Rough Circle Wool Studio

The Farm to Fibre, Sheep to Textile Experience

Rough Circle is a 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, visitors and workshop participants are shown 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, the world of wool for crafters & farmers is demystfied by the studio’s owner, Christine Jordan.

Creating unique, one-off wild wool homeware textiles in-house, 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 as possible to what the wool looks like on the sheep grazing 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, you can have an immersive, visitor experience that celebrates the beautiful versatility, tactility, and historical significance of sheep wool, while being entertained by the flock of gorgeous, friendly sheep on this idyllic little organic farm.