We try not to let anything go to waste, so we wait at the processing plant to collect the hides from our meat animals. 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, and are machine washable! Prices generally range from $125 to $200, depending on size, color, and wool quality. Our years of breeding for specialty hand spinning wool in a variety of natural colors ensures that each hide is unique.
The number 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 from the Bucks County website:
Hides are processed to be washable, however, we highly recommend for best cleaning results, you can send them back to us for cleaning*** ($10.00 per hide)
Machine or hand-wash (we strongly suggest hand washing for the sake of your washing machine as well as the hide) in cold or warm water (do not exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend the use of Kookaburra or Eucalan Wool Wash. You can find these products online. Do not use Woolite, laundry detergents or fabric softeners.
For 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.
For Machine Washing: Set to gentle cycle. Once skin is thoroughly soaked, allow machine to churn briefly. The more churning, the more the wool will mat. Let soak 5-10 minutes. Spin cycle briefly to remove excess water. Rinse if necessary. Dry. NEVER tumble dry- this will mat the wool more.
Line dry (NOT IN SUN) or dry flat (wool side down) and stretch to shape while damp. Brush with soft wire brush when wet, when damp, and when dry. Do not tumble dry.
Heat will damage sheepskins, resulting is shrinking and hardening of pelt.
We do not guarantee the skins through washing.
