Because trivets are ultimately functional, you may not pay much attention to their appearance. But the time has come for you to consider both the form and function of the meager trivet. Trader Joe’s Handcrafted Felted Wool Trivets are really so beautiful to behold, you may reconsider their placement under hot pots and pans. Each Trader Joe’s Handcrafted Felted Wool Trivet is hand-made in Nepal, using 100% New Zealand sheep’s wool. In a process known as “felting,” skilled workers wrap the wool into loose balls, wet them with warm water, hand-roll them while applying significant pressure, then lay them in the sun to dry. (The combination of moisture and warmth works to compact and stiffen the wool fibers – if you’ve ever had the misfortune of accidentally tossing your favorite wool sweater in the wash, you’re familiar with this phenomenon…) Finally, once the individual wool balls are completely dry, 100 of them are handsewn into a square that measures about 6.5” x 6.5”. The finished Trivets are tagged, boxed, and shipped to Trader Joe’s. We’ve secured a limited quanitity of these Felted Wool Trivets from Nepal, in two color palettes: one made up of muted grays & beiges, and the other a festival of vibrant colors. Both are fully functional, serving to protect your countertops and table surfaces from the hot undersides of pots and pans. They also elevate the form; they would not look out of place decorating your kitchen walls.