When I was expecting my daughter, I embarked on what I thought would be an easy task: finding a beautiful blanket for her cot. But I didn’t just want something beautiful—I wanted the perfect blanket. It had to be soft and luxurious against her skin, made from natural fibres, and safe (non-allergenic and fire-retardant). Sustainability mattered to me too, as I’m concerned about my environmental footprint, so I sought a product from a renewable, sustainable source. I also wanted it to look beautiful, but ideally not in the typical pale pink hue. Finally, I was determined to find something made in Australia, not just the popular option everyone else was buying.
I began my search by focusing on fabric choices. The thought of wrapping my baby in petroleum-based polyester made me shudder. I don’t like the feel of polyester, and I was aware of how flammable synthetic fibres can be. My natural instinct was to seek out a wool blanket, so I began researching wool and its benefits.
Wool is a popular choice in Australia for a good reason. It provides instant warmth, is breathable, water-resistant, and wicks moisture away. Sheep live in all weather conditions—hot, cold, wet, and dry—and their wool has evolved to keep them warm without overheating and to dry quickly after rain. This moisture-wicking ability was appealing, as it meant that any moisture from my baby’s body would be quickly absorbed and removed, keeping her dry and comfortable.
Wool offers other advantages, too. Unlike other bedding materials like synthetic fabrics or feather doonas, wool creates a less humid environment. This is especially important for babies, as dust mites, which are a common allergen, thrive in humid environments. Wool’s moisture-wicking properties make it harder for dust mites to proliferate, which was a major plus for me. Additionally, wool fibres are more bendable and resilient than many other fibres, such as rayon. This means wool maintains its shape and softness even after repeated washing—another feature that made it ideal for a baby blanket.
Sustainability was another key factor in my decision. Wool is a renewable resource, as sheep are sheared multiple times a year, and wool production doesn’t require deforestation. Sheep are raised all across Australia, so wool blankets are produced without harming forests or ecosystems.
I also had concerns about wool’s comfort. I remembered the scratchy wool singlets of my childhood, and I wondered if wool could actually be soft and luxurious. My research led me to the concept of “microns”—the measurement of a wool fibre’s diameter. The finer the wool, the lower the micron number and the softer the wool feels. I learned that higher-micron wool is used for coarse materials like carpets, while wool with a micron count under 22 is soft and silky, ideal for baby blankets. With this information in hand, I realised wool could be both soft and durable.
Australian Merino wool, specifically, was my top choice. As noted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Merino wool is renowned worldwide for its fineness and softness. It was widely regarded as the best quality wool, making it the perfect option for my daughter’s blanket.
Next, I searched for a retailer that could provide an Australian-made wool blanket. To my surprise, I found that most of Australia’s wool is now exported to be processed overseas and returned as finished products. This shift happened when synthetics became cheaper to produce, and Australian wool mills were forced to close. It was a bit discouraging until I found Waverley Mills, located in Launceston, Tasmania. I was astonished to learn that Waverley Mills is the last fully functioning woollen mill in Australia, handling everything from carding and spinning to dyeing and weaving all under one roof.
Waverley Mills has a rich history dating back to 1874. I found it fascinating to learn that the Australian government, as early as the 1820s, was calling for support of the wool industry. In 1869, the Tasmanian Parliament even offered a £1,000 prize to the first person to open a woollen mill in Tasmania, which led to the founding of Waverley Mills by Scotsman Peter Bulman in 1874. Over the years, Waverley became a pioneer in the industry, creating innovations like water-resistant Bluey Cloth and even holding the contract for Qantas’s blankets in the 1980s. Their legacy of producing durable, high-quality woollen products made me confident in my choice.
When I visited Waverley’s website, I was pleased to find they offered a range of baby blankets made from 100% Tasmanian superfine merino wool, which was soft and cozy against a baby’s delicate skin. Tasmania’s cool climate is ideal for slow-growing merino wool, making it the perfect material for blankets. They also offered blankets blending superfine wool with Pima cotton, all made from fibres sourced entirely in Australia. I was impressed by their commitment to using natural materials and their contemporary designs, which came in a range of non-traditional baby colours. Furthermore, Waverley blankets come with a lifetime warranty, which further solidified my confidence in my choice.
Today, my daughter sleeps under a Waverley blanket year-round. The design is modern, featuring muted greys, and she’s comfortable in all seasons. Wool keeps her warm in winter and cool in summer, just as it promised. And I’m pleased to know that by choosing a locally produced product, I’m supporting Australian farmers, wool carders, dyers, and weavers—ensuring that the blanket in her cot was made by craftspeople who take pride in their work.
It’s been a rewarding journey, and as I watch my daughter sleep peacefully, I’m happy knowing that her blanket is not only the perfect blend of comfort and sustainability, but also a product that directly supports Australia’s wool industry and its rich history.
