Sheep
Sheepskin Leather — A Soft and Versatile Leather for Leathercraft and Upholstery
Sheepskin leather is a soft, lightweight, and easy-to-work material, valued for leathercraft, upholstery, and garment making alike. Sourced from adult sheep, it provides generous hide sizes at an affordable price, making it an excellent choice for both large-scale projects and creative crafts. At Cuir Naturel, our sheepskins come from renowned tanneries and luxury fashion house surplus stocks, available in a wide range of finishes and colours.
Our Sheepskin Leather Finishes
- Nappa Sheepskin — smooth and supple, ideal for small leather goods, leather covering, and leather garments.
- Upholstery Sheepskin — large, flexible hides, perfect for covering armchairs, sofas, cushions, and seating.
- Fancy Sheepskin — embossed patterns and decorative finishes for unique fashion and craft creations.
What Can Sheepskin Leather Be Used For?
Thanks to its flexibility and generous size, sheepskin leather is suitable for a wide variety of projects, including leather clothing (jackets, waistcoats), small leather goods and leather covering with nappa finishes, furniture restoration and upholstery with upholstery-grade leather, as well as all kinds of creative crafts. For finer, more luxurious creations, explore our lambskin leather. For more structured and durable projects, consider our cowhide leather.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sheepskin Leather
What is the difference between sheepskin and lambskin leather?
Sheepskin comes from an adult animal, making it larger, slightly thicker, and generally more affordable. Lambskin, sourced from younger animals, is finer, softer, and more supple. Sheepskin is often preferred for upholstery and larger projects, while lambskin is the premium choice for fine leather goods and luxury garments.
Is sheepskin leather suitable for upholstery?
Yes. Upholstery is one of its primary applications. Our upholstery sheepskins offer large, supple hides that are ideal for covering armchairs, sofas, headboards, or making cushions. Their flexibility makes them easy to shape around curves, while their larger size reduces the number of seams required.
Is sheepskin leather durable?
Sheepskin provides excellent durability for everyday applications such as soft leather goods, clothing, and upholstery, while remaining lighter and more flexible than thicker leathers like cowhide. For products exposed to significant mechanical stress, such as belts or heavy-duty bags, a thicker leather may be a better option.
Can sheepskin leather be sewn with a sewing machine?
Yes. Thanks to its softness and relatively thin structure, sheepskin—particularly nappa sheepskin—can be sewn easily using a standard domestic sewing machine fitted with a leather needle. It handles almost like a heavy fabric, making it an excellent choice even for beginners learning leather sewing.
How large is a sheepskin hide?
An adult sheepskin is considerably larger than a lambskin, allowing larger pattern pieces to be cut from a single hide. This is especially advantageous for upholstery and large leather projects. Since every hide is unique, exact dimensions vary. Feel free to contact us if you require a minimum usable surface area for your project.