What Is a Sherpa Blanket? Sherpa vs Fleece vs Minky Explained

What is a sherpa blanket?

Sherpa is a type of fleece fabric with a bumpy, curly texture on one side, made to look like sheepskin. The name comes from the wool-lined clothing associated with the Sherpa people of Nepal, but modern sherpa is a synthetic fabric. A sherpa throw or blanket usually pairs that fluffy side with a smoother fabric on the other side.

That’s how ours are built. Our sherpa photo blankets have a 100% polyester fleece front, where your pet’s photo is printed, and an ultra-soft sherpa fleece backing. A few more details:

• Sizes: 40″ x 30″ or 60″ x 50″ (landscape).
• Print: sublimation print on one side, the fleece front.
• Care: machine washable.
• Made: printed in the USA after you order.

If you like the look of a cozy cabin throw, sherpa is the one with the most texture on the back. The smaller 40″ x 30″ size works as a lap blanket or a gift for someone with a small reading nook.

What is a minky blanket?

Minky is a plush fabric with a very short, dense pile that feels velvety to the touch. In general, minky fabric is made from polyester, which answers the common question of what minky blankets are made of. People often compare it to the satin-edged baby blankets many of us grew up with.

Our minky photo blankets are described by the maker as super-plush minky with anti-pill fibers and a 2″ stitched border. They’re printed on one side by sublimation and printed in the USA. You can choose two shapes:

• Landscape: 60″ x 50″.
• Portrait: 30″ x 40″, 40″ x 50″, 50″ x 60″ or 60″ x 80″.

The portrait minky has the widest size range of any of our blankets, from a small lap size to a full 60″ x 80″.

What is a fleece blanket?

Fleece is a soft, brushed polyester fabric. It’s lighter than sherpa and has no fluffy curl on the back, which makes it an easy everyday throw for the couch. Unlike sherpa, there is no thick backing, which means the portrait fleece is the pick for someone who wants a light, smooth feel.

• Landscape fleece: 100% polyester fleece, 60″ x 50″.
• Portrait fleece: 100% polyester fleece with a soft-touch surface and a smooth, lightweight feel, in 30″ x 40″ or 60″ x 80″.
• Print and care: sublimation print on one side, machine washable, printed in the USA.

Sherpa vs fleece vs minky: side by side

Here’s the quick comparison of our five photo blanket styles.

Every style is printed on one side only, so the photo faces up and the back stays plain. The fleece and sherpa styles are machine washable.

Fleece vs sherpa blanket: which should you choose?

The difference between a fleece and a sherpa blanket comes down to the back. Fleece is smooth on both sides and lighter. Sherpa adds a thick, fluffy backing.

• Pick fleece for an easy, lightweight throw, or a big 60″ x 80″ portrait size.
• Pick sherpa for that cozy, textured back, or a small 40″ x 30″ lap size.

Minky vs sherpa blanket

Minky and sherpa both feel plush, but in different ways. Minky has a short, velvety pile with a stitched border, and the portrait style comes in four sizes. Sherpa has a curly, textured back. If you’re comparing plush vs sherpa blankets for a gift, think about how the person likes a blanket to feel: smooth and velvety (minky) or fluffy and textured (sherpa).

Which size do you need?

• 30″ x 40″ or 40″ x 30″: a lap blanket, a desk chair or a small gift.
• 40″ x 50″ and 50″ x 60″: one person on the couch (portrait minky).
• 60″ x 50″: a classic throw for the sofa.
• 60″ x 80″: the biggest option, for a bed or two people sharing.

Which is the best photo blanket for a gift?

All three hold a photo well because the print sits on the front. Choose by the person:

• The couch napper: sherpa, for the fluffy back.
• The person who likes things soft and smooth: minky.
• The practical one who wants an easy wash: fleece.
• Someone you don’t know well: a 60″ x 50″ fleece or sherpa throw.

You can add your pet’s name (up to 12 characters) on our photo blankets. See every style in our custom pet photo blankets, or find more ideas in our guides to gifts for dog owners and gifts for cat lovers.

Who is a photo blanket gift for?

A blanket suits almost anyone, but each person on your list has a different snag. Here is the honest fit for each.

• A dog mom who naps with her dog: paw-print throws from the store could show any old dog. A sherpa throw with her own dog’s face gives the nap spot a fluffy back and a familiar face.
• A cat dad who likes things light: he dislikes heavy bedding and is hard to buy for. The lighter fleece, with his cat on the front, stays on the couch without feeling bulky.
• A cat lover whose cat claims every blanket: they worry a photo blanket is too nice to share with the cat. Fleece and sherpa are machine washable, so the cat can nap on its own face.
• A dog walker or pet sitter you want to thank: a generic gift card feels impersonal after months of care. A 40″ x 30″ sherpa lap blanket with the pet they look after is a thank-you they’ll recognize.
• The whole family on movie night: one small throw leaves someone left out at the edge of the couch. The 60″ x 80″ portrait fleece or minky is our biggest size, with room to share.
• A couple who share the sofa: they can’t decide whether a blanket should be smooth or fluffy. Minky is the middle ground: plush and velvety, with a 2″ stitched border and their shared pet on the front.
• Grandparents who miss the grand-cat: they live far away and see the pet only on visits. A 40″ x 50″ portrait minky suits one person in a recliner, with the grand-cat’s face looking up at them.
• A new puppy owner: the puppy grows up before anyone thinks to print a photo. A 30″ x 40″ fleece made from an early picture becomes a keepsake that can go straight in the wash.
• Christmas and birthday shoppers: last-minute shopping leaves no time to compare fabrics. Use the table above, pick in five minutes, and order early, because each blanket is printed after you order.
• Someone grieving a pet: a gift can feel risky when the loss is fresh. A sherpa or minky blanket with a favorite photo and the pet’s name, up to 12 characters, is a quiet keepsake in memory of them.
• A home with more than one pet: squeezing several faces onto a lap blanket is tricky. Choose the number of pets and a 60″ x 50″ or larger size so every face has room.
• You: a blanket just for yourself can feel indulgent, and you may hesitate between three fabrics. Treat yourself to the one that matches how you nap: fluffy, plush or light.

Does the fabric change how a pet photo looks?

The photo is printed on the front of every style by sublimation, so the fabric under the print is what you see and touch. On fleece, the print sits on a smooth, brushed surface. On sherpa, the print is on the polyester fleece front, and the fluffy sherpa is on the back. On minky, the print sits on the short, plush pile, framed by a 2″ stitched border.

Sublimation dyes the print into the polyester instead of laying a coating on top, which means the blanket still feels like fabric where the photo is.

Whichever you choose, the photo matters more than the fabric. A sharp, well-lit picture of your pet’s face prints best. Our guide on how to photograph pets indoors walks through getting one, and our team checks every upload. If a photo is too blurry, dark or low-resolution to print well, we email you before production.

How do you order a photo blanket?

1. Pick a style: fleece, sherpa or minky, landscape or portrait.
2. Pick a size from the options on the product page.
3. Upload a photo of your pet. Choose the number of pets if you’d like more than one on the blanket, and upload a photo of each.
4. Choose a background and, if you like, add your pet’s name.
5. Order early if there’s a date attached. Every blanket is printed after you order.

Ordering two blankets, or a blanket plus a pair of socks? These are the offers live in the store now.

Ordering for the family? Mix any styles and sizes: one for you, one for them. Your cart always shows the final price.

• 2 items: 15% off, added automatically in your cart
• 3 or more items: 20% off, added automatically in your cart
• Free shipping from 2 items
• Just one? Code PETPJ20 takes 20% off at checkout
• Problem with your order? If it arrives damaged, misprinted or wrong, email us photos within 14 days of delivery and we reprint it or refund you

Frequently asked questions