Uses of Wool

Wool can be used for so much more than the usual spinning to use for knitting, crochet and weaving, plus felting and other fibre crafts. Sheep’s fleece is a versatile fibre and as a Guild we aim to help promote its use. Here is a list of other uses that you may not have thought of:

• Filling cushions, mattresses, pillows, quilts
• Felting for mats, tree guards etc
• Insulation, thermal cladding
• Unwashed fleece can be put round saplings
• Liner for hanging baskets, flowerpots etc
• As cushioning for packaging
• As a slug repellent
• As a natural, organic, slow release plant fertilizer https://www.plan-lana.com/ https://romneymarshwools.co.uk/products/wool-pellets
• Compressed in resin to make chairs, knife handles etc (see here https://composite-integration.co.uk/a-new-material-for-composites/ for more details and here for products https://www.solidwool.com/shop)
• Made into noise-reducing baffles
• As nesting material for birds (use fleece only, not spun threads as birds can get tangled in it)
• Shelia found this use on using fleece to help restore peat bogs. https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/mountain-wool-tested-in-peatland-restoration/

Can you think of any other uses? Let us know if you do!

Fire retardant properties

It should also be noted that wool smoulders and does not burst into flames like some fibres. It is naturally fire retardant. For more info see here: https://iwto.org/wellness/flame-resistance/

If you want to see an experiment showing this have a look at this video which is an extract from the BBC show “Kill It, Cut It, Use It” (Series 1, Episode 2, Sheep): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBubEqN2dyU