with wool to match. This should be done loosely to allow for the wool shrinking. When the edges of bound blankets split they can be rebound. Alternatively, cut off all the binding, turn in the edge of the blanket once only, and blanket-stitch all’round. If this is done in thick emboidery silk in a coloui- to match the counterpane it looks effective. When blankets begin to lose their fluffy appearance after washing or much wear, they can be brushed up lightly and gently with a wire brush or an ordinary clean clothes brush. When storing blankets put pieces of yellow soap and some moth preventive between the folds and wrap them in newspaper.