DIY Fleece Rug for Home Bliss

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

If you fancy a beautiful homemade inexpensive sheepskin rug, follow our easy step by step guide. You'll need a fleece, some wool tops, some washing up liquid , old net curtain, string, a plastic sheet, hot water, broom handle, and a couple of hours.

[@wildandwoolly]

Thank you for sharing this great video 😊😊

[@JessicaRH6]

"copious" - good word. Very cool :)

[@emilyhope9337]

Beautiful!

[@BroadMeadowFarm]

I have some icelandic fleece that I want to do something with. Since we're so new to sheep, I don't know the term tops. Is that just freshly washed & carded roving? I initially wanted to have sheep skin rugs made when we butchered, but the cost is prohibitive. So I'm now thinking of just shearing them prior to butcher. How has your rug held up? Do you walk on it or is it more for a seat cover?

[@dimension1to7allmine]

this is wonderful! thank you so much for this tutorial !

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

You're very welcome

[@PamWatkins-h2q]

Looks so good.

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Thank you

[@shepherd4406]

That is an interesting cross. Was it an oops or planned. I had a churro ewe decide to mate with a Cotswold ram. Not my choice as churro sheep are a small breed. Love the technical term squidge Will use it in future. The rug is beautiful. Good afternoon. Hope you are having a nice Spring. Good luck with your lambing. Looking forward to lamb videos.

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Good evening. Definitely an oops, lol. Thank you for your kind comments

[@KarenBorga]

Thank you. You make it look easy. Going to give it a try.

[@wulvenwool]

so lovely, thank you for the video. love it

[@Torahliving21]

So Beautiful! Going to make one ❤ Bless

[@sii6531]

Great video, but how strong is it with no skin or threat? Does it not start to fall apart in a short time?

[@annemariedennis2003]

and it wont fall apart????? its exquisite! I am going to try this for sure! Except I have Romneys and Valais blacknose and crosses...will that work too?

[@SarahGeesonBrown]

hello. I've followed your process very carefully (thank you), but I've found the tops have felted, but not attached to the fleece below! Any suggestions as to what I've done wrong?

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Hi, the only things we can think of, are firstly some fleeces are just like that, certain breeds certain condition fleece, so it could simply be the fleece isn't right, secondly it may be that early on in the process not enough time was spent on the rubbing in of the tops into the fleece. It takes a long time, when you think you've about done enough, do some more. A good indicator is if you can prise the tops off easily, or even at all, its not been rubbed in enough, before progressing to rolling, ensure that the tops have adhered to the fleece first. Other than that, sorry at at a loss.

[@SarahGeesonBrown]

@@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream I think you may be right about the fleece. I tried a smaller section of it, and that didn't work too well either. On the plus side, I have a nice large piece of felt! Thanks for getting back to me.

[@sharonm9507]

Got a spare sheep I could use lol

[@sharonm9507]

You got a spare sheep 🐑 lol

[@ellieisbusy]

I’ve a raw Leicester Longwool fleece I’d love to turn into a rug, but I’m afraid I’ll felt the curly locks into each other by mistake. How come the tips of yours stayed so separated? That rug is beautiful!

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Ensure the cut side is up, (buts) felt with the roving ensuring that it only comes into contact with the buts. Good luck.

[@kenchafin9890]

who did the shearing? very huge piece. is it possible to put smaller pieces together if only cut side is up? thanks, love your channel.

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Hi, we had a professional shearer in last year, I did it this year.... we will be getting a professional shearer in next year lol. I would think its eminently possible to join smaller pieces together as it will all be "stuck" together in the felting process. Key word is "think", give it a go and let us know how you got on.

[@lesliebarton9359]

Hi Jane, great tutorial thank you so much. I'm going to have a go using a fleece I've been given but I'm wondering how much of the English tops to order? Alternatively, could I make my own from another (not so good) fleece? Any tips are much appreciated. thanks, Leslie 🙂

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Hi Leslie, Jane has replied to you twice, but it hasn't for some reason made it here, I have no idea why. Regarding the tops, we ordered about a kilograms from World of wool (English 56 I think) and did 2 rugs with it easily.

[@lesliebarton9359]

@@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream Hi, thanks very much, that’s really good to know. Cheers, Leslie

[@Tiffycha1982]

How much top should I order for the under carriage of the rug?

[@dianalimbach4584]

Very cool! You only roll it one way and that was enough for felting?

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Thanks, yes, backwards and forwards, and it has always worked (so far)

[@Tiffycha1982]

May I have a link for box of tops please

[@lucyingram6061]

This is amazing, did you wash the fleece at all before you started?

[@callumglass]

You don't wash prior, as it is a loose fleece. It'd felt and mix upside with right side up. It'd be a mess. Most of a fleece gets washed during the felting process, hence the tonne of wash liquid to start and during. Once you know you've nailed the felting and the fleece is a gooden. You can then wash it in a big trug, or bath tub. Then it's finally dry time. I make them for a living, they're hard work but worth it. Good luck! - Sheepfloof

[@oldwayscottage5651]

Can anyone recommend anyone to get lovely long fleeces from please ?

[@amylamphere7232]

Did you wash the fleece first or is it raw with grease?

[@countryhorseluvr]

How many hours did you roll it?

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

It probably took about 20 minutes worth of rolling

[@juliewholohan2850]

Does the dirt wash out of the fleece please 🤷‍♀️

[@DaveandJaneLivingTheDream]

Hi, yes, once the rinsing has been carried out most, if not all the dirt is gone

[@monstersmomma8594]

Beautiful!