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Built with pride in the Woolrich Mill, these single ply blankets inject heritage patterns with modern colorways.
100% Wool, 100% Made in USAView Blankets
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A tribute collection honoring the Woolrich legacy. Made in the USA.
US Heritage CollectionView Blankets
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Woolrich American wool, backed with luxurious Sherpa pile.
American Wool Blends View Blankets
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Loomed in England, an unmistakable design of unparalleled quality.
Hudson's BayView Blankets
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Made for easy packing, easy care, and go-anywhere style.
Travel ComfortView Blankets
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Endlessly versatile, crafted with carefully selected hypoallergenic synthetics.
Modern ClassicsView Blankets
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Every brick, every worn footpath, every click of a loom in the Woolrich Woolen Mill tells a truly American tale. The story begins with the founding steps of John Rich selling wool by mule cart, and continues through to a new era of proud American manufacturing. Founded in 1830, the Woolrich of today remains uniquely committed to creating enduring blankets of unmistakable quality.VoicesClose
The founders of Woolrich dreamed
and succeeded in starting a simple and wonderful company. Started when the country was comprised of only 24 states surrounded by vast tracts of wilderness, the company originally sold bulk wool and basic items to Pennsylvania lumbermen and their families. Unsurprisingly, the appeal of high-quality wool was as potent then as it is today.
The Woolrich 2012-13 blanket collection is the direct ancestor of the sheet wool our founders sold by mule cart in the 1830s. With patterns from our archives and legacy manufacturing skills, our blankets embody the same quality craftsmanship that brought the brand to the forefront nearly two centuries ago. -
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artillery cavalry gettyburg fort_sumter Voices
Founded 30 years before the Civil War, the Woolrich Woolen Mill operated at full capacity during this historic era. Our commemorative styles remain popular and enduring, for those who choose to honor and remember this distinct American era.
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..."I remember...GOING TO
Chathams Run Post Office at Charleton for the mail and the cheering that would be given when I brought news of a victory for our armies. I recall the death-like pall that come over us when the news of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln reached us"...
MICHAEL BOND RICH, 1855-1920
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Modern as some of our techniques and machinery may be, some tasks in the creation of wool will never go out of style.Close
The sheep is sheared with hand clippers or power-driven machinery. The dirtiest and coarsest parts are removed and the wool is rolled up and packed in bales for shipment to the Woolrich mill
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The bales are opened and different types of wool are mixed in the right proportions. The formula for each mix will vary depending on the desired final product.
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Using warm water and soap, the wool is scoured thoroughly to remove dirt and grease. It may take four or five scourings and rinses to get the wool clean.
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Carding is one of the most important processes in yarn manufacturing. It removes impurities and aligns the fibers into a thin and light sliver in preparation for spinning.
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The spool is set on a spinning machine, and the cords are fed through spinners that wind the cord on small spools or bobbins, giving it the twist and elongation that adds strength to the yarn.
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Yarns are woven together and the finished cloth is washed to remove machine grease and dirt from handling.
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The fabric then goes through a finishing process that varies according to the type of wool being produced. For some fabrics, a process called napping gives the cloth a soft, fluffy, surface.
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A first generation American,
John Rich II immigrated from Liverpool and landed his first job in 1811 as a wool "carder," another name for those who spent their days straightening wool to prep it for looming or weaving.
After 19 years of hard labor and rigorous savings, Rich built his first factory along Little Plum Run. Wool socks, yarns, and blankets were made at the mill, and sold by mule cart to lumbermen and their wives throughout Pennsylvania.
Rich and his wife Rachel McCloskey had 14 children - 11 of who lived to adulthood. These four sons and seven daughters were the second generation of the Woolrich legacy, a truly unique and enduring American enterprise.
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As World War II loomed on the horizon,
President Franklin Roosevelt called on Admiral Richard Byrd to return to the frozen landscape of Antarctica. For the critical choice of winter apparel, Byrd turned to Woolrich, the "Original Outdoor Clothing Company," requesting and receiving close to 1,300 all-wool winter garments. The Woolrich woolen gear was essential, needed to protect Byrd and his men against the cold blasts, snow, ice and temperatures as low as 60 degrees below zero. Geared head to foot in Woolrich woolen apparel, Byrd and his men spent the winter of 1940 in Antarctica in three camps, conducting numerous scientific observations and mapping the curious coastline.
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At the birth of the modern adventure age,
Woolrich was a proud supporter of pioneering climbs on Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits, on first whitewater descents throughout the world, and on the 20th century's major backpacking explorations. More capable and more versatile than any other natural material, wool is a natural temperature-regulating material, keeping the body warm thanks to the natural absorbency ability of the fiber. In cold weather, wool keeps the air next to skin comfortable and dry, while naturally repelling rain or snow. It's naturally elastic, moving with the body during any active pursuit. And - as a huge benefit to keeping morale high on any expedition - wool is naturally odor resistant
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The Woolrich Woolen Mill is a truly unique facility where nearly two centuries of experience is put to use every single day. Located in the town of the same name, the Woolrich mill blends state-of-the-art technologies with an unparalleled knowledge base in the crafting of fine woolen products.RiddleClose
Immigrating to the United States in 1811, John Rich II found work as a wool "carder". After years of hard work, he saved up enough to open his own mill with partner Daniel McCormick in Little Plum Run, PA.
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John Rich II and Daniel McCormick purchased 300 acres for $600 in the Pine Creek Township about two miles north-east of the Little Plum Run mill. Here they began work on building a new mill along the more powerful Chatham Run, the site where Woolrich sits today.
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The company is divided equally between John Rich II and J.F. Rich under the company name John Rich and Son.
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The US Postal Service recognizes the town of Woolrich and establishes a post office with John Rich as Postmaster.
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While our blanket team works year round to develop the perfect recipe for warmth and comfort, we are aware that not every blanket customer has the same level of technical expertise.
To help folks choose the right blanket for their needs, we've developed some basic measurements.
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Warmth
Based on a scale of 1-10, our Warmth Rating is a reflection of the thickness of the wool, which is typically measured in the ounce weight per square yard. It also takes into consideration the choice between double-faced and single ply designs.
100% Wool, 100% Made in USA = 6 / 10
US Heritage Collection = 6.5 to 7.5 / 10
American Wool Blends = 8 to 9 / 10
Hudson's Bay = 8 / 10
Travel Comfort = 7 / 10
Modern Classics = 6.5 to 8 / 10
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Indoor/Outdoor
While all Woolrich blankets can be used anywhere, anytime, this rating takes into consideration design intent and material choice. Based on a 100 point scale, these numbers reflect the balance between indoor and outdoor suitability.
100% Wool, 100% Made in USA = 60 / 40
US Heritage Collection = 60 / 40
American Wool Blends = 80 / 20
Hudson's Bay = 90 / 10
Travel Comfort = 20 / 80
Modern Classics = 70 / 30
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manufacturing in the United States since our company's founding in 1830. If you're ever in our area we encourage you to visit the town of Woolrich, to see our mill, and to visit our local store. If you're anywhere else in the world, we invite you to check in with us online at woolrich.com and Facebook.
