A press blanket for a press device in a paper making machine, or the like, is formed of an elastomeric blanket material and fully embedded layers of reinforcement threads. The radially inner layer is formed of longitudinal threads which extend parallel to the axis of the press blanket. The radially outer layer is formed of circumferential threads which are wound in the direction of blanket motion and are wound generally helically. The threads are fully surrounded by the layer of homogeneous elastomeric material, that is formed from a single pouring. The circumferential threads have a diameter of at most 1/500 of the outside diameter of the fully rounded press blanket. In a unit area of the press blanket, the tensile strength of the circumferential threads is at least 40% greater than the tensile strength of the longitudinal threads. An apparatus for forming such a press blanket includes a rotatable pouring cylinder on which the longitudinal threads are supported, an elastomeric material pouring nozzle which moves longitudinally over the pouring cylinder and an unwinding device for delivering the circumferential threads in a helical manner and located just after the pouring nozzle above the pouring cylinder.