Rough Circle Wool Studio

Rough Circle is a new, creative wool and textile design studio, beautifully situated on the towpath that flanks the River Barrow between Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge in Co. Carlow, Ireland. Heralding the beauty of natural, raw sheepswool through farm to fibre experiences, Christine Jordan shows visitors and teaches workshop participants how wool is grown, harvested, processed and used through a combination of demonstration and hands-on practice, using wool from the flock of three different breeds.

As an advocate for alternative uses for sheepwool, she is wholly committed to researching and experimenting ways to utilise a sustainable, renewable, environmentally beneficial, valuable natural resource, that is largely wasted.

In the studio she weaves and felts the wool that is sheared annually from from her rare breed sheep flock. There is minimum intervention - the wool is undyed, washed only just to remove grit and soil, leaving some natural oils in the wool to retain softness and flexibility. This approach creates natural products that are as close to what the wool looks like on the sheep living in the field outside the studio, where they work their magic on the land as part of a regenerative farming system.

Workshops and classes in sheep care, wool harvesting, wool processing, felting, & hand weaving are run from the cottage studio, weaving room, wool room and felting area. If you are visiting the locality, have an immersive experience that celebrates the beautiful versatility, tactility, and historical significance of sheep wool, while being entertained by the flock of gorgeous, friendly sheep. Follow along with the rhythm and seasons of tending to a small flock through the blog.

Sustainability is at the core of all activities here. It is a small farm with organic certification formalised in January 2025. The waterside location provides endless inspiration for creative pursuits, right where the flock live. The workshop schedule follows the farming calendar, providing opportunities to creatively use the annual wool harvest - so often discarded - in innovative ways.