Felted Sheepskin Rugs
Every rug is unique and every part of the process is done by hand. Each fleece has been crafted by the sheep over the year and will reflect their journey throughout the seasons-from what they have been eating to the weather they have experienced.
Felting the fleeces allows the colours and textures of each individual fleece to be preserved in the way they grew, and enables us to harvest the wool from the same sheep every year, exploring the natural changes each year brings to the fleece.
Each fleece has been fully washed and every care taken to remove as much vegetable matter as possible- however sheep are living beings, who graze a variety of pastures (including wild flower dense meadows- which are left to set seed) and nibble hay in the winter, so you may find the odd bit in your rug, we hope you can see this as part of the charm of owing something so close to nature.
The Outside Flock
Our fleeces come from the Outside flock. They are an organic, conservation grazing flock who help manage the biodiverse land at Hardwick Estate in Oxfordshire.
The flock are predominantly a mix of Shetland x Gotland Sheep, who are exceptionally friendly and come running from the far reaches of the field when called. They are lovingly cared for by Romilly and Flow, who visit them every day, rain or shine and gently blade shear them every year.
The harvested wool is selected for felted fleeces or dyed with plant dyes, which are heated over a fire, to create a extensive rainbow palette of felting and spinning wools. Please visit their website: TheOutside.org.uk for more information.
Fleece Care
Wool naturally has antimicrobial properties and should not need washing regularly (if ever!) However, your fleece can be washed by hand in water up to 30 degrees.
If you get a stain on the fleece we recommend soaking in cold water for 24 hours. Then fill a container with up to 30 degree water (for larger rugs a bath can be a good option), add wool suitable laundry liquid. Submerge your fleece lock side down in the water, do not agitate, leave for up to 20 mins. Gently fold your fleece, felted side out and lift out of the water. You can repeat this wash a second time if needed. Fill the container with the same temperature water as the wash and gently lower the fleece into the water and rinse. Repeat the rinse. Spin in a washing machine at a maximum of 600 speed.
Careful not to agitate your fleece in the water or go from hot to cold water as this can cause felting.