Description

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. 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 the fleece, we hope you can see this as part of the charm of owing something so close to nature. 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.

The natural fleece from The Outside Flock is backed with 100% Shetland roving- this is not organic, but is British wool.

Fleeces

Humphrey – Gotland X Shetland Ram. A rather handsome fellow, Humphrey has a beautiful creamy fleece, with a curly, tight crimp. This fleece is enormous and would make a sumptuous rug. Weight: 2530g  Size: 140cm x 80cm

Sappho- Gotland X Shetland shearling ewe. A beautiful dark brown and cream fleece, with extra long staple and exceptional defined crimp. Sappho is a shearling so this is her first shear, as a result her fleece is the softest and longest it will ever be. Sappho has a lovely drape and could be beautiful on a chair or as luxurious rug for a light traffic area. Weight: 880g Size 100cm x 65cm

Mabel- Gotland x Shetland shearling ewe. A unique light brown and cream fleece, with extra long staple and defined crimp. Mabel is a shearling so this is her first shear, as a result her fleece is the softest and longest it will ever be. Mabel has a lovely drape and could be beautiful on a chair or as luxurious rug for a light traffic area. Weight: 1225g Size: 100cm x 70cm

Coulter- Gotland x Shetland ewe. A beautiful large soft cream seat pad with tight bouncy crimp and a depth that will add sinkable comfort.  Weight: 650g   Size: 68cm x 70cm

Sabrina- Shetland x Boreray ewe. A cream seat pad with long locks. Sabrina is soft but hard wearing, perfect for a favourite seat.  Weight: 470g Size: 60cm x 60cm

The Outside Flock

Your fleece comes 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.

Fleece care instructions

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.