If you are not familiar with sheepskin products, it can be difficult to know how to pick out the best option for you when browsing rugs, throws or other products for your home.

However, there are several ways to tell the quality of sheepskin and some particular things to look out for that can help you to identify a high quality product. Today we're taking a closer look at the characteristics of premium sheepskins to help anyone seeking a good quality sheepskin for their home.

Ways to identify good quality sheepskin

Wool density

Better quality sheepskins are generally much thicker and springier to the touch than poor quality ones, and this is due to the wool density. There are two attributes that make up wool density: the number of fibres per square inch (the more fibres, the higher density of wool pile), and the individual fibre diameter (the higher this is, the higher the wool density. A sheepskin with high wool density will feel bouncy and luxurious; if it feels ‘thin’ in the fleece, or there are bald patches, then this is one to avoid.

Wool length

Wool length is the length of the individual wool fibres that make up the soft fleece side of the sheepskin pelt. It's important to note that wool length will depend on the type or breed of sheepskin that you are buying, so it is not necessarily the case that short length equates to poor quality and long length to high quality. Instead, consider the length as relative based on what it is you are buying.

For example, with a generic breed, a standard sized fleece should have a relatively deep pelt that indicates an older animal to match that pelt size. If you are buying a smaller pelt from a smaller animal, then you would expect the length to be shorter.

If you were looking at a Gotland, Icelandic or Tibetan lambskin (longer haired breeds), you would be looking for a longer and softer wool shaft with a naturally tapered end.

When buying a medical sheepskin, look for a very dense pile that's been clipped to approximately 1” in depth; this length is not an indication of poor quality but is instead to offer firm support for the intended receiver of the sheepskin.

Wool loft

You may often find the word ‘loft’ associated with the description of different wools. This is quite a vague term but generally describes the thickness, insulating properties and soft fluffy texture of the wool or pelt. The higher the loft, the thicker and fluffier you fleece will be - and this is a property often found in a good quality sheepskin.

Colour

Colour is breed dependant, so there is no single rule on judging quality by colour. However, it can give indications relative to the breed.

If choosing a cream sheepskin, look for a rich deep colour to indicate that no bleaching has taken place, as long term this will shorten the skin's life. Check that the skin is free from yellowing around the back legs as this is an indication of urine staining. Some cream breeds have a degree of yellowing to the pelt, this can be a natural occurrence due to a higher lanolin production from that one animal. Some breads are also more susceptible then others - but this is not necessarily an indication of poor quality. If its excessive, then it may be an indication of poor production.

When choosing a coloured breed, for example a Jacob sheepskin (cream with characteristic brown markings), then look to see that the colouring extends all the way down the wool shaft to the skin; this will indicate that its a true breed sheepskin and not a hand dyed counterfeit skin.

Skin Quality

The back of the sheepskin - the smooth light underside - should look clean, with no marks or staining. It should be light cream or white in colour to indicate that the production has been successful and the skin is clean. The skin should be beautifully flexible and supple, should not crease on folding, and it should be near impossible to tear the skin. The skin should feel soft and almost warm to touch with a suede type surface. Poorer quality sheepskins tend to have quite a smooth and ‘boardy’ feel and look to them and are less then supple.

Smell

New sheepkins do have an odour - but it should be a pleasant odour of sheepskin leather and wool. If the sheepskin smells of sulphur (rotten eggs) then there has been a problem in the tanning process. It's also important to bote that the new sheepskin should not have a perfumed smell, as this is an indication of chemicals being used in the process and points towards the skin not being organically tanned.

Uniformity of skin shape

A sheepskin is a natural organic product, so uniformity will never be exact, but the sheepskin should be near enough symmetrical in shape. If you place the pelt on the floor so that you are looking upon it from above, you should see an elongated neck and shoulder at the centre front, then symmetrically two visible pelt extensions for the top of the front legs. The pelt should then curve inwards for the elbow area, with a larger outward curve for the belly, before once again curving inwards for the stifle area followed by two more pelt extensions for the back legs, and then finally the start of the tail central to the back of the pelt.

Some fleeces have the leg extensions shortened so as not to look so much like an animal; this is personal preference and there is nothing wrong in this, it doesn’t take away from the quality of the sheepskin but does give it a slightly different look.

If the skin is not symmetrical (within reason) then this can be an indication that it has not been taken off the carcass with skill or care, or that part of the skin has become damaged in the tanning process.

What to look for when buying a sheepskin

When choosing your new sheepskin, you should take into consideration the wool density, wool length, wool loft, wool colour, wool smell, skin smell, skin quality and shape of the overall sheepskin. Think about the size of space you wish to fill with the pelt and also what its use is going to be. Do you need something softer and silkier to touch such as a bed or sofa throw? Is a sheepskin to be used as a comforter or support for the infirm therefore pointing you towards the lambskins or medical sheepskins, or is it to be a rug in a high traffic area and needing to be of a courser wool fibre? And does the price reflect the quality of the sheepskin?

Remember that comparing sheepskins on the market is like comparing apples with apples; if its on the cheaper scale of pricing, then that will most likely reflect on the quality of the pelt.

Browse quality sheepskin rugs

At the Fabulous Fleece Company we offer an extensive range of sheepskin rugs for different interior tastes and functionalities. From decorative skins to medical sheepskins, long, short and coloured haired breeds to seconds for dog beds.

We also offer a bespoke sheepskin service where we help you choose the correct sheepskin for you requirements and even help match to your interior design. We are only an email or call away and would love to help you with your selection also in the knowledge that we only stock grade A skins.