Personalized blankets: which fabric and decoration should you choose for your logo?
With blankets, your artwork drives the method, which then narrows the fabrics. Start with your logo and the occasion.
Embroidery, print or jacquard?
Embroidery suits a simple logo or a monogram but handles gradients and photos poorly, according to an online distributor [1]. A group photo or an edge-to-edge design calls for sublimation instead, a process used on polyester [1][2][3]; on a cotton or wool blanket, another method, such as embroidery or a sewn-on label, should be confirmed with your quote.
Screen printing, the most economical option according to a promotional products distributor [3], leaves the ink on the surface: it looks better on flat fabric than on sherpa and may soften or crack slightly with repeated washing, according to another distributor [1].
Jacquard weaving builds the design right into the fabric. According to one supplier, it calls for bold shapes, strong contrast and few colours, and the design shows on the back in reversed colours [4]; its cost and lead time are to be confirmed with your quote.
Fleece and sherpa: keeping fine details visible
The pile that makes fleece or sherpa so cozy can swallow a thin logo. According to Madeira, a manufacturer of embroidery supplies, stitches tend to sink into textured fabrics, and a water-soluble topping placed over the fabric helps keep them on the surface [5]. On a forum for textile decoration professionals, one embroiderer also recommends stitching a filled background under small lettering [6]. Enlarge small text and name the fabric in your request so the logo can be digitized for it.
Matching the fabric to the occasion and the care it needs
Fabric affects comfort and ease of care [3]. With flannel or cotton, check the exact fibre, which decides whether sublimation is an option [1][2]. For wool, read the care label: manufacturer Pendleton says its traditional wool blankets should only be dry-cleaned, since washing shrinks them [7]. According to an online distributor, fabric weight shapes the feel, how the decoration holds up in the wash and the perceived value [1]; a g/m² figure [8] can only be compared across quotes if it was measured the same way, which is to be confirmed with the supplier.
In a survey by ASI, a promotional products industry organization, 78% of respondents said they keep a promotional item because it is useful [9]: choose a blanket people will reach for every day.
Checking the fibre content
In Canada, the label must name each fibre that makes up 5% or more of the mass, in order of predominance, and any term suggesting wool on a textile that contains none is presumed misleading unless proven otherwise [10] (whether a qualifier such as "faux" changes this is to be confirmed): check the fibre content before you write "wool" in your messaging, and get the supplier's proof before you write "eco-friendly" [12]. Health Canada lists blankets among the bedding subject to a flammability requirement, singles out fleece-style fabrics and flannelettes for particular attention [11], and advises against putting blankets in a baby's sleep space [13]. For a large order, ask as a precaution for a declaration of conformity or a test report.
Écran Blanc's advice
For a staff gift, a simple embroidered logo on fleece or sherpa is often a good place to start; keep sublimation for photos and wool for more formal gifts.