Do Farm Brand Sherpa Blankets Shrink? How to Wash One Safely

A sherpa blanket from Farm Brand can shrink if washed incorrectly, but proper care keeps it soft and durable for years.

Updated 12 Sep 2026 3 min read 7 sections

Sherpa blanket$45.00Image from the merchant

A sherpa blanket can shrink, and heat is almost always the cause. Hot water and a hot dryer are what tighten fibers and pull a blanket out of shape, so a cold wash and a low or no heat dry keep most sherpa blankets close to their original size. The Farm Brand Merino Plush Sherpa Blanket follows the same rule, with one extra point to check: the fiber content, because wool and polyester react to heat differently.

Do Farm Brand sherpa blankets shrink?

Any sherpa blanket can lose some size if it is washed hot or tumble dried on high. How much depends on what it is made of and how it is built. Farm Brand lists this one as a merino plush sherpa blanket, so read the care label before the first wash and follow it closely. If the blanket contains wool, it needs gentler handling than an all-polyester throw.

Sherpa blanket material and shrinkage risk

Sherpa is a deep, textured pile made to look like sheep’s shearling. Most sherpa is polyester, but some blankets use wool or wool blends, and many pair a sherpa side with a smoother plush side. Each fiber behaves differently in the wash:

Polyester sherpa resists shrinking, but high heat can flatten or melt the pile so it feels matted
Wool and merino can felt and shrink with hot water and heavy agitation, which is permanent
Two-sided blankets can pucker if one layer tightens more than the other, so heat is the main thing to avoid

How to wash a sherpa blanket without shrinking it

These steps suit most sherpa blankets. Where the care label says something different, follow the label.

Washing:

Use cold water on a gentle or delicate cycle, or a wool cycle for wool blends
Use a mild detergent, and skip bleach and fabric softener, which can coat the pile
Wash it alone or with similar colors, and do not overload the drum

Drying:

Air dry flat or over a drying rack when you can
If you use a dryer, pick the lowest heat or air only setting
Take it out while it is still slightly damp and let it finish in the air
Brush the pile gently with your hand once dry to lift it back up

Between washes, shake the blanket out and spot clean small marks. Fewer full washes mean less wear on the pile.

Sherpa blanket vs fleece

Sherpa Blankets and fleece are often confused, but they are built differently and need slightly different care.

Feature	Sherpa blanket	Fleece blanket
Construction	Deep pile, often bonded to a backing	Single brushed knit layer
Feel	Thick, textured, plush	Smooth and lighter
Warmth	Traps more air, so usually warmer	Warm but thinner
Heat risk in the wash	Pile can mat, wool can felt	Can pill and lose softness
Drying	Slow, air or low heat	Quick, low heat

Who a sherpa blanket suits

A sherpa blanket makes sense for:

Cold sleepers who want a lot of warmth from one layer
Sofa and reading chair use, where a thick throw gets pulled on and off every day
Cabins, cars and camping, where you want something cozy that shakes out easily

It suits you less if you sleep hot, live in a warm climate, or want a blanket you can wash hot and dry fast without thinking about it. If you have a wool allergy or sensitivity, check the fiber content first.

Large blankets and home washers

Big, thick blankets are heavy when wet. If your blanket fills the drum, it will not rinse or spin evenly, and a long hot dry to make up for it is exactly what causes shrinking and matting. A laundromat’s larger front loader is a good option for bulky blankets. Dry them on low, or hang them over a rack and turn them a few times so they dry evenly.

Where to buy and what else Farm Brand makes

Zip hoodie$48.00Image from the merchant

Farm Brand sells the Merino Plush Sherpa Blanket on its own store, along with apparel such as the Refresh fleece zip hoodie and the Freedom t-shirt. The same care habits help there too: cold wash, low heat. Before you order, see the current Farm Brand discount code.

The short answer stays the same: most sherpa shrinkage comes from heat. Keep the water cold, the dryer low, and follow the label.

Questions

Does a sherpa blanket shrink in the wash?

It can if it is washed in hot water or dried on high heat. A cold, gentle wash and air drying or a low heat setting keep most sherpa blankets close to their original size.

Can I machine wash and dry a Farm Brand sherpa blanket?

Follow the care label first. As a general rule, use a gentle cold cycle and air dry or tumble dry on the lowest heat. Blankets with wool content need extra care, since wool can felt in hot water.

What is the difference between a sherpa blanket and fleece?

Sherpa has a deep, textured pile that looks like shearling, often bonded to a backing. Fleece is a single brushed knit layer that is lighter and thinner. Sherpa is usually warmer and slower to dry.

How often should I wash a sherpa blanket?

Wash it when it is visibly dirty or starts to smell, and spot clean in between. Shaking it out and airing it helps stretch the time between full washes.

Can a shrunken sherpa blanket be fixed?

Matted polyester pile can sometimes be lifted by brushing it gently. Wool that has felted from hot water usually cannot be reversed, which is why cold washing matters.