Ok, so you might think we’re crazy, but we always thought the sheepskin rugs that Ikea sold (especially the super cheap small sized ones that we always grab) were faux. Well, we recently had one of those duh moments when we noticed that the materials weren’t listed as acrylic or some other fabric and instead read: 100% sheepskin. Oops. We should have known- after all, they’re a Swedish company- but for some reason we always saw $99 sheepskin rugs and assumed those were the real ones and that the cheap $25 Ikea ones just had to be man made.
Now we know the faux or real sheepskin decision is an extremely personal choice (just like wearing fur, eating meat, wearing leather, etc) so this post isn’t about judging or debating that issue (to each his own!) it’s just about a faux sheepskin DIY project that we took on so we could happily pass our Ikea sheepskins on to a relative who promised to give them a happy home. It suddenly just felt weird to see Burger laying on the one that we had draped over the sofa but we didn’t want them to end up in a landfill (so handing them off to someone who would appreciate them seemed like the best thing to do). We actually took on two different faux sheepskin projects, so this post will detail one of them while the one this afternoon will detail our second adventure in faux sheepskin making (hence the “part 1” mention in this post’s title). Let the fun begin…
First, we hit up a few stores in search of a super wooly shag rug on the cheap. We hit the jackpot at Marshall’s where we found a large 4 x 6-ish version for $39. We knew we could get at least two faux sheepskins out of it (which made them under $20 each- which was actually cheaper than the affordable Ikea ones) so we snatched it right up. The tawny eggshell color was perfect and the fact that it was convincingly textured and wooly looking made it more of a “perfect fit” along with the fact that the backing wasn’t that baby-doll-head-smelling grippy rubber, it was one of those woven fabric-backed rugs that we prefer.
Then we got to work making a life-sized template to dictate our new sheepskin’s shape, so we taped a bunch of pieces of paper together to get a nicely sized “background” and pulled up the link to the real Ikea ones which we used as a guide. It was as simple as sketching out a sheepskin-ish blob on our taped-together printer paper and cutting it out with a scissors.
Oh and here’s a tip: you can fold the paper in half vertically before cutting it out and just follow the pencil line on the exposed half of your sketch while it’s folded for a perfectly symmetrical result if perfection is you middle name. I actually didn’t go that route because I figured a little asymmetry never hurt and most sheepskins aren’t perfectly even on all sides anyway.
Next we just placed our new “sheepskin” template on the back of the rug and used a thin sharpie to trace around the paper cutout which left two sheepskin sized outlines on the back of the rug:
Then we did a test cut to see what would happen to the rug when we sliced through it. Our big fear was that everything would come loose and fall out (which we thought we might be able to remedy by using white duct tape to tape around the cut-out lines on the back of the rug before snipping to hold things together at the edges). But we were pleasantly surprised that no tape or other precautions were necessary and every slice was clean and no threads came loose even when you tugged on them after cutting. So then it was as simple as cutting out both of our sheepskin outlines…
… which left us with two pretty darn amazing little faux sheepskin rugs. We love all the soft creamy texture that the shag pattern adds, and of course we love that we made them ourselves. There’s always a bit of pride when you get to mention that you DIYed something, right?
Oh and do you see that little pile of fluff under the scissors? We gave the outline of each rug a little haircut to refine the shape and make them look more polished and clean (initially the shag had flopped a few directions while we were cutting so the outline wasn’t very crisp- but a few snips around the perimeter of each of our new wooly additions really cleaned things up and emphasized our intended shape.
Now this version of our DIY sheepskin is thicker and less flimsy than our second one (which we’ll be sharing this afternoon). So it’s not as easy to “drape” over the back of a chair for example (it’s a bit more structured, like a rug would be). In short: it’s much better served as an actual sheepskin rug (ie: use it on the floor as opposed to tossing it over the back of your sofa). Oh and you can make a much larger one for a bigger area with a larger rug (or just by not making two of them from one rug) so that’s another idea. When it came to our two little ones, we did notice that one of them looked great on our square ottoman in the nursery (which required it to be a lot less flexible than thinner surfaces like the top of a soft upholstered chair or sofa) so that’s where we decided it should live:
Isn’t the shaggy texture charming? We just love how chunky and tactile it is- you really can’t walk into the room without petting it.
And Burger LOVES IT! In fact sometimes we can’t find him and he’s in there sleeping on it in the sun. Maybe he can sense that no animals were harmed in the making of it? Either way, so cute.
Our second wooly rug will probably also live in the nursery (on the ground as an actual rug) so stay tuned for those details as we continue to cobble things together in there. Oh and remember how there was an extra strip of leftover rug on one end after we cut out both of our sheepskin templates? Well it was perfect for creating a bonus little textured lumbar pillow. So not only did we get two faux sheepskins for $20 a pop, we actually got two sheepskins plus an accent pillow for $39 total. Not bad right?
All we did was take that long piece of leftover shag and trim the interior edge so it was one long rectangle. Then we “folded” it in half to create a nice loop of shaggy texture. When it came to filling our fluffy DIY pillow, we actually looked no further than a few other rug scraps- so it really is made completely from leftover rug snippings. We love that we didn’t have to buy any batting or anything- and there was practically zero waste created by our entire project since we used it all.
Now we’re sure this next step will leave a few of you shaking your heads, but we’re work-with-what-you-have people, so we actually reached for safety pins to secure the left side of our makeshift pillow (which you see me holding together in the photo above). The great thing about the rug’s incredibly dense shaggy texture is that every single pin was completely obscured but it held things nice and securely- plus it’s super poke-free and safe since they’re buried so deeply in the shaggy texture that you’d literally have to go hunting around for them to find one and then would have to apply a ton of pressure to pop one open (which can’t be done by leaning on the pillow or even whapping someone in the face with it during a pillow fight). Anyway, so we used a few safety pins to connect our loop of fabric on the side and a few more along the top and bottom seams.
As you can see from this close up, they’re placed extremely close to the base of the rug so they don’t stick up and can’t be seen, felt or accidentally opened (they’re literally buried two or three inches “beneath” the dense shaggy fabric).
So unless you’re digging through the long fibers of the rug in search of one they’re completely undetectable. Gotta love a cheap on-hand solution like that.
We’ve been using the pillow for about two weeks now in our living room and we have yet to feel any “small metal nubs” when we lean back on it. And we especially love that it was a free little bonus so if at any point we want to revise how we connected it (and remove the pins) we can- but seriously, so far so good. And we love that we used every last scrap of our rug and got a little bonus decor item out of the deal.
So that’s one take on our faux sheepskin solution. Stay tuned for this afternoon’s post where we actually hunted down fabric and made a more flexible and drapey “throw-like” version. And those were even cheaper and easier so they’re definitely an anyone-can-do-it DIY project. Well maybe not anyone; Burger refuses to help but ironically can always be found enjoying all the fruits of our labor…
Sidenote: Is it wrong that we think he’s the best looking dog in the world? Seriously, he’s a knockout isn’t he? But enough about our heartstoppingly handsome chihuahua. Have you guys ever DIYed anything from a rug or altered one in some fun hands-on way (dyed it? spray painted it? used it to “upholster” something like a cube ottoman?). We’d love to hear all about your thrilling adventures in rug-customization.
Andrea says
I just helped my friend update her son’s bedroom and we used bed sheets to upholster the headboard that we made and to make a matching bed skirt. It turned out fabulous and was half the price.
Nicole B. says
I think you had great success with your new “sheepskin” rug! Plus, you can probably wash this one much easier.
The flokati rug would also be a good option as it is still wool but not a whole skin.
I just bought a sheepskin at Ikea for my son who has Autism. He loves to lay on it and snuggle up when the world is just too much.
Julie says
I TOTALLY had the same realization, and was heartbroken. I couldn’t even bear to look at the sheepskin once I realized it was real. I didn’t have someone to donate it to, and felt that throwing it away would be truly disrespectful to the sheep, so I went the opposite way — kept it, but trimmed off the bits that made it look like anything other than a rectangular rug, and I put it on the floor by the bed in our guest room. I’m so relieved I’m not the only person who thought it was faux.
Olga says
Ok, so these aren’t exactly cheap but your post reminded me of them. Thought I’d share in case you were looking for sheepskin-like accessories for your little one:
http://greenmountaindiapers.com/snugglewool.htm
Tashia D says
I love this project! Especially the pillow. I think I need to check our Marshalls for that rug! Thanks for all the great ideas guys!
vee says
I wasn’t sold on the faux sheepskin rug cut out until I saw it in action! Its GREAT!
The pillow is absolute magnificent! You better believe that i’m going to be doing this SOON!
YAY!
Chelsey says
I love this project. I have a large sheepskin rug and I adore it (to each his own, right?) but this is a fabulous alternative. I think the pillow is my favorite part, though. Such fabulous texture! I might have to go and see if I can snag one of those rugs…
kate says
cute makeover! Am I naiively assuming that sheepskin rugs aren’t from sheep that died of natural causes?? Do they kill them for rugs?! Gosh, you learn something new every day.
I love that the rug has more “fur” than Burger does. He is pretty cute too!
Sheena says
I can understand a vegan or vegetarian being unnerved by the sheepskin, but a meat eater?? You’ve eaten lamb! (gyros, kabobs, etc.) It’s okay to eat it, but not use its skin?
And you’re opposed to sheepskin but you’ll CUT A RUG TO LOOK LIKE ONE?????! This has to be a joke, right? Is it April Fools Day?
I generally love your site, I really do! But seriously. This is bizarre. (How are you going to explain it to your daughter, by the way?)
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve always loved texture and softness and of course anything white (or close to white) is golden in our book. We like what we like- what can we say? I guess it’s the same reason that some vegetarians like faux chicken or veggie burgers and some people who won’t buy leather will wear leather-like bags and shoes made from alternative (and very convincing) materials. And no, we’re not vegetarians (although we probably have five meat free dinners a week) and while many of our ottomans and furnishings are made of faux leather (a vinyl like alternative that’s cheaper and super easy to clean) we do have one leather chair in the bedroom and we wear leather shoes and purses from time to time (well I wear the purses, John definitely doesn’t!). We try to maintain a nice balance and although we’re not strict vegetarians and we do occasionally wear leather, there’s just something that felt sadder about the sheepskin rugs to us- especially when we saw Burger sitting on them. Again, it’s totally a personal decision and we don’t want this to turn into a vegetarian/leather/fur debate, but we just thought tackling a fun faux alternative was the way to go for us. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
amyks says
I think that lumbar pillow is so great…I love how you guys used the scraps to stuff it, so clever.
Stacy says
Very cute! I’d have kept the rug, but respect your decision – different strokes and all that. :)
Although, some of your readers might be interested to know that most babies LOVE to lay on a real sheepskin. Something about the fluffiness and and the fact that they help regulate temperature. Some parents let their babies sleep on them, but I was a SIDS freak so my son just lounged on ours…it always seemed very soothing to him. Not sure if a faux version would have the same effect…
jbhat says
Super cute. I prefer cats to dogs, in general, but Burger holds a special place in my heart. He really is a charmer.
jbhat
Caroline says
No judgment at all- but I wanted to pass along this link where you can donate furs to the humane society’s Coats for Cubs program… :-)
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/donate_old_fur.html
Nikki says
Cute rug! I have never gotten that creative with a rug. All I have done is duck tape the back of several together to make one long runner.
The nursery is adorable, can’t wait to see the finished product.
heather s. says
I don’t care for the rug, but I love the pillow! Someone else recently made a pillow out of a rug they found at Bed, Bath and Beyond….maybe Centsational Girl.
julialifeisart says
I LOVE this idea! I am totally adding “soft-nubby-woolly-lambish-fuzzy rugs” to my list of things to hunt for at thrift stores.
Chelsea says
Adorable! I’m totally with you on using safety pins as opposed to messing with a needle and thread. I’ve actually been known to STAPLE throw pillows together in the past (I just make sure to give family members a fair warning about the potential risk of getting poked!!).
Manda says
Burger is going to be sooo cute with the baby. I can’t wait to see pictures. I know one day you’re gonna find him and the baby snuggled up sleeping together.
Also, off topic. I know you said you were gonna nurse, I just want to recomend the arms reach co-sleeper. I got one after I had my first daughter because I would get up every 30min to an hour when she was in her bassinet to make sure she was still breathing (I know crazy) but with the co-sleeper its like they are in bed with you.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the suggestion!
xo,
s
avery says
It looks like you draped a bath mat over your ottoman. I am not a fan.
May I ask why all of a sudden you’re basically putting a disclaimer on all of your projects and opinions?
JennyB says
Hi there – I’ve been following your blog for about a year and have never commented (although I’ve been really tempted by some of your give-aways). : )
This post sure did it for me and I finally gave in! I love your “work-with-what-you-have” attitude. My husband and I just bought our first house (which to some, looked like it needed a wrecking ball). With a little paint, actually ALOT of paint and some DIY love, it’s really starting to look like home. With the lack of finacial resources that comes with buying a fixer-upper, I always find myself decorating by repurposing things we already have.
The rug and pillow look great and the beanette’s room has really come together – thanks for all the ideas!!
jasmine says
Hi YHL. I’ve never gotten the guts to make this cute leaf rug but the directions have been in my inbox for months and wanted to share:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://craftstew.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/how-to-transform-a-rug.jpg&imgrefurl=http://craftstew.com/tag/rugmaking&usg=__1CxwZN7LyDJ-rbfXqTmwfeDmBiw=&h=374&w=549&sz=30&hl=en&start=22&tbnid=szgxVfmqE2xpqM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=133&prev=/images?q%3Drug%2Bclip%2Bart%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20
YoungHouseLove says
Sweet. Thanks for the link! Off to check it out…
xo,
s
Kristi @ Life at the Chateau Whitman says
Very creative! I like the pic you posted. It definitely fits in perfectly in your nursery.
Jannell says
Funky little project. The pillow is great :-)
I think it’s awesome that you guys bring up fur vs faux- it is a HUGELY touchy subject.
I was reading through the comments and noticed a few people wondering about whether sheep are killed or die of nat’l causes. Just think about this- do you truly believe sheep skin rugs could be sold so cheap you would think they were fake if farmers were letting them live out happy healthy natural lives?
If you want to understand more, pick up a copy of “Eating Animals” or for an easier/quicker (but equally eye opening) read, “Skinny Bitch” has a lot of the facts too. Alicia Silverstone has a book out called “The Kind Diet” along w/a website http://www.thekindlife.com dedicated to living vegan.
I’m not really one to preach, but after having just read two of those books, I realized my choice of being blissfully unaware of the total horrors of the industry was so completely selfish and wrong.
Each of us have the right to make our own choice when it comes to using animal products, but I think it’s only right that we fully understand the ramifications of those choices before we make them.
katiethelady says
I LOVE the pillow, but not crazy about the rug. Very creative, though!
Worldinapapercup says
I think its adorable! I totally understand your motivations for doing this and respect your creativity to make something that is a great substitute for a sheepskin. I am a vegetarian and wear a leather purse…am I contradicting myself? Maybe! But I am doing my best and what I think is right and I commend you guys for doing the same. Love this project! XX Niki
Sarah says
Hey, I think your faux rugs are cute, and I respect that you guys made a decision that makes you comfortable with the products you keep in your house, but I just wanted to clarify (since some commenters seemed to be confused) that sheepskins are a byproduct of sheep that are raised and used for meat. It may not be your cup of tea, but it’s just a way of using the whole animal.
Cheers! I love your blog :)
katy says
who cares if they eat meat or not! That’s really not the point. They don’t want real sheepskin; I totally get that AND I eat meat and love my leather bags. To each their own.
I think it’s awesome and I admire your endless creativity.
Eva says
Um. My mouth just dropped. I thought those rugs were faux as well!
Should have known better though, I was just in Ikea last week and was really skeeved out by the new (or new for me to notice) cowhide rugs they have. My husband tried to argue they were fakes until I pointed out the cow dandruff.
Holly W says
What a great alternative for those who don’t want to buy a real sheepskin! I have to say, though, that I prefer the look of the real thing. It just seems more “natural” … if that makes sense :)
Meredith K A says
You already answered the question I was going to ask about owning leather things but not wanting a sheepskin rug, so I had to roll my eyes a bit when I read one comment saying that wool rugs wasted the rest of the sheep. You don’t have to kill or even harm a sheep to get just the wool! I guess not everyone attends the PA Farm Show every year, and while those sheep do look a bit sad and pathetic once they’ve been shaved, it’ll all grow back and be ready for another shearing the following year.
I wonder if the skin part was real but they had fake fur on them? I would think if it was really wool, it would get gross and matted after a while (i.e. felted). Any thoughts?
My fav part of the whole project is the pillow, which is adorable, and I bet stiffer than a usual pillow, so even better lumbar support! I was just never a fan of animal skin rugs, faux or real, although I do like the way you use them like a throw blanket over stools and stuff.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
They actually did get gross and matted if they ever got wet (we couldn’t ever wash them, and when we tried with one it was ruined). We truly believe the Ikea ones are 100% sheepskin just like they list them on their site (under the word “materials”). We’d guess that they’d say “sheepskin/acrylic” or “sheepskin/polyester” if they were a mix of real skin and fake fur (in which case we think they’d just use fabric backing and not real skin to attach the fur anyway, so they would say 100% polyester or something like that on the label). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lindsay says
Fun project!
And it’s so funny to me that there are so many, “Wait? Are you vegetarian?” comments. Everyone draws their own lines and is comfortable with different things. Me, for instance? I’m totally NOT a vegetarian, but I hate leather furniture, car seats, etc. (for ME – I don’t care what anyone else has). Sitting on (or wearing) dead animals just icks me out.
Kelly w/ a Y says
OMG! I’ve been wanting to do something like this forever!!! I too pass by that rug all the time at Ikea and have always wanted to buy it. Why oh why are shag rugs so expensive!?!? Anyway, hope to tackle this project for my cats to enjoy(because you KNOW they’ll be using it more than me!)
Oh and haven’t had a chance yet to post my congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy!!! Congrats you two! Love you guys, your house and Burger too!
I lost a lot of steam with the rest of my DIY projects at home(I’ve been figuring out how to live in a studio apt for 2 years now.) But your recent bathroom reno has given me new steam to tackle mine. So, thanks!
Keep up the great work!
:)
Loren says
I understand about the leather thing. I try not to eat much meat, but I love my leather boots, but I can’t stand the idea of a ‘skin’ in my home. I didn’t buy a flotika rug for that exact reason.
One thing that can help in a project like this (I learned in my costume construction class) is to make sure you ‘part’ the rug before you cut it. Use your fingers or something to move the shag or ‘fur’ to either side so that all you are cutting with the scissors is the bottom. Saved me from a lot of mess.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip Loren! It definitely would cut down on the fluff-factor.
xo,
s
Catherine @ waking up with you says
Thank you so much for this post! I have to admit I went to Ikea just before Christmas in the hopes of picking up one of those rugs so I could copy your faux-fur-faux-snow look at the base of my Christmas tree. I saw right away that they were real sheepskin and just couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I’m vegetarian and it doesn’t sit right with me to use animal products like leather, fur, sheepskin etc. This looks like a great alternative!
Lauren says
I was just at Homegoods today after reading this post, and guess what I found on clearance! Two of those exact rugs you used, marked down to $20 each! While I loved your post, I just don’t have a need for them in my house. Still, it killed me to pass up such a good deal.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Lauren. Hopefully some other readers can hunt them down thanks to your comment!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I’m a long-time reader but have never commented before. AWESOME post. I too thought that the Ikea sheapskin rugs were fake. They are so cheap! How can it be?! We still have ours draped over a chair but mostly because I couldn’t figure out what else to do with it now – and our cats love it. Sigh. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for some shaggy white fabric/carpets though. Thank you for posting this!
Amanda says
And kudos on your mature response to the naysayers :) As a vegan I deal with that a lot…
Sarah Sarniak says
Love this idea, very cute. Your doggy is very cute too. :)
Emily says
Just an FYI for people with the real sheepskin rugs….I have had success washing mine in cold water and hanging it to dry. You have to do some brushing of the fur once it’s dry but I didn’t experience any shrinkage at all. It’s no different than washing an animal (cow/sheep/pig) for a show (think dog show but with farm animals). These animals live in the elements and you would be surprised how durable the rugs can be if treated properly.
Kathy says
oh, COME ON! Now I’m really starting to get jealous of you two creative geniuses! argh! I LOVE it–and just when I was wondering what you were going to do with the leftover rug pieces… VOILA! a little pillow??! HELLO?!! Is there anything you guys can’t do?
I’m so inspired that I have to try this at home. thank you!
zehila says
Your pillow is soooo cute! Urban Outfitters has one just like it! but for like $28! your is better ’cause its cheaper :)
Kathy says
I just read through the other posts by readers and I’ve got to add some thoughts: I am a composition instructor and my current research writing class is based on a theme this quarter: Food. The students have been reading a ton of relevant, updated material about food from all perspectives–e.g., health, environment, and politics–about factory farming, organic food, fast food, vegetarianism, etc.–and one of the biggest lessons students are learning about is the amazing resistance and negativity that many Americans have in response to the mere mention of alternative ways to live and eat. Anyway—just some “food for thought”so to speak. And btw, I love YHL and I think Burger’s adorable! so THERE. :-)
Shelley @ Green Eggs & Hamlet says
Burger, definitely the cutest chihuahua out there. Maybe your 2011 calendar should be all pics of Burger and the Beanette. I feel a project coming on – one picture of that pair per month (after the Bean is actually born, of course) for later compiling into a calendar.
YoungHouseLove says
Sara and Shelly,
Love it! They’re both definitely projects for our to do list.
xo,
s
Chan says
Good for you guys. I’m usually much more in favor of natural materials, but when it comes to sheepskins, I recently found out that the vast majority of them (as in, unless they’re labeled otherwise) are treated with off-gassing arsenic. I can’t for the life of me figure out who thought that was a good idea when people use these things in their homes and as part of their babies’ bedding. I actually really wanted a sheepskin for our upcoming arrival, on the understanding that they help infants regulate their body temperatures, but the arsenic thing has me pretty glad I didn’t spend the money. So maybe you already knew that … but the faux DIYs look pretty good without the potential side effects.
Amy says
First of all – I love your blog – it is full of inspiration (my husband keeps asking ‘who are these John and Sherry people you keep talking about!).
But, I wanted to ask: while obviously it’s a really good thing to aim to be green as much as possible, I just wonder if you factor in that when you are paying so little for an item (ie the $39 rug above) that it probably can’t have been manufactured in a green or ethical way?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Thanks for the kind words! It’s all about balance for us. We support local businesses, buy everything from cosmetics to shampoo that’s Fair Trade certified, get lots of food from the farmer’s market, compost our scraps, recycle, shop at thrift stores, and even have a rain barrel. I guess we do our best and sometimes we go for things that are readily available and affordable and sometimes we spend a bit more to support good causes and practices. We definitely agree that everyone can do something and we just try to do the best we can when it comes to juggling affordability, sustainability, eco-friendliness, ethical manufacturing, etc. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Micha B says
Well, I personally haven’t made anything out of a rug, but my mother did.
She was a Clothing & Textiles major in college and had been sewing her whole life. One of her senior classes didn’t challenge her enough so she made a man’s winter coat from a great rug she found at the thrift store. My dad wore that coat for about 20 years…
Awesome.
Cayla says
Love the pillow idea!! Makes me want to go buy a shaggy rug and make a few throw pillows for around the house.
Natalie says
What a great DIY project! Very thrifty :)
Nienke says
SUCH a great idea for cozying up your house for the winter!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Kristin says
Hi,
while I personally don’t have any problems sitting on leather or real sheepskin, this project is nice anyway. I especially like that you did not choose a “faux-sheepskin” fabric to make it look like the real ones in this case, but you used this nicely textured rug and just cut it like a sheepskin. A fun and cozy “faux sheepskin” does not always have to look exactly like the real ones!