Cotton Throws

Why choose cotton

Cotton is a natural fibre, and a cotton throw has a dry, soft handle that many people prefer to a synthetic fleece. It is light enough to leave out on a sofa all year and to reach for on a cool summer evening, yet it layers well with a heavier blanket when the weather turns. Over time the fabric relaxes and softens, so a cotton throw often feels better after a season of use than on the day it arrives. Every throw on this page states cotton in its own composition, and the product page gives the exact blend. Cotton also takes colour well, so our cotton throws come in deep, even shades as well as soft neutrals.

Jacquard cotton throws

A number of our cotton throws are jacquards. A jacquard is woven on a loom that lifts each thread separately, so the pattern is built into the cloth rather than printed on top, and the design is part of the fabric itself and shows on both sides. It is a good choice when you want pattern that will last, because there is no print to fade or wear away. The product page shows the detail of each design up close, and the plainer throws bring a quieter surface that sits well in a calm room. The word jacquard in a throw's title tells you which ones they are.

Cotton velvet throws

A number of our cotton throws are cotton velvet: a short, dense pile woven from cotton rather than a synthetic yarn. It has a softer, more matt sheen than polyester velvet, and a rich depth of colour that changes as the light moves across it. A cotton velvet throw looks particularly good over a linen sofa or at the end of a bed dressed in plain cotton. It gives a room the look of velvet with the feel of a natural fibre. Because the pile is short, a cotton velvet throw is lighter than it looks, and it folds away neatly.

Cream, green, brown, blue and beige

Cream is the colour we offer most often, and it is the easiest to place: it lightens a dark sofa, sits quietly on white bedding and works with almost every wood. Green brings the colours of the garden indoors. Brown and beige add warmth, and blue suits a bedroom or a coastal scheme. The Colour filter shows every shade side by side, and a throw in a colour you already have in the room will always look at home. If the room already has a strong colour, a softer shade of the same colour ties the scheme together.

A throw for every season

Because cotton is light, a cotton throw earns its place all year round. In summer it is enough on its own for an evening on the sofa or a nap in the afternoon. In winter it becomes an extra layer on the bed or a colourful covering over a heavier blanket. Keeping one folded in a basket by the sofa means there is always one to hand. A second throw in a contrasting colour gives you an easy change of look when the seasons turn.

On beds and sofas

For a sofa, choose a throw long enough to drape across the back or to fold over one arm. For a bed, a throw laid across the foot adds colour and texture without the weight of a quilt. Measure the sofa or the width of the bed, then compare it with the size shown on each product page before you choose. A throw a little wider than the bed will hang neatly over both sides. On a sofa with loose back cushions, tuck one end of the throw behind a cushion to keep it in place.

Looking after a cotton throw

Cotton is generally easy to care for, but the right method depends on the weave and the finish, so always follow the care label on the product page. Shake the throw out after washing and let it dry flat or over a line, which keeps its shape and its texture. Fold it rather than roll it for storage, and if the care label allows, a cool iron on the reverse will ease out any creases.