The English Point Blanket - Inspiring Tolly Stripes

Yonks ago, English Point Blankets, sometimes so called ‘shags’ (guffaw out loud) were made in Witney in Oxfordshire and later they were woven in Yorkshire mills. Our Oxfordshire HQ is a stone’s throw from Witney and I grew up streets away from one of the Yorkshire mills that shared the trade all those years ago.  With this pertinent heritage steeped in childhood memories, we resolved that Tolly McRae would bring the Point Blanket home.

The Olden Days

Named after its points - the dark lines woven into the edge of the cloth that indicate size - the Point Blanket became legendary when the English colonized North America in the 1700s.  When early settlers explored the wilderness, they found that the warmth and water resistance offered by these pure wool blankets meant they were coveted assets prized by Native Americans, who traded furs and beaver pelts in return.  This trade became more organised and was managed at outposts and settlements by The Hudson Bay Company and so, in 1780 the famous Hudson Bay Point Blanket was born.

Tolly Striped - Our Take on the Traditional Point Blanket 

In homage to early versions, our take on the English Point Blanket follows tradition but has been brought up to date with refinements in texture and tone to satisfy today’s discerning customer (that's you!).  We call it the Tolly Striped - after its classic stripes.  It is designed in Oxfordshire - within spitting distance of the originals - uses British yarn and is woven in Ireland.  The Tolly Striped is made from high quality, pure merino wool for a super-soft luxurious finish (not itchy like the original wiry woollen blankets).  It comes with stripes in two widths, skinny and fat, and in four splendid modern colours; blue, pink, grey and duck egg.  Like the original, edges are whipped with blanket-stitching, but we have left off the black points.  You can shop the Tolly Striped blanket - now instore.  We are very excited to welcome this British classic back home and we hope you love and relish the Tolly McRae Striped blanket as much as we do.