By Sophie, co-founder of Beast + Bonbon. Updated October 2026.
Short answer: if you want a custom pet blanket that still looks like your pet years from now, choose a woven photo blanket. Fleece and sherpa blankets feel plush on day one and cost less, but the picture is printed onto polyester, so fine detail softens as the fabric pills and ages. A woven blanket builds the picture out of the yarn itself. There is no printed layer to fade, crack or peel.
Below is how the three types are made, how they hold up, and which one fits which job.
Woven vs fleece vs sherpa at a glance
| Woven (jacquard) | Fleece | Sherpa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Usually cotton yarn | Polyester | Polyester, printed face with a fluffy sherpa back |
| How the picture is made | Woven into the fabric with colored yarns | Printed onto the surface | Printed onto the smooth face |
| Feel | Textured, structured, drapes like a throw | Soft and light | Thick and plush |
| Warmth | All-season, breathable | Warm | Warmest |
| How the picture ages | Stays crisp because the image is the fabric | Can dull and blur as fibers pill | Can dull and blur as fibers pill |
| Pet hair | Brushes off a flat weave more easily | Grabs and holds hair | Grabs and holds hair |
| Looks like | A tapestry or piece of decor | A printed photo blanket | A printed photo blanket |
| Best for | Keepsakes, memorial gifts, living room decor | Kids, dog beds, car trips | Cold nights, nap blankets |
| Price | Higher | Lowest | Middle |
How each custom pet blanket is made
Fleece
Your photo is printed onto polyester fleece, usually with heat transfer (sublimation). It is quick and inexpensive, and it can reproduce a photo almost exactly. The trade-off is that the picture sits on the fibers. As fleece pills with use and washing, the image loses sharpness, especially fine lines like whiskers and eyes.
A printed fleece blanket: soft, light polyester with the design printed on the surface.
Sherpa
A sherpa photo blanket is a printed smooth face stitched to a thick, fluffy sherpa back. It is the coziest of the three and great for cold nights. The printed side ages the same way fleece does.
A printed photo blanket: the picture sits on top of the fabric, so it looks like a photo.
Woven (jacquard)
A jacquard loom lifts individual threads to build the picture row by row out of colored yarn. Because the picture is the fabric, you can see it on both sides, it has real texture, and there is nothing on the surface to wear off. A loom works with a set number of yarn colors, so a woven blanket can't copy a photo pixel for pixel. That is why the best woven pet blankets start with a designer turning your photo into a portrait made for the loom.
Woven vs printed photo blanket: what fades and what doesn't
Most photo blankets are printed. The picture is ink or dye pressed onto the surface of fleece or sherpa, so it sits on top of the fibers. Every wash and every day of use wears that top layer a little, which is why printed blankets can look faded or blurry after a year.
A woven photo blanket works differently. There is no ink layer. The portrait is made from thousands of colored yarns woven together on a jacquard loom, so the picture is the fabric itself. Before weaving, our designers create your pet's portrait from your photo and check every detail by hand, using the yarn colors the loom can weave.
The trade-off: a printed blanket is a closer copy of a snapshot on day one. A woven blanket has a softer, tapestry look that stays the same for years. If you want the picture to last, choose woven.
What happens after a year
A pet blanket gets used hard: on the couch, on the bed, sometimes as the dog's favorite nap spot. Printed fleece and sherpa are made for that kind of casual use and they are easy to replace. A woven blanket is made to last and to be kept. Cotton gets softer with washing, the picture stays sharp, and it still works as decor when it is folded over the back of a sofa.
"Great quality and looks just like the picture i sent in of my dog!"
Verified buyer, Floral design in blush, reviewed on Shop
Which one should you choose?
- Choose fleece if it is for a child, a dog crate or the car, and you want the lowest price.
- Choose sherpa if warmth is the main goal and it will live on the bed.
- Choose woven if it is a gift you want kept for years, a pet memorial, or something that should look good in your living room.
Is a woven blanket good for a pet memorial?
Yes. A memorial blanket is something to hold on hard days, and a woven one keeps its detail, so your pet's face, markings and name stay clear. Many of our customers order one as a memorial blanket, for themselves or as a sympathy gift.
How our custom pet woven blanket works
At Beast + Bonbon, our designers create your pet's portrait from your photo and check every detail by hand, then it is woven from 100% cotton yarn in the USA.
- Free design proof within 24 hours. Nothing is woven until you approve it, and revisions are free.
- Up to 3 pets on one blanket: dogs, cats or other pets.
- Sizes: Small 52" x 37" ($105), Medium 60" x 50" ($125, our best seller), Large 80" x 60" ($165).
- Styles: Original, Floral, Golfer, Orchids and a Christmas design, in cream, navy, blush or sage.
- Timing: your blanket arrives 8 to 12 days after you approve the proof. Free standard shipping on orders over $125.
See the custom pet woven blanket
Questions people ask
Is a woven blanket soft?
It is soft but not fuzzy. Woven cotton feels like a quality throw: textured, breathable and comfortable in every season. If you want plush, sherpa is softer.
Which custom pet blanket lasts the longest?
Woven. The picture is made from the yarn, so it doesn't fade or peel the way a printed surface can.
Does dog hair stick to woven blankets?
Less than it sticks to fleece or sherpa. Hair sits on a flat weave and brushes or shakes off more easily.
Can I wash a woven pet blanket?
Yes. Most people wash theirs on a cold, gentle cycle. Check the care label on your blanket for the exact steps.
Why do woven blankets cost more?
Each one is designed from your photo, checked by hand and woven on a loom, which takes more material and time than printing a photo onto polyester.
Do woven photo blankets fade?
Not the way printed blankets do. The picture is made from dyed yarn, not ink on the surface, so there is no top layer to wash away. Colors may soften slightly after many washes. To keep it bright, wash it cold on a gentle cycle and keep it out of strong direct sun.
Is a woven blanket better than fleece for a dog?
It depends where the blanket will live. For a crate, dog bed or the car, fleece is a cheap, practical choice. For a sofa or bed blanket you share with your dog, woven holds up better: dog hair doesn't cling to it as much, and the portrait stays clear wash after wash.