Two blankets can feature similar artwork and still look very different in your home. One might have a smooth, detailed image; another might show the design through a visible pattern of colored threads.
The difference often comes down to how the artwork is made. In a woven design, the yarns create the image. In a printed design, color is applied to an existing fabric.
Both approaches can make beautiful blankets. Understanding the difference helps you choose the look and texture you actually want.
What is a woven blanket?
For the patterned woven throws we’re talking about here, colored yarns are interlaced to create both the fabric and its design. The artwork is part of that woven structure.
From across a room, you see birds, leaves, flowers or another motif. Move closer and you can see the threads that make up those shapes.
That visible construction gives the design a textured appearance. Edges and color transitions can look different from the same artwork on a screen, because the image has been translated into yarn.
Our current Fable & Loom woven throws use cotton, with decorative fringe around the edges. Check each product listing for its specific material and dimensions.
What is a printed blanket?
A printed blanket starts with a fabric onto which a design is applied. The printing method depends on the product and manufacturer.
Printing can suit detailed illustrations, photographs and designs with gradual changes in color. The finished result also depends on the fabric beneath the image: a plush fleece blanket will have a different surface from a smoother textile.
One useful distinction is that “woven” can describe the construction of a base fabric as well as the way a pattern is created. A design can be printed onto woven fabric. When shopping, look for an explanation of how the artwork itself is produced.
How do they look different?
A woven design has a visible rhythm of threads. Shapes that look like solid areas from a distance may reveal several yarn colors up close.
Printed artwork can have a different kind of detail, with the image reproduced on the fabric surface. Its sharpness and appearance vary with the printing process, fabric texture and original artwork.
Neither description is a guarantee of quality. Look at close-up photographs as well as lifestyle images, and notice the edges, surface and finish.
Why can woven colors differ from the screen?
Digital artwork uses light on a screen; a woven throw uses combinations of physical yarns. Those are different ways of making color.
The production process used for our Printify woven products works with a defined yarn palette. Not every digital shade can be matched exactly, and fine details or smooth gradients can change when translated into the weave.
Lighting and screen settings can also affect the photos you see. Expect a woven interpretation of the artwork, with its own texture, rather than a perfectly identical copy of a digital image.
Learn more about how woven products reproduce color and detail.
Does woven mean softer, warmer or longer-lasting?
Not automatically. Those qualities depend on more than the way the design is made.
Fiber content, fabric construction, thickness and finishing all influence how a blanket feels. Care and everyday use also matter. A photograph alone can’t tell you exactly how soft or warm a blanket will feel.
Choose by the product’s actual specifications and your intended use. A decorative throw for the sofa, a lightweight summer layer and a thick winter blanket serve different purposes.
Which one should you choose?
A patterned woven throw may appeal to you if you enjoy visible textile texture and artwork that becomes part of the fabric. A printed blanket may suit you if you prefer a particular fabric feel or a design whose appeal depends on photographic detail.
Before ordering, check the material, dimensions, close-up images and care instructions. Think about whether you want to display the design, keep it folded within reach or use it mainly for warmth.
At Fable & Loom, we love the way expressive artwork and woven texture bring character to a room. Our throws are made to order and shipped within the United States.
Explore our woven throws, or visit our Care Guide for practical care advice.