FELTED SHEEPSKIN
Image courtesy of Felted Sheepskins
By Rosie Anderson of Felted Sheepskins
Felted Sheepskins was created out of a need to find a creative use for the wool my sheep were producing, which had almost no commercial value. I now breed sheep specifically for unique and interesting fleece and over the years have tried many different breeds. We love the long staple breeds with good texture and colour. My flock is now completely cross breeds. Recently I have been using a Swiss Valais ram which when crossed with Jacob sheep gives a long crimpy fleece and a piebald black and white pattern. Icelandic crossed with Shetlands also make a brilliant fleece for rug making with stunning colour variations, long staple and beautifully soft.
Image courtesy of Felted Sheepskins
Felted Sheepskins are made from 100% wool and no skin. They are sheep friendly because we only use the shorn fleece to make them. They are also self-renewing as a single sheep will provide us with a new fleece each year. They are great for people who love the look and feel of traditional sheepskins but don’t necessarily like the idea of where they come from. People can buy Felted Sheepskins in the knowledge they are made from animals which are well cared for and that they are made in a sustainable way.
Image courtesy of Felted Sheepskins
It is really simple in terms of raw materials. All we use is wool, olive soap and water. We take the whole fleece just as it has come off the sheep. We then shape it and add an extra layer of wool on the back to create a felt backing. This is what holds the fleece together. It’s then a process of adding water, soap and agitation. They are then washed, dried and perfected by tweaking and brushing.
Once made, Felted Sheepskins are pretty durable and should be treated like any other 100% wool product, they can last for years.
My aunt who comes from the Isle of Arran taught us the basic process. She is a very experienced felt maker, but she had only ever made a few of these rugs. She came to Devon and taught us what she knew. Since then, it’s been a process of trial and error. No two fleece are the same so it’s a constant learning process and quite hard work.
Image courtesy of Felted Sheepskins
We have converted a bit of barn space into a workshop where we make the rugs. It is a messy process but the workshop has everything I need. There is an old butler sink in the corner, which I reclaimed from the garden, a radio and a huge window overlooking the countryside. We are able to work with the sheep fleece whilst looking at the same sheep still wondering around in the fields – that feels good. I am lucky in that I work alongside my mum making something that we both love.
Find out more: www.feltedsheepskins.co.uk