TREASURE HUNT

The damp, cold, winter weather outdoors is a good reason for adding an extra layer of linens to the bed. That lighter-than-air down comforter may keep you snug, but nothing beats a vintage wool blanket for making your nest warm and cozy.

While some blankets like genuine Hudson Bay Point Blankets and Pendleton Woolen Mills trade blankets, can be rare and expensive, basic vintage wool blankets, woven in soft colors and softened by time and laundering, are relatively easy to find.

They pop up at garage sales and thrift stores for just a few dollars, but chances are you can find one or two tucked into the back of the family linen closet.

Don’t be afraid to give blankets that are less-than-perfect, a second chance. “Cutters” or blankets that have holes or frayed corners can be recycled into new uses. Cut down and hemmed to make a throw, stitched into a duvet cover, or made into throw pillows, soft wool blankets can be both decorative and useful again.