The Difference Between a Blanket and a Throw Ndebele Nation design drapped over chair in modern house

The Difference Between Throw and Blanket

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Before Your buy, Learn about the differences between throw and blanket Throws: All you need to know 8 Great Ways To Use Your Throw What are the most common materials to make a Throw? Now what is considered a blanket and why are they different from a throw? Keep on reading to find out  Blanket Sizes The Difference Between a Blanket and a Throw

Before Your buy, Learn about the differences between throw and blanket


What is the difference between a blanket and a throw? 


We get this question a lot. You may be familiar with what a throw is, however, you may not know they have different meanings in different contexts. In short, a throw is a type of blanket but smaller in size than your average blanket. Technically all throws are blanket but not all blankets are throws, confused? Yeah, we were too until we did some digging.


In short, The main function of most blankets is to keep you warm and a throw is mostly decorative but also great to keep you warm on those cold winter nights and they are great for picnic blankets on summer days. However, there is more to the story than just that. Let’s take a deeper dive to find out what truly differentiates a throw from a blanket and vice versa. You’ll be amazed. Keep on reading. 

A collection of throws from Thula Tula


The African throw

Throws: All you need to know

As we mentioned above, a Throw is a somewhat smaller type of blanket and the most popular sizing is around 50in x 60in. It also varies from a blanket in the way it is used in the home. Throws are used in many ways, but mostly in home décor and therefore have overly bold designs and colorings. A great example of a throw is the Cerise Ndebele throw from Thula Tula 

Below is 7 ways you can style your throw at home.

A man has blanket in hands

8 Great Ways To Use Your Throw


  1. You can hang your throw over the back of your sofa or chair as a highlight piece also making it easily accessible for couch cuddles.
  2. Roll your throws up and pile them in a basket close to a couch or chimney to add a friendly, lodge-like feel to the room.
  3. You can re-purpose a throw as decorative linen on an outdoor picnic table, coffee table, or on the comfort table in the corridor.
  4. Fold your throw over the back of a chair as a central décor element. See the above image featuring the Ndebele throw. Your throw will add a touch of color and class to the room.
  5. You can use your throw to style your bed by laying it over the end of the bed for a beautiful touch of comfort and minimalistic style. Also, you can use it to warm the toes on those cold winter nights.
  6. To stay cozy on a summer night, you can wrap a throw around you beside a campfire and enjoy a glass of wine.
  7. Throws are super compact and lightweight due to the size. Put it on your road trip list of things not to forget. Throws can be a perfect car accessory use your throw as a pillow or keep those toes warm on long trips.
  8. Picnics, who doesn't love a summer picnic? Throws are perfect for that impromptu park hangout. 

A typical throw comes in beautiful tapestry style designs and patterns which can be displayed around the home to bring a whole new Fen Shui to any room by tying in the room design and creating an incredibly beautiful focal point. 

Shop the Thula Tula Throw Collection

A women has baby in her hand and worn Thula Tula wearable throw

What are the most common materials to make a Throw?


  1. Cashmere: Cashmere comes from Cashmere goats and is primarily produced in Tibet, India, and Pakistan. Cashmere throws are exceptionally soft but are also very expensive and delicate and require extreme care and attention to keep the throw looking good. Although Cashmere is beautiful and luxurious it is not recommended as an everyday throw and is not great for the outdoors as they require dry clean only. 
  2. Cotton: The strands from the cotton plant offer a delicate, breathable, and durable texture, even after numerous washes. This cotton texture won’t trap in the air, which means you will remain at a comfortable temperature. A lot of people pick cotton throws because unlike cashmere cotton is long-lasting and very easy to clean.
  3. Fleece: Fleece blankets are delicate to the touch yet durable, lightweight, and exceptionally warm. Fleece is made out of acrylic fibers. Fleece is also very cozy which makes it the perfect fabric for year-round comfort.
  4. Alternative Mink: Faux Mink is shiny fur-like material that is produced using manufactured microfilaments that are made to look like the delicate and smooth surface of Mink fur.
  5. Microplush: This is an ultra-soft, thick, and non-pilling fabric. Microplush is a perfect material and is cheap and easy to clean.
  6. Berber fleece: Berber fleece is a high-performance fabric that is extremely warm, soft, and lightweight. With a curly, slightly nubby texture and subtly flecked appearance, it has a plush sweater-knit backing. Comparable in softness and insulating properties to natural fur, it has a high warmth-to-weight ratio. Berber fleece wicks moisture from the body making it warm even in the dampest conditions.
  7. Down: Traditionally Down fabric is loaded up with goose or duck quills. to make the sweeping thick and fleecy; It is one of the best insulators it is also breathable and helps keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. 

Today, most down throws are made of microfiber, cotton, linen, and even bamboo. If you can think of fabric, you'll probably find a throw made from it. Today, microfiber throws are very popular because they're very inexpensive and come in a wide variety of colors and designs Down throws are not recommended for people who suffer from respiratory problems.

Ndebele made in Africa throw

Now what is considered a blanket and why are they different from a throw? Keep on reading to find out 

Blanket Sizes


  • Twin: 66 x 90 in
  • Double: 80 x 90 in
  • Queen: 90 x 90 to 100 in
  • King: 108 in x 90 to 100 in

Rather than decoration, blankets are used as bed primarily as covers and to add warmth. Blankets come in all varieties of construction and style.


Below are just a few of the construction types you might find in a blanket.


  • Comforter: One of the most popular types of blankets. They are great bed toppers for winter because they can retain lots of heat being lightweight by themselves.
  • Throw: As we have mentioned all throws are technically blankets but not all throws are blankets, due to their size. 
  • Chenille:  They add a vintage and retro look to your bed. Highly decorative and very warm type. Chenille is a type of yarn The chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the "pile", between two "core yarns" and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles to the yarn's core, giving chenille both its softness and its characteristic look. 
  • Cotton: Cotton blankets are mostly woven blankets made from a single piece of 100% pure cotton. They are highly breathable and hypoallergenic and very easy to clean.
  • Knit: Wollen knit blankets come in different styles and designs. They often contain ridges that create a design such as chunky knit. They can be used on small couches or on large king-sized beds.
  • Vellux: Vellux blankets are 100% polyester. They are composed of two layers of polyurethane foam sandwiched between fabric made from millions of high-tech nylon fibers. Vellux blankets have a soft, velvety feel almost like a plush blanket that gets softer wash after wash. They can be used underneath the comforter for extra heat. 
  • Wool blankets: Wool has always been a favorite pick for blankets for centuries. Their tiny pockets trap air which helps to keep us warm, and cold air out. They are often woven or knit and edges are often done with a fringe to reduce fraying.

There are many types of blanket constructions to give a touch of beauty to your home.


Now you have a better understanding of what makes a blanket, a blanket, and what makes a throw, a throw. Did you know there is also the Afghan that can come in both blanket and throw size?


Afghan: The Merriam Webster states an Afghan is a blanket or shawl of colored yarn knitted or crocheted in strips or squares. An afghan can easily be distinguished because of its unique pattern. It is recognizable as being hand-sewed, stitched, or weaved and frequently in geometrical designs with intentional openings in the examples. Afghans were first crafted in Afghanistan. Presented from the locale known the world over its handmade and beautiful textiles and carpets, the term “Afghan” as it is used now to describe a shawl or handcrafted multicolored cover. It became popular in America during the mid-1880s.

The Difference Between a Blanket and a Throw

As we previously mentioned, all throws are blanket but not all blankets are throw. The blanket itself has subgroups. Blanket and throw are two different bedding accessories that are often confused on thought interchangeable but they are not the same. 


Blanket and a throw, both have a specific purpose, design, pattern, and also materials. So now you have gotten yourself familiar with the terminology, and you can get yourself what you exactly want. You can purchase a blanket and a throw from Thula Tula here.

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