The Cheshire Cat Hooded Blanket was designed with the Halloween lover in mind. If you like spooky & dark-themed decorations and designs, this blanket is for you. It also got the ‘paws up’ from our feline tester, who couldn’t stop kneading into this super-soft fabric (on the downside this sherpa fabric does collect cat hair like a magnet…)

It probably goes without saying that theirs is incredibly soft and cosy. The inner fleece is as soft as cotton wool while the outer feels silky, meaning that, despite its size, it didn’t actually feel as bulky to wear as some of the others. This is a cuddly, warm hooded blanket your child or yourself can snuggle in, and then it folds into a fun and decorative pillow in the shape of a Cheshire cat. NOTE: The free version of this pattern does not come with the same help, just because it’s not fair on those who support me and bought this pattern. Arguably the original and most famous, the word ‘Oodie’ is now synonymous with hooded blankets – we even found ourselves telling people that we were “testing out Oodies” when talking about this feature.If there is one good thing to have come out of the past few years, it’s the rise of the hooded blanket. If you buy a hooded blanket from another brand, make sure to read the care instructions on the label for the specific directions. ARE OODIES ONE SIZE FITS ALL? As the name suggests, the best hooded blankets sit somewhere between a giant wearable hoodie and a cosy throw. I never thought I’d be caught dead in an Oodie, but given how cold it’s been lately, my usual winter throw just hasn’t been keeping me warm enough. On the recommendation of my colleague Hannah, who has often raved about how warm Oodies are, I caved and decided I needed to see if it lived up to the hype. And yeah, I hate to admit it but IT TOTALLY DOES. The 2in1 Cheshire cat hooded blanket acts as a fun blanket (complete with mittens and a hood) and decoration for the room.

The Oodie is super warm. The sherpa fleece lining is so cosy and soft, it literally feels like snuggling up to a cloud. I’ve been wearing it non-stop during the freezing early mornings and at night curled up on the couch watching Netflix. Since I’ve got it, I haven’t turned on my heater once! It’s a lifesaver in winter. Also I am a big fan of the fun patterns and prints Oodie does because if you’re going to be wearing an Oodie, it might as well be fun. As a #catmum I obviously chose the cat print one and then forced my cat into a photoshoot with me, naturally. Be warned, if you have a cat or a dog, they’re absolutely going to be sleeping on your Oodie because it’s just that soft and snug. We did try hooded blankets that kept us slightly warmer, but thanks to Onesnug’s ‘MicroCool’ fabric, this won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and sweaty. Of course, you can also always add one to your Christmas wishlist and let someone else treat you to a cosy winter.

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We especially loved the long, snug-fitting elasticated cuffs – perfect for keeping heat in and sleeves out of food – and the protective bag it comes in, for storing it neatly away in warmer months. It’s definitely one for wearing while cosying up on the sofa rather than when trying to get anything productive done, as its size and weight make it a little cumbersome, and the large hood often falls over the eyes – great for napping, not so great for WFH. Part poncho and part blanket, it can be fastened together at the front, swung over your shoulder, or simply laid flat over your body, and it heats up gently to warm the top half of your body. This will make a great present or birthday gift and with a little customization, you can turn it into an original Halloween costume. If you are still unacquainted with this fashion phenomenon, a hooded blanket (also known as a blanket hoodie or by the brand name Oodie) is a cross between a giant hoodie sweatshirt and, you guessed it, a blanket. HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS

They can seem an expensive buy for something you’re almost certainly not going to wear outside of the house, but if you spend a lot of time at home – whether working or relaxing – they could be a good investment, especially as they wash well in the washing machine. There are a few different styles – and prices – on the market, but the hoodies from specialist retailers like Oodie, Kudd.ly, Onesnug and Snuggly are all very similar, if we’re being honest. Today I am bringing you the Cheshire Cat in the form of a hooded blanket. You gotta love that big grin! Longer than most, cushiony soft and cosy without being too bulky, this one from UK-made brand Onesnug gets a big thumbs up from us. If you are completely new to crocheting, I recommend starting with beginner patterns and building up your confidence, pay attention to the skill level of my patterns and buy only if you are already at that level.This hoodie is, of course, oversized, but not so big around the hood or sleeves that you can’t see, eat or type – we could comfortably wear this at our WFH desk or walking around the house without it getting in the way. Fortunately we stumbled across this viral TikTok video that breaks down the best way to fold your Oodie for storage — and it’s blown our minds. Extra large, extra warm and extra snuggly, Kudd.ly’s hoodie is like wearing a bear hug and is so big you’ll be able to curl your entire body up inside.

WITH temperatures dropping and heating costs rising, an oversized hooded blanket should be an essential item of loungewear this autumn and winter. It’s not the warmest one we tried (think late autumn chills rather than depths-of-winter, below-freezing temperatures) but we’d probably say this was the most practical, while this pale pink colour we chose (prettier in real life than our phone camera could capture) is about as ‘feminine’ as one of these items could get.

There are also now lots of online-only brands that specialise in these hoodies, like Oodie, Kudd.ly and Snuggly. It plugs into the wall like a traditional heated throw, with a remote to control the power, heat intensity and amount of time it stays on for. And it also has an auto-shut-off function.