What is the difference between a woven wool rug and a sheepskin rug?
Wool rugs are made from stronger carpet wool fibres which are woven or injected into a backing material. They use wool types that are strong and suitable for walking on and intricate patterns can be achieved in the weaving process. Sheepskin rugs are the tanned skins of sheep. The wool fibres are left embedded into the skin in their natural state and these are permanently fixed during the tanning process. Generally sheepskin rugs are made from skins with finer and softer wools than those used in woven rugs. They are softer to the touch and have wool fibres that are more akin to those used in a woollen throw or garment, than the stronger and harsher wools used in woven floor rugs. Patterns in sheepskin rugs are achieved by piecing together portions of different sheepskin rugs that have been dyed different colours.
