Lawrence Flannel Blanket is the fluffy, thick wool blanket sometimes referred to as ‘swanskin’, ‘cushion’, or ‘pusher’. It has a looser woven core and raised fibres to create very good cushioning at 6-7mm in thickness. This blanket would traditionally go on top, next to the roller. As it contracts and expands, it takes most of the roller pressure whilst also cushioning your printing plate. It requires less maintenance as the moisture is taken up by the compressed blanket below. This blanket is very good for deeply bitten plates or collagraphs. Because it does not come into contact with the paper, it requires less maintenance than the compressed blanket and will last for decades with the correct care.
Cleaning - The Compressed blanket (or whichever you use as the fronting one) will require the most care as it is the one in contact with residual ink, moisture from the printing process and the sizing from the paper. Both the Compressed and the Flannel blankets are made of 100% wool, so their cleaning instructions are similar: You can soak them in lukewarm water without detergent (or you may use detergent specifically for wool). Avoid using the bathtub for this purpose, as it has residue you don't want to transfer to your blanket. Squeeze the blanket out without wringing and rinse it multiple times until you are satisfied with the results. To dry the wool, shape it and pin it to the wall or a similarly rigid surface to keep it in place. This will help it dry without becoming stretched out or misshapen. Drying will take a few days. When dry, you will have to soften the blanket by twisting and rubbing.
Alternatively, you can put wool blankets into the washing machine; however, please note that residue from linseed oil and other chemicals may build up in your machine. Flannel blankets can also become very heavy and hard to handle because of their thickness.
A third way to clean them, and this may save you the most headache, is to send your blankets off to the dry cleaners.
