This was soft and amazing right out of the package. I got taupe to go with a plum-colored one I already had. It's just right. The weave, texture, and color are exactly what I wanted. Surprisingly, it became a little less soft after I washed and dried it, but I'm hoping that future wash/dry (delicate/cold wash/low temp dry) will take care of that. It's fantastic. Beautiful blanket with minimal shrinkage. Excellent work!