Our Homeless Relief Blankets in Action

Our Homeless Blankets in Action!

A woman bundled against the cold walks past a homeless man in McPherson Square as temperatures dipped into the single digits Fahrenheit and minus degrees with the wind chill on January 7, 2014 in Washington, DC.

 

For more information on our blankets for homeless and humanitarian relief, view our website

Stay warm!
Paulette

Wool Blankets are Warmer...A Testimonial

I can honestly say wool blankets are the best!

Last week husband had a cold and was snoring up a storm.  In order to get some sleep, I had to sleep in the spare room.
The room is currently set up for my grandson and his occasional sleepover, with a faux fur polyester blanket imprinted with cartoon images of beagle puppies.

 

As my husband snored, I grumbled and stumbled into the spare room.  The nights hadn't been very cold, so I had been fine with this polyester blanket; until that night - it was really cold, about 17 degrees.
I pulled the polyester blanket and the little beagles around my body and closed my eyes.  No, this wasn't going to work. I was really tired, and knew a wool blanket was somewhere in the depths of my closet.  I hoped I could find it.
I padded into my room, entered my very cold closet and moved piles of  linens around.  Voila!  There was the wool blanket.
I placed it on top of the polyester beagles and burrowed under both blankets.
Within 10 minutes I was toasty warm, my body heat was being retained by the wool fibers.
I dropped off to sleep...

I've been selling wool blankets at Northwest Woolen Mills for 16 years and proud to say wool blankets are effective!
Stay warm,
Paulette

Northwest Woolen Mills

 

Wool Blankets Tranformed into Wool Shirts

Our wool blankets are being made into warm clothing, thanks to
Carol Colburn of Minnesota.

Boys & Girls Wool Blanket Coats.  Photos by Scott Pederson

 

Carol teaches a two day class called
Nature's Insulator: Sew Your Own Wool Blanket Shirt. 

Students personalize the basic pattern for their preferences, then they cut and sew them in the two days.  Some are beginners at sewing; it is a pretty easy project to start on.  Often they leave the buttons and trim until they are back home.  Many learn to make the shirts in the class using the Blackstone Valley Collection from Northwest Woolen Mills, and then they go home and make the shirts out of used blankets that they wash and prepare for sewing. The two little boys in one of the photos are wearing shirts made for them out of old camp blankets.

The blanket shirts are great for the cool and often damp weather of Northern Minnesota, and I have had students from Canada making these shirts too.

Made in America

I am happy to share this awesome list of Made in America companies and their products.

List of Made in America companies



Join me in supporting these companies!
Given a choice, would you "buy American"?

Wool Blankets for Camps and the Outdoors



Swimming dock at Camp Wiquanuppek

Summer Camp Memories

I started swimming laps in my pool this week.  Every summer I my endurance seems to pick up where it left off, and I can swim for a really long time.
As I was swimming back and forth last night, I thought of the endless lap swimming I had done at summer camp for seven seasons, and was thankful for this skill that has stayed with me.
Camp Wiquanuppek was on Lake Kanawuake in Bear Mountain, N.Y.  We swam twice daily, honing our skills to achieve the various award levels in the American Red Cross Swimming system.  Swimming laps from the wooden dock to the float seemed far away; it felt like I could swim forever without having to turn around and change direction.

I have shipped out wool blankets to several summer camps this season, and my mind always drifts to happy memories while I'm on the phone or emailing these seasonal customers.  It makes me happy to think of all the boys and girls having outdoor experiences.  I know they are sleeping well under our warm and cozy wool blankets!
What camp memories do you have?

Enjoy the summer,
Paulette
Northwest Woolen Mills

Wool felt products...who knew?

There are so many items we use everyday, and never give a thought about
how or where they are made.
Author: Paulette Butler

 

Bouckaert Industrial Textiles (BIT) is a sister company to Northwest Woolen Mills.  BIT products are made in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

 

 

Industrial felt is used for stamp pads, highlighter nibs and cosmetic applicators.

 

 

 

Wool felt is used for automotive applications like gaskets and soundproofing in the
hood of our cars.

 

 

 

 

Wool felt and synthetic felt are manufactured and made in saddle pads, keeping the
horse and rider comfortable.

 

B.I.T. manufactures the felt hammers for pianos, the little felt strips on chalkboard erasers, the felt on the bottom of revolving doors and the seals for clothes dryers.  Who knew? 

 

Have a great day,
Paulette

 

 

 

 

Wool and Baseballs?

Northwest Woolen Mills, a division of The Brickle Group, manufactures the three styles of yarn used for the production of Major League baseballs.
Author: Paulette Butler

 

We are proud to be a supplier for America's summertime sport...Play Ball!

How Baseballs Are Made/Video

 

 

Enjoy the game!

Paulette

Northwest Woolen Mills