Pinwheel Farm’s market lambs have thick, high-quality pelts. So that nothing goes to waste, we wait at the processing plant to collect the fresh hides after slaughter. Back at the farm, they are carefully cleaned, trimmed, salted and dried. Once dry, we ship them to Bucks County Fur Products in Quakertown, PA, for custom tanning. From shipping to return, the process may take several months.
The resulting hides are luxuriously soft and supple, with dense wool, and are machine washable (see instructions below)! They will make a rock into your favorite chair! Prices are based on size, currently ranging from $180 to $260, occasionally more. Our years of breeding for specialty hand spinning wool in a variety of natural colors ensure that each hide is unique.
The number, size, and color of hides available each year is variable. If you’d like to be contacted when a new shipment is received back from processing, please email me (natalyalowther@hotmail.com).
Washing instructions:
Sheepskins are processed by Bucks County Fur Products to be washable, however, they highly recommend that you send them back to them for cleaning, for best results. The cost is $20 per hide (plus postage).
Bucks County Fur Products,
220 ½ N. Ambler Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-6614
buckscofur@comcast.net
www.buckscountyfurproducts.com
That being said, I have washed my 25-year-old hide quite a few times on gentle cycle in my front loader washing machine. The following methods are revised from the Bucks County website to reflect my own experience.
Machine or hand wash (we strongly suggest hand washing for the sake of your washing machine as well as the skin) in cold or warm water (less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit). We recommend use of Kookabura or Eucalan Wool Wash. Do not use Woolite, laundry detergents, or fabric softeners! Most detergents are designed to remove oils…you do not want to remove the oil in the leather. This will result of hardening of pelt. Never use hot water or heat!
Hand Washing: Put the skin in the tub and hold it under the water until the skin is thoroughly saturated with water. Gently churn the skin to get the soap moving around the fibers and let soak for 5-10 minutes then rinse. Gently squeeze out excess water.
Machine Washing: Set to gentle cycle. Once thoroughly soaked, allow machine to churn briefly. The more churning, the more the wool will mat. Let soak for 5-10 minutes. Spin cycle briefly to remove excess water. Rinse if necessary. Dry. Never tumble dry-this will mat the wool more and shrink the leather.
Line dry or dry flat (wool side down) and stretch to shape while damp. Brush gently with a soft wire brush when wet, when damp and then when dry. Do NOT tumble dry! Keep out of direct sun! Heat will damage sheepskins, resulting in shrinking and hardening of pelts.
Leather Therapy has great products available on Amazon for washing wool & leather (recommended by Bucks County Furs).
BUCKS COUNTY FUR PRODUCTS and PINWHEEL FARM DO NOT GUARANTEE PELTS THROUGH WASHING! There are just too many variables.