What Are Sheepskin Rugs?

Sheepskin Rugs

• When fleece from sheep is made into wool fabric, it is clipped from the animal and spun into yarn, and the sheep lives on to grow more fleece for more wool. However, when it comes to sheepskin rugs, the skin is used as well. The skin is tanned and treated so that it becomes soft, durable leather, while the fleece is cleaned and brushed for softness.

Shearling Rugs

• Shearling is another type of sheepskin. It gets its name from the fact that the woolly fur has been cut shorter, giving the rug a neat, uniform appearance. Like sheepskin rugs that are unshorn, shearling rugs have a tanned leather bottom side and a soft, woolly top side.

Flokati Rugs

• Flokati rugs look similar to sheepskin rugs, and like sheepskin rugs are made from the wool of sheep. However, flokati rugs are made from long wool yarn that is woven together to create a shaggy look. Because only yarn is needed to create a flokati rug, there is no need to take an animal's life.

Sizes and Colors

• A single sheepskin is around 2 feet wide and 4 feet long, but may be a little larger or smaller depending upon the size of the animal it came from. If you'd like a larger rug, purchase one made from two or more skins sewn together. While most sheepskin rugs are the sheep's natural color, such as white, gray or black, the fur can also be died just about any color you like, from pale to bright.

Uses

• You can use a sheepskin rug just about anywhere you would use a throw rug or area rug. Place smaller rugs at the side of your bed, at the foot of a chair or in a baby's room. Place larger rugs on carpet or bare floors as you would an area rug. Sheepskin rugs are cool in the summer, warm in the winter and provide softness and cushioning to your feet. Small sheepskin rugs also make excellent and appreciated pet beds.