On a chilly day there’s nothing better than wearing a soft fluffy jumper, wrapped up in a fleecy blanket, sitting on a wool rug cradling a mug of hot chocolate. A warm and cosy scene thanks to the wonderful fibre that is wool. But are those the only ways we can use wool in our homes? Let me take you on a tour of a house that has gone to town using this fantastic fibre.
But first, what is so special about wool? It is insulating (both heat and acoustics), antibacterial, odour resistant, breathable, stain resistant, requires infrequent washing, fire retardant, biodegradable, and when it breaks down releases nitrogen which acts as a soil improver. Oh and it’s recyclable, renewable and sustainable. What’s not to like about all of that?
So, let’s see what products can be found in and around the home at the moment. What items can you tick from these lists?
The kitchen
- Tea and egg cosies
- Felted pot holders
- Casserole covers
- Dryer balls
- Dish scrubbers/sponges
- Window cleaner brush
- Dog lead
- Dog bed
The living room
- Carpets
- Rugs: woven, peg loom and felted fleeces
- Sofa and chair outer fabric and inner padding and cushioning
- Fleecy foot stools
- Cushions: covers and fillings
- Throws and blankets
- Draft excluder (doors)
- Draft excluder (chimneys)
- Felted lampshades
- Wall hangings
- Felted artwork
- Decorative lamp stands
- Table runners
- Coasters
- Bookmarks
- Pianos, understring felt and damper felt
Bedroom
- Mattresses
- Futons
- Duvets
- Pillows
- Blankets and throws
- Rugs and carpets
Wardrobe
- Knitwear: jumpers, skirts, trousers, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, scarves
- Woven fabrics: suits, skirts, trousers, scarves, bags
- Felted: slippers, shoes, scarves, purses, glasses cases
- New technology: hi-tec outdoor and sportswear, trainers, merino knitted suits, quilted jackets, boot insoles
Bathroom
- Felted soap
Craft box
- Knitting and crochet yarn
- Weaving yarn
- Wool for felting projects: felt art paintings and pictures, felted creatures and objects and clothing
Whole house
- Roof insulation
- Wall insulation
Garden shed
- Wool pellets
- Knitted wool pots
- Soil improver
Garage
- Car seat covers
- Car acoustics panels
- Pool/snooker table, the grain baize fabric
Quite a list! So it looks like we’re not limited to jumpers, blankets and carpets after all.
The products I’ve mentioned can be sourced online or in store, made from British wool by British manufacturers, artisans and crafts people. You can even make some of them yourself. And with many more innovations underway, you can expect to see the list of products grow. We can start to say goodbye to plastics and synthetics, and hello to wool and other natural fibres.
Fresaichigo 