Knitted or Woven Throw: What's the Difference?
Short answer. A knitted or woven throw differs in how the yarn is joined. A knitted throw is one yarn looped into rows, so it stretches, feels chunky and drapes heavily. A woven throw crosses two sets of yarn at right angles, so it holds its shape, shows patterns crisply and snags less.
By Snoozyn · Updated October 2026
Two throws can share the same fibre, colour and size and still behave completely differently on a sofa. The reason is construction: whether the yarn was knitted or woven.
Knowing which you are buying tells you how it will drape, how it will wear and how it needs washing, more reliably than the fibre label alone.
Key takeaways
- Knitted throws are made of interlocking loops, so they stretch in every direction and feel thicker and squashier.
- Woven throws are made of warp and weft yarns crossing at right angles, so they stay flat and keep their shape.
- Herringbone, check, waffle and twill are woven structures; chunky cable and rib looks are knitted.
- Knits snag more easily on rings, zips and pet claws, and should be dried flat to avoid stretching.
How is a knitted throw made differently from a woven one?
A knitted throw is built from loops pulled through loops, row after row, whereas a woven throw is built on a loom from lengthways warp yarns with weft yarns passed over and under them.
Because a knit is a chain of loops, it can open up and close again, which is where its stretch and bounce come from. Pull a woven throw on the straight and it barely moves, because every yarn is held by the yarns crossing it. You can usually tell by looking closely: a knit shows rows of little V-shaped loops or ridges, while a weave shows a grid or a diagonal twill line.
How do knitted and woven throws feel and drape?
Knitted throws feel thicker, softer and stretchier, and they slump into folds; woven throws feel smoother and flatter, and they fall in cleaner, straighter lines.
A chunky knit has a lot of air between its loops, so it looks lofty and feels squashy when you sit under it. It is heavy for its size, which is why it sinks into a sofa seat rather than sitting on top. A woven throw of the same fibre is usually thinner and denser. It suits a neat fold over an arm, and it shows patterns such as herringbone, check and jacquard with sharp edges.
| Feature | Knitted throw | Woven throw |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Interlocking loops | Warp and weft crossing |
| Stretch | High, in all directions | Low, mainly on the diagonal |
| Thickness | Often thick and lofty | Thin to medium |
| Drape | Heavy, slumped folds | Clean, straight folds |
| Pattern | Ribs, cables, knitted jacquard | Herringbone, check, waffle |
| Snagging | More likely | Less likely |
| Drying | Flat, reshaped | Line or flat, per fibre |
Which lasts longer, a knitted or a woven throw?
A well-made woven throw usually keeps its shape longer, because its yarns are locked in place; a knit can stretch, snag or pull if it is hung wet or caught on something sharp.
That does not make knits fragile. A pulled loop can be eased back by working the slack along the row with a blunt needle, and chunky knits hide wear well. Wovens have their own weak point: the cut ends and fringes, which can fray if washed hard. Both kinds can pill where they rub, which our guide to why throws shed and pill explains in detail.
How do you care for knitted and woven throws?
Follow the fibre first, then the construction: knits always dry flat and reshaped, while wovens in cotton or linen can go on a line.
Cotton and linen throws, knitted or woven, wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle. Wool, wool blends and polyester-led knits need more care: air them often, spot clean, and wash by hand in cool water with wool detergent when needed. Never put a knit in the tumble dryer, and never hang a wet knit from one edge, as the weight of water stretches it. Our care guide and the step-by-step on washing a throw by fabric cover each case.
Should you buy a knitted or woven throw?
Buy a knitted throw for a soft, chunky, lived-in look you can curl up under; buy a woven throw for a neater look, a clear pattern and a household with pets or children.
Your sofa matters too. Knits suit plain, tailored sofas that need texture. Wovens suit sofas that already have texture, such as bouclé or cord. The fibre question is separate, and our comparison of wool or cotton throws covers it. If you are choosing a rug too, the same trade-off between texture and resilience appears in flatweave, tufted and loop pile rug constructions.
Which knitted and woven throws do we sell?
We sell both, across wool, cotton and polyester-led blends, so you can choose construction and fibre separately.
Knitted: the marled chunky knit throw with a heavy fringe (68% polyester, 20% acrylic, 10% wool, 2% spandex) from £42.90; the grey merino wool knit throw with a fine herringbone texture at £140.90; and combed cotton knits from £48.90.
Woven: the waffle weave cotton throw from £57.90; the fine-striped woven cotton throw from £52.90; and the cream and brown striped woven throw in 100% polyester at £35.90.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chunky knit throw warmer than a woven throw?
Often, because a chunky knit traps more air between its thick loops and is heavier for its size. But fibre matters as much as structure: a dense woven pure wool throw can feel warmer than a loose polyester-led knit.
Why does my knitted throw have gaps between the loops?
Open spaces are part of chunky and loose knits, where thick yarn is knitted on large needles. They are not damage. A true hole has a broken yarn with loose ends, which you should secure before washing so it does not unravel.
Can a knitted throw be machine washed?
A cotton knit can usually go in the washing machine at 30°C on a gentle cycle. Wool and polyester-led knits are safer spot cleaned or hand washed in cool water. Always dry knits flat, never in a tumble dryer.
Is a jacquard throw knitted or woven?
It can be either. Jacquard means the pattern is formed by the structure of the cloth rather than printed on top. Our swallow jacquard throw, for example, is knitted in combed cotton, while many check jacquards are woven.
Do knitted throws lose their shape?
They can stretch if hung wet, pulled on one corner or stored on a hanger. Fold knits rather than hanging them, dry them flat and reshape them while damp, and they will keep their size.
Is a waffle throw knitted or woven?
A waffle throw is woven. The square cells come from a weave in which some yarns float over others, making raised ridges and sunken pockets. Waffle knits exist in clothing, but waffle throws, including ours, are usually woven cotton.
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