Naturally colored brown cotton offers several advantages over common white cotton for use in needlepunched nonwoven blankets. Whereas the use of naturally pigmented cotton fibers has been restricted in conventional textiles because the fibers tend to be short and weak, they are well suited for nonwovens. This study evaluates fabrics made from colored cottons and different low-melt polymer additives in fifteen-percent blends by weight. Fiber and fabric properties including weight, thickness, strength, stiffness, air permeability, thermal properties, and flammability are reported for a range of heat treatment conditions. The properties of nonwovens made from colored cotton, and particularly brown cotton, are greatly improved with suitable fusible fibers and treatments. In general, the Hoechst Celanese bicomponent Celbond ^® 254 and 255 improve the needled nonwoven properties, while the amorphous Foss Fibre 410 does not. The low-melt Foss fiber deteriorates blanket performance as utilized by reducing nonwoven weight, decreasing strength, and increasing permeability. Both of the Hoechst Celanese products enhance nonwoven fabric properties by improving strength, launderability, and abrasion resistance. The green cottons produce the softest blankets that best retain their flexibility and hand after treatment. The brown cottons derive greater benefit from the additives. These nonwovens also prove to be better insulators and to burn more slowly than the green or white cottons. The fabrics containing Hoechst Celanese Celbond ^® 254 fiber are deemed superior for their combined strength, durability, softness, and flexibility in consumer blankets. The use of the Hoechst Celanese 255 fiber would be superior for applications requiring greater strength and stiffness. It is concluded that soft and attractive needlepunched nonwoven fabrics can be produced readily from short, weak, naturally colored brown and green cottons. Certain pigmented cottons offer several ecological and functional advantages when suitably used in nonwoven materials.