I hugely approve of these blanket/throw things from Ian Mankin.
Ian Mankin was once the sole purveyor of very heavy, very expensive ticking and stripe material and not much else – but the material was exquisite. I used to rummage in the sale bin in their store in Primrose Hill and make cushion covers from the offcuts. Which on reflection was a bit mental.
Now the company has branched out into lots of other stuff, much of it very affordable and more accessible than solely striped sailcloth. It’s a lesson in retail diversification.

Stepney Grey Throw, £69.50
This is quite a boring grey colour way but I like it because it is a jazzy pattern and MACHINE WASHABLE. So it is replacing the pilled monstrosity from Ikea on the living room sofa. More colour ways and patterns here.
I found a brown smudge on the Ikea monstrosity the other day that was not chocolate but actual SHIT. Actual faeces on the actual sofa – from Sam’s bottom no doubt as he’s so painfully shy about his loo-trip bum aftercare that he occasionally manages to scamper off with no knickers on AND not a completely thorough job having been done. So machine washability in a sofa blanket is a must in our house.
I know £70 is quite a lot for a blanket but I think for what it is, it’s really superb value.
It’s beautiful and just what I’ve been looking for, my husband and daughter are habitual sofa snugglers! Unfortunately the blankets are sold out. Such is your influence. X
WHAT? god almighty. how annoying
only that grey one is sold out (it doesn’t say THAT much for my influence, they probably only carry about 20 blankets in stock at any time) but there are tons of gorgeous colour ways!!