Stunning unique felted fleece sheepskin rug handmade from Bruno’s 2020 fleece – just wool…

This beautiful rug is made from the fleece from our lovely ram Bruno (pictured in the photos). Bruno is a Leicester Longwool cross Gotland/Shetland sheep (aka a beautiful mongrel!) who lives with many other sheep friends at our home on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. I sheared Bruno myself with traditional blade shears as I do all my sheep taking great care not to harm Bruno or his fleece. This vegetarian sheepskin rug is big and luxurious with silky soft locks and the most beautiful combination of warm browns and grey colour tones. This particular fleece is Bruno’s 2nd shear fleece aka the second fleece that he has grown in his lifetime (I personally think these are often a sheep’s best fleeces). It is a unique item as each sheep’s fleece is never quite the same each year, many factors affect it, weather, age, diet etc. The proceeds from the sale of this rug will help pay for Bruno and his flockmates’ food, care products, and any veterinary help they need throughout the year.

This natural 100% wool item is ethical and has great provenance it has been made in its entirety at our smallholding. The reverse of the rug is made from hand carded wool that is then hand felted to Bruno’s fleece. Large rug’s like Bruno’s are made over the course of 3-4 days from start to finish. Most of the carded wool used for the backing I bought from a small high welfare flock in Scotland and then washed and hand-carded here on the farm. The black/brown is from a sheep called Charlie, the grey from is twin sister Wild Thing. I wanted to make the reverse of this rug interesting too and reflect the beautiful browns and greys that are present in Bruno’s fleece. So I spun some fine wool specifically for this purpose to give a beautiful unique pattern on the back. So you could display this rug either side up if you wanted and it will look stunning.

Bruno’s fleece would look amazing as a display piece, photo prop, or floor rug. It is well felted on the reverse and has an amazing luxurious feel and look about it. Bruno’s fleece has a great variety of different wool structures and natural colours to it, the area that was around his neck and shoulders is darker, fluffier and denser, the lighter patches that were on his sides are long and silky to touch and the part of the rug that was worn on Bruno’s rear legs is a little hairier and longer with beautiful colours. I would class it as a heavyweight rug, it weighs quite a bit so it is probably not something you would want to sleep under but perfect as a floor rug in a bedroom or cosy sitting room. Being made of only wool (and the odd bit of hay…) it is completely biodegradable and kind to our planet…

Please note like most felted sheepskin rugs it does shed wool/fibers to some degree – certain parts of Bruno’s fleece do molt a little if rubbed against or tugged at. I feel that Bruno’s is the sort of fleece that will ‘bed in’ and settle down from a hair loss front as it is used and becomes more and more solid. Therefore it may not be suitable to sit on especially initially, it depends on your personal preference.

Felted fleeces aka vegetarian sheepskin rugs are best suited to light use but will last for years and years if cared for and treated with respect.

Dimensions: Measurements taken on the fleece side are approx at the longest 130cm long x 70-80cm wide. The rug is a beautiful long large size.

Wool texture: The feel of this fleece varies, for the most part, it is soft, some parts are fluffier, others are silky and smooth and the parts that were on Bruno’s legs are a little hairier but I would not call them coarse.

Colour: The colour of this rug is an unusually rich mix of warm browns and grey browns. The pictures do the talking really.

VM(aka hay/grass seeds etc): I spent a lot of time removing the most noticeable bits of debris Bruno collected in his fleece throughout the year, bits dried leaves most part and the odd bramble as I have discovered Bruno has rather a taste for brambles.. However, you can still find little bits of dried leaves and grass seeds as this is a natural unprocessed handmade piece..  these are along the neck end and center of the fleece if you part the fibers and look deep down you may find them. Please note there are just a few small areas like this not the majority of the fleece, the do not detract from is and are a testament to how natural and lightly processed it is.

If you have any questions or queries at all please send me a message I will be happy to help.

——————————————————–

A lot of time, care and love go into all my items they are all individually made one at a time by just 1 pair of hands – from caring for and shearing the sheep, washing the wool and crafting an item to the packaging and posting – handmade in the truest sense of the word.

Any questions just send me a message.

Postage for this item is by myHermes courier Next Day Fully Insured and items are dispatched within 1-5 working days. If you require express postage please contact me before purchase to arrange.

Combined Postage I do combine postage on multiple items if it is not done automatically at checkout I will refund you any overcharges after checkout.

Post Packaging In an effort to be more eco-friendly most of the outer post packaging I send items in is reused aka recycled packaging that we have received parcels in ourselves or that has been gifted to me to put to good use.

OVERSEAS BUYERS will incur an extra postage charge which may vary depending on location.

RETURNS If you are unhappy with your item please contact me within 5 days of receiving it. All items must be returned in their original unused condition and buyer pays return postage.

If you have any problems with your order please contact me and I will do my best to help.

———————————————————

We keep a well-loved, high welfare flock of pet and rescue sheep on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. Our sheep are a part of the family and each is known by name. All our wool and makes are vegetarian-friendly as we do not breed or sell sheep for the meat market and our sheep live out their natural lives with us. I am a full-time mum and shepherdess. In my (none existent!) free time I make things from wool from the sheep in order to sustain them.

———————————————————