It’s officially March! And while several parts of the country are experiencing some epic winter weather (us included!), the days are growing longer, plants are stirring beneath the soil, and buds are beginning to pop out on the ends of the bare tree branches. So even if you’re not quite feeling or seeing it yet, the promise of it is there. Soon!
Weaving is an ancient art, and one that many cultures developed independently across the planet. The earliest possible evidence of weaving was discovered in the southern part of the modern-day Czech Republic and was dated to approximately 27,000 years ago. In the Americas
Clearly we’re really into wool—it’s our favorite fabric for clothing and household items, but it can be tricky to care for. Because of its unique properties, it requires special attention when it comes to washing, as traditional laundry detergents can damage or shrink the fibers. That’s why it’s important to use a wool-safe detergent when washing your woolen items.
Leaves are falling, days are growing shorter, and there’s a crispness to the air—time to cozy up with some indoor projects! Have you tried wool felting?
Demythifying the Itch of WoolAs wool experts, we field a lot of questions about wool. Which is great, because we love talking about it! One of the most common questions we get is: “Is wool itchy?” This is often accompanied by a mention of a wool allergy. These two...
While we here at Shepherd’s Dream think that wool is the perfect material to make a natural mattress, organic wool comforter, or wool throw blanket, there are some other odder uses for wool as well. Wool has too many uses to list here but some of the standouts are...
QUESTION: What do ballerinas and Arctic explorers have in common? ANSWER: They’ve both been using wool to keep their feet dry and prevent blisters for centuries. Everyone knows wool socks keep your feet warm. But did you know that adding pieces of wool inside your...
We learned in a previous post the surprising truth that wool keeps us cool in the summer, but wool also obviously keeps us warm in the winter. (Who doesn’t love wrapping up in a wool blanket by the fire?) The not so well-known part about wool is how it keeps us warm....
Are you worried that your new wool bedding will come with it’s own odor? For our last installment of our Wool Myths series, we will address another common misconception about wool — the misconception that wool smells like sheep. If you’ve ever been around sheep, then...
Being in the wool business means we're blessed to hear so many stories from our customers who have a wonderful, comforting relationship with our products. Occasionally, though, we do hear from people who unfortunately don't have such a positive experience. Mostly,...
Are you worried that buying a wool bed will invite creepy crawling bugs or flying moths into your sleeping sanctuary? Don’t be! Believe it or not, purchasing natural wool bedding for your home will actually deter bugs from entering your room and even provide you with...
Are you wondering how to keep your favorite wool sweater clean or how to wash your new Shepherd’s Dream Merino wool comforter, but concerned about the cost or how to do it? Rest assured it’s not as daunting as many people think! Wool resists static, dirt, dust, and...
Another common myth about wool that we aim to debunk is its price. So let’s take a look at the question you’re probably asking: Is wool expensive? When comparing thread-to-thread or pound-to-pound, depending on what type or form of textile you’re looking at, wool is...
At Shepherd’s Dream we work closely with Woolgatherer Carding Mill, located just down the road from us in Montague, California. Woolgatherer supplies all the wool we use to make our natural and organic wool bedding. Over the past several weeks we’ve been exploring how...
In previous blog posts, we discussed the first few stages of processing wool: Selecting Wool Growers, Shearing, and Skirting, Grading & Baling. This process is overseen by Woolgatherer Carding Mill, located just down the road from us in Montague, California....
Lately on our blog, we’ve been exploring the process of wool - from the pastures to the finished product - to help you gain a better understanding of the wool we use to make our organic bedding products. Previously we discussed the first stage of wool processing,...
Wool is a textile fiber that comes from many different animals, but generally refers to the hair from sheep. Did you ever think about how that hair comes off the sheep? Does it fall off and get collected? Is it brushed off with a special comb? As you may know already,...
We’ve been exploring the process of wool, from the pastures to the finished product, to help you gain a better understanding of the wool we use to make our organic bedding products. All of our wool is processed at Woolgatherer Carding Mill, located just down the road...
As you may have read from our previous blogs (Wool Myth #1 and Wool Myth #2), the demand for wool products grows each day - thanks in part to better industry standards and knowledge about the many benefits of wool. However, there are still a lot of us who don’t know...
Thanks to the amazing Woolgatherer Carding Mill, located just down the road from us in Montague, California, we’re able to create some of the finest wool products in the world. Woolgatherer follows the wool through every stage, from the pastures to the finished...
Wool is a permeable fabric, meaning it allows moisture such as perspiration to pass through the core of the fibers. This helps your body regulate its own temperature so you feel dry and warm when it’s cold outside and cool but not sweaty when it’s hot. When the...
A question we hear a lot is: but won't a wool mattress make me hot? This question comes up a lot because so many of us know firsthand how wonderfully warming wool is in cold environments. How could you get through winter without your favorite cable-knit wool sweater?...
The secret of wool lies in the structure of its fibers. Unlike cotton, linen, silk or polyester, wool fibers are covered in tiny scales that resemble pine cones (see image below). Moisture Wicking This scaly surface, as well as the presence of lanolin, tends to repel...
The average person will spend about a third of their life on a single piece of furniture in their home - the bed. It seems reasonable then to make sure your bed is a safe place to sleep. The Federal Government thought so too and in the 1960’s, in response to hundreds...
One of the most powerful aspects of working with wool is how deeply connected the tradition is with our Ancestors. Learning the traditional ways that our Ancestors worked with wool is a powerful way to connect with the fabric in our lives. Reading about the history of...
Yes! Here is a natural and affordable way to introduce muscle relief and comfort into your everyday while using medicinal & wonderful wool! Wool filaments are created in such a way that they stimulate neuro receptors in our skin and produce a balmy and calming...
We all know that wool is a natural resource that runs on grass... this contributes to a textile that is sustainable, renewable, & biodegradable (unlike its synthetic counterparts). All of these qualities have a meaningful impact on the healthy future of our...
