Elaine is a comfortable lounge seat with a large sitting surface made from a woollen rug. It is the result of a close collaboration between French/Dutch product designer Julie Thissen and Irish rug makers Ceadogán led by Dennis Kenny. Elaine is part of the project ‘A fine Yarn’, which was initiated by the designer Francesca Sciarmella, aiming to form connections between young designers and Irish industry to find new applications for traditional Irish wool.

The surface of the seat is made by hand, using a rug production technique known as tufting. This technique allows rugs to be produced in any specific given shape just like a tailor’s pattern. The rug is then stitched into a shape and finally it is fitted and attached to its metal structure. It wraps around the frame, creating soft edges and corners on all sides of the seat.