Most heirloom items that are made of wool are pieces of clothing, and since wool is such a warm fabric most of them are for the outdoors or wintertime. Hats, mittens and socks were common heirloom wool crafts. Heirloom items are made with wool that has been carded, spun and woven by hand. Industrial pressed wool was also commonly used since 1905 but it was not always a viable substitute.
Wool was often used to make and fill quilts, coverlets, mattresses and pillows. Wool also was woven into tea towels or place mats and hung for curtains. After the invention of the cotton gin, coverlets were also commonly made out of wool. Quilts, common heirloom items, were pieced together from several kinds of cloth that included wool.
Wool crafts were used to decorate a home just as they are used today. Dining accessories like napkins, place mats and table cloths were not always made with wool but they were often decorated with it. Wool takes dye quite well and the variety of colors available makes it a natural choice for stenciling embellishments like poems, Bible verses, or initials on textiles.
Since wool was durable it was often used to make, stuff or repair items for children. Wool was also used to make playthings like doll clothes. Wool on its own was often too sensitive for a child to wear against their skin, but a child's playthings and bedding could be made of wool. In the present day, pressed wool is a common feature in many grade school art classes because of its vibrant colors and many possible uses.