【Staff Favorite】How do you use a large, warm blanket? MANTECAS wool blankets that work as both bedding and a rug

Purchase Reviews, where our staff—who check and know ZUTTO's products better than anyone—passionately introduce the items they've bought for themselves.

This time's item: Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL

On cold days, many people choose to wear warm clothing and turn on the heating indoors. But the reality is that plenty of people have concerns like these: they'd rather not bundle up too much indoors and wish they could wear something lighter and more comfortable, their feet still get cold even with the heater on, or turning the heater on and off frequently for ventilation feels like a hassle.

For those moments when you want to warm up indoors, we'd like to introduce a large-sized blanket. How exactly can you use a big blanket like this? How does it compare to a mini blanket in terms of ease of use? We'll answer these questions using a blanket from MANTECAS that one of our staff members loves and uses regularly.

A large blanket measuring 180×130cm

The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL from MANTECAS, which ZUTTO carries, features a zigzag pattern representing the mountains of Portugal, generously finished with fringe. The pattern also resembles herringbone, giving it a modern design, and since the color differs between the front and back, you can enjoy it almost like a two-tone piece.

The natural wool used in this blanket is produced in Manteigas, a small village in the mountains of Portugal's Estrela range, where it has traditionally been used to make shepherds' cloaks—a craft that has continued for over 500 years. The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL is tightly woven from this material, known as Burel Wool. When you touch it, you can feel that it's a sturdy fabric with good body and just the right thickness. The texture is relatively smooth, with almost no scratchiness.

The warmth of Burel Wool is comforting, and it gives you the reassuring feeling that you'd like to stay wrapped in it forever. What also catches the eye is the beauty of the pattern. The warm-toned color is paired with ivory fringe, creating an intricate design. Looking closely, you'll find yourself captivated by its meticulous detail. It's woven on looms that have been in use since the 1600s, and you can truly feel the advanced weaving technique behind it.

The photo shows the blanket folded in half.

The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL measures 180cm wide by 130cm long. That's the size of a comforter that can cover a single bed—so large that even an adult can't fully spread it out with both arms. This large size is exactly what makes big blankets so versatile.

As a substitute for heating in the living room

The place our staff member uses the Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL most often is the living room. When evening comes and cold air seeps in through the windows, making the feet feel chilly, she wraps herself completely in this blanket.

Compact blankets meant for lap use are light and easy to carry around, but most of them aren't large enough to cover you from your waist down to your feet. The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL comes in handy in such cases, since it's large enough to wrap around your whole body.

When the temperature drops in the evening, she uses it as a lap blanket like this while watching TV or reading a book. She describes it as feeling just like a kotatsu—the moment you cover yourself with it, you immediately feel "warm," which is a charm unique to a blanket made of 100% natural wool. With this on hand, even if cold air comes in when you open a window to ventilate the room, your body won't get cold, and you can stay warm even before the heater has fully warmed up the room.

It also works just like a proper blanket if you happen to doze off lying on the sofa, so it could come in handy for people who tend to fall asleep exhausted on the sofa after coming home from work, or for children taking a nap. And as a lap blanket, it's roomy enough not just for one person, but for two adults sitting side by side.

One of the great things about the Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL is that it looks stylish even just draped over the back of the sofa when not in use. While printed-pattern blankets can often look cheap, the pattern on the Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL has real dimension and clearly shows the care that went into weaving it, making it a quality piece of interior decor. Choosing a bright color also makes it a nice accent color for the room—something she particularly loves.

Laying it down as a rug

When relaxing at home, don't you sometimes want to change position after sitting on the sofa or a chair for a long stretch? At times like that, she also lays the Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL flat on the floor and uses it as a rug.

Sitting directly on a hard floor can make your bottom sore or leave you feeling cold, but this large blanket is just right for those moments. It feels great whether you're sitting or lying down on it. It's plenty large enough for an adult to sit on, and it's also recommended as a play spot for small children. You can quickly spread it out when you don't want to damage the floor. Large blankets are also effective for changing the atmosphere of a room, so you can use one as a simple way to redecorate.

Usable as bedding

When we hear the word "blanket," we tend to think of a lap blanket, but if you trace its origins, it has long been used as bedding. In North America and Europe, that is in fact the more common understanding, and blankets are still used as bedding there today.

The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL is also sized like a duvet, so it can double as bedding. Simply wrapping yourself in it keeps you plenty warm, so having one on the bed as a blanket is handy for sleeping or during seasons when the morning chill sets in. Try draping it over or under your duvet depending on the texture and warmth you prefer. Incidentally, one of our staff members tried laying it over their duvet and found that, along with the warmth, the pleasant weight seemed to put the body at ease, resulting in a good night's sleep.

Its stylish appearance also makes it a good choice as a bed cover when you're not using it as a blanket. Even if a visiting friend catches a glimpse of it, it will still look chic.

Easy to care for at home

The Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL from MANTECAS can be cared for at home using the hand-wash cycle of your washing machine, or by dry cleaning.

For everyday care, brushing the entire surface with a wool clothes brush removes dust and also helps prevent pilling.

Natural wool also has an inherent resistance to dirt, so you can use it without worry both indoors and outdoors. For example, a large blanket comes in handy when taking your children to the park, on a picnic on a clear sunny day, or winter camping—times when your upper body is warm enough in a jacket and scarf, but your lower body tends to get cold. Since the fabric is sturdy, it will serve you well for years to come.

▽Available in 4 colors. Find the MANTECAS Blanket CHEVRON VISUAL here