Wool is a generic term for the outer body covering of any quadruped. These coverings are primarily constructed of protein arranged in a linear fashion - hair. In general conversation wool means the outer covering of a sheep. But in a broader sense wool can mean part or all of the outer covering of a sheep, llama, alpaca, rabbit, dog, cat, cow, horse, goat, musk ox, or bison. You can find yarns from any of those animals except cats and dogs in any well-stocked yarn store. Each type of outer covering has different end uses, usually dependent on the fineness and length of the individual fiber. As a general rule, most of the animals listed above are raised only partly for their fiber, which is harvested each year by shearing. With the exception of the buffalo or bison which are being raised for meat, animals are not generally slaughtered for their fibers.

Wool is further divided into fleece and down. Fleece is usually the outer coat, but in breeds where the outer coat is quite coarse (horse, bison and cow), it can also be the term used for an inner coat. Fleece contains fibers from 2-8 inches in length and is of varying diameter, which can be measured on either the Bradford scale (mostly used for sheep’s wool) or in microns. Down is always an undercoat, and generally consists of fibers that are quite short – ¼ to ¾ inches in length – and fine, with diameter commonly measured in microns.

Fleece runs the gamut from rough and hard-wearing (think rugs and upholstery) to soft and fragile (think soft angora sweaters). Insulating properties are good.

Sheep’s wool is naturally flame-retardant. This makes it an excellent choice for items that will be worn in a camping environment, and anywhere you’ll be around a flame. Fine sheep’s wool is also a good choice for baby wear, since it’s a natural insulator, comfortable in all but the very warmest weather. Sheep’s wool has another interesting characteristic that makes it especially good for cold, wet weather. It will retain heat even when wet. This is what makes wool an especially good choice for socks, gloves and hats.

Down is normally the inner coat of an animal. Down is usually very warm and not particularly strong unless plied. Downs have a low resistance to abrasion and usually become quite fuzzy with wear. This characteristic can be enhanced or modified by blending down with other fibers.

Fleece and down can be cleaned in the same way. A 10-minute soak in hot soapy water followed by two or more rinses in water of the same temperature will clean these fibers nicely. You may want to add a splash of white vinegar to sheep’s wool fabrics to restore the pH to a more normal level. Wools should be laid flat or blocked to air-dry.

Bradford Scale for Sheep Wool - Types of Wool

Extrafine merino
Superfine merino
Fine merino
Standard merino
Medium wool
Coarse wool
Braid (very coarse) wool

Freckles bedding sets are perfect for boys or girls bedrooms. They have very vibrant colors of purple, pink and blue hues of the Bali Girl Freckles Bedding set for girls, to the Freckles Construction bedding set for boys, Freckles Dragonfly bedding, Freckles Hot Chocolate bedding and others.

With most Freckles bedding sets being offered in twin, full and queen bedding sizes, a Freckles bedding set is ideal for any bedroom and for kids of all ages! In addition to a wide range of Freckles duvet sets, quilts, comforters, sheet sets and bedskirts, a tremendous variety of other coordinating Freckles bedroom accessories are also available including window treatments, decorative pillows, lamps, and storage bins.

Are you planning to decorate your bathroom and need some ideas to give your bathroom that personal touch? The colors that you use for your bathroom can help create the right atmosphere for your bathroom. You could use light colors such as green, blue, cream yellow or other pastel colors. Light colors help sooth your mind.

Shower curtains give your bathroom a fresh look. The use of colors on your shower curtains gives the bathroom a brand new look and feel.

Also get the accessories to accent your bathroom with toothbrush holders, soap holders, waste baskets, and towel holders. Make sure that your bathroom is a place you look forward to return to the next morning or after a long day.

GI Joe the Real American Hero is back!! G.I. Joe stands for “General Issue Joe”.

In 1963, noting the commercial success of the Barbie doll for girls, Stan Weston, came up with the idea of a Barbie-like line with a military theme that would be marketed to boys. The prototypes were originally named “Rocky” (the marine/soldier) “Skip” (the sailor) and “Ace” (the pilot), before Don Levine, inspired by the 1945 film The Story of G.I. Joe, decided on the generic name G.I. Joe. The line was launched, on February 2, 1964, with a World War II theme. The G.I. Joe figures were originally four figures, one to represent each branch of the Armed Forces.

Today G.I. Joe is still very popular with little boys and especially those with parents in the military. Make your little boy’s room into a GI Joe the Real American Hero jungle with camo wall border, lamps, toy box, rocker, and desk along with the bedding.

The Fantastic 4 is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1961. The Fantastic Four have four core individuals traditionally associated with them. They gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space. Mr. Fantastic is a scientific genius and the leader of the group who can stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes. The Invisible Woman is Reed’s wife; she can render herself invisible and project powerful force fields. The Human Torch is Sue’s younger brother, who can generate flames, surround himself with them and fly. The final member is the monster-like Thing, their friend with orange, rock-like skin and super-strength. The Thing is often filled with anger, self-loathing and self-pity over his new existence. Since the original four’s 1961 introduction, the Fantastic Four have been portrayed as a somewhat dysfunctional yet loving family. Breaking convention with other comic-book archetypes of the time, they would squabble and hold grudges both deep and petty.

Domestic Bin has everything that you need to create a Fantastic 4 bedroom for your child.