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Natural Defense: Can Wool Bedding Act as a Barrier Against Bed Bugs?

Natural Defense: Can Wool Bedding Act as a Barrier Against Bed Bugs?

With travel season in full gear, bed bugs are in the news again. Their favorite hangouts are typically Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, but recently it was reported that seven Las Vegas strip hotels have had bed bug outbreaks in the last year and a half. With a little bit of education, you can increase your odds of preventing them from coming home with you.

What’s the Best Mattress for Back Pain?

What’s the Best Mattress for Back Pain?

According to statistics, nearly 65 million Americans report a recent incident of back pain. It’s no wonder, then, that it tops the list of Google searches: “best mattress for back pain.”

Unraveling with Wool Handicrafts

Unraveling with Wool Handicrafts

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

How to Wash Your Wool Items

How to Wash Your Wool Items

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.

The Practical Magic of Wool Felting

The Practical Magic of Wool Felting

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?

Is Wool Itchy?

Is Wool Itchy?

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...

Lesser-Known Uses of Wool

Lesser-Known Uses of Wool

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...

Treat Your Feet Right With Wool

Treat Your Feet Right With Wool

Using Wool for Blister Protection 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...

How Wool Keeps You Warm in the Winter

How Wool Keeps You Warm in the Winter

How Wool Keeps you Warm 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...

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #7: “Wool Attracts Bugs”

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #7: “Wool Attracts Bugs”

Myths About Wool #7 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...

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #5: Wool Is Expensive

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #5: Wool Is Expensive

Myths About Wool #5 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...

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 5

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 5

Understanding Wool Processing 5 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...

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 4

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 4

Understanding Wool Processing #4 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...

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 3

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 3

Understanding Wool Processing #3 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...

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 2

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 2

Understanding Wool Processing 2 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...

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 1

How is Wool Processed? From Sheep to Sheets: Stage 1

Understanding Wool Processing 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...

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #2: “Wool is Hot”

Common Misconceptions About Wool, Myth #2: “Wool is Hot”

Myths About Wool #2 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...

Can Wool Keep You Cool in the Summer?

Can Wool Keep You Cool in the Summer?

How Wool Keeps Us Cool   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...

Natural Characteristics of Wool Fiber

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...

Flame Retardant Chemicals: Are They in Your Mattress?

Flame Retardant Chemicals: Are They in Your Mattress?

Flame Retardant Chemicals and Wool 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...

Echo of the Waulking Song – A brief history of melton wool

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...

Mini Micro Massage With Wool!

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...

Choosing Wool is a way to stay friends with the environment

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...