Ambrose's last batch • In 4 active carts right now • Only 263 left
Ambrose's Reindeer Faux Fur Earmuffs
Ambrose's Reindeer Faux Fur Earmuffs
Dispatched within 1–2 working days
90-day money-back guarantee
Insured & free delivery with tracking
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Ambrose's Reindeer Faux Fur Earmuffs
Ambrose’s last batch · Hawes, Wensleydale
Soft, spotted earmuffs, made one pair at a time in an old upholstery workshop off the Market Place.
Only 263 pairs left · workshop closes 15 December“Wear them on the coldest morning you’ve got. That’s what I made them for.”
“Reindeer haven’t got spots. Not one of that committee had ever seen a reindeer. But the children called my wife Mrs Reindeer, and that was that.”
– Ambrose Metcalfe, 76
What arrives at your door
- One pair of Reindeer Earmuffs in the colour you choose: Fawn, Snow, Ginger or Silver
- Two soft, round faux fur cups on a padded, covered headband
- One size that fits most adult heads
- Folded in tissue paper, dispatched within 1–2 working days
What makes Ambrose’s earmuffs different
No. 01
A band built like a chair arm
Firm inside, soft padding over it, a fabric cover pulled tight and stitched underneath. No pinching, no seam on top of your head.
No. 02
Cups filled like cushions
Every cup is filled so it stays round and sits flat over the whole ear, the way a good seat cushion keeps its shape.
No. 03
Spots that match
The circles are laid out by hand so the pattern runs the same way on both ears. They look like a pair, not two leftovers.
No. 04
Warm, but feather-light
You forget you are wearing them. They don’t crush your hair, and they don’t leave you with a headache by dinnertime.
No. 05
No real fur. None.
All the softness is faux fur. No animal was involved, only the look of a fawn at the edge of the woods.
No. 06
The 1998 pattern
The Fawn pair is still cut from the cardboard template Ambrose made for his wife Freda the night Hawes switched on its Christmas lights.
Four colours, one family
Fawn
The 1998 original: soft sand with cream fawn spots on a mocha faux suede band. Just like Freda’s.
Snow
Soft ivory on a white knitted band. Lovely with a good wool coat, the favourite for chapel and weddings.
Ginger
Soft white fur with warm ginger streaks on a cream velvet band. Named for Ambrose’s ginger granddaughter, Lottie.
Silver
Pale silver-grey with dark lynx spots on black velvet. The dressiest of the four, and the one husbands borrow.
How to wear them
Give the cups a gentle shake. The fur fluffs up on its own.
Slide the band over the top of your head from ear to ear, so each cup sits right over one ear.
Wear them over loose hair, a ponytail or under a hood. Take them off indoors and your hair still looks the way you left it.
Shop-bought earmuffs vs. Ambrose’s earmuffs
| Typical shop earmuffs | Ambrose’s Reindeer Earmuffs | |
|---|---|---|
| Band | Bare plastic, pinches after an hour | Padded and covered like a chair arm |
| Cups | Thin, flat, slide off the ear | Filled like cushions, cover the whole ear |
| Pattern | Cut at random, mismatched sides | Spots laid out to match on both ears |
| Finish | Glue and loose threads | Stitched and brushed by hand |
| Who made it | A production line | Ambrose, at his bench in Hawes |
Made by hand in Hawes
Metcalfe Upholstery sits in an old stone building just off the Market Place in Hawes, high up in Wensleydale, a few doors from the school where Ambrose’s wife Freda was the lollipop lady for 22 winters. Every December the town switches on its Christmas lights, and Father Christmas arrives on an old wooden sleigh.
In 1998 Ambrose re-covered that sleigh seat, kept a remnant of spotted faux fur and made Freda a pair for the cold mornings at the crossing. The children called her Mrs Reindeer. Since then he has made more than 3,000 pairs in the back of his workshop, between chairs and settees, most of them in the dark months from October to March.
The building has been sold, and on 15 December he hands over the keys. The 263 pairs on his shelves are the last ones, and he wants them worn, not stored.
With love from Hawes, Ambrose
Perfect for
Ambrose’s standard
- Every circle cut by hand around his own template, spots lined up
- Every cup filled so it stays round
- Every band padded, covered and stitched underneath by hand
- Brushed out and checked by Ambrose, one pair at a time
Questions people ask Ambrose
Why are they called Reindeer Earmuffs if the spots are a fawn’s?
Because the children at Freda’s crossing called her “Mrs Reindeer” the morning after the 1998 Christmas lights. The sleigh fur was supposed to look like reindeer. It never did, but the name stuck.
Will they fit me?
They are one size and fit most adult heads. The band has a little give, so they sit snug without squeezing. Many customers order them for teenagers and grandchildren too.
Which colour is the warmest?
All four are equally warm. Ginger and Silver have the fluffiest, most patterned fur. Fawn and Snow are a little smoother and tidier.
Can I order several colours at once?
Yes. Choose how many pairs you would like, then pick a colour for each one. Many families order one for every generation.
90-day money-back guarantee. Wear them on your coldest morning. If they don’t win you over, send them back within 90 days and you get your money back. No questions, no fuss.
Care: Brush the fur gently with a soft brush to keep it fluffy. For small marks, spot-clean with cool water and a drop of mild soap, then let them air-dry at room temperature. Keep them away from radiators, hairdryers and the tumble dryer: heat flattens faux fur.
Fit: One size, made for adults. Store them flat or hanging, not squashed at the bottom of a drawer.
The details
| Product | Reindeer Earmuffs, made by Ambrose Metcalfe |
| Colours | Fawn, Snow, Ginger, Silver |
| Cups | Faux fur, filled |
| Band | Padded; covered in faux suede (Fawn), knit (Snow), plush velvet (Ginger) or velvet (Silver) |
| Size | One size, fits most adults |
| Made in | Hawes, North Yorkshire |
| Shipping | Dispatched within 1–2 working days |
| Guarantee | 90-day money-back guarantee |
The Last Batch
The Last Batch
A message from Ambrose:
After 54 years in the same workshop off the Market Place, the building has been sold and I hand over the keys on 15 December. These 263 pairs are the last Reindeer Earmuffs I will ever make. Every one was cut by hand around my old cardboard template, the spots lined up, the cups filled like little cushions and the band padded and stitched underneath by hand. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced.
My granddaughter Lottie wraps and ships them for me. They’re on sale until 15 December or until the last pair has gone.
When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Free Delivery
Free Delivery
Free delivery across the UK
- Dispatched within 1–2 working days
- Insured: every parcel is fully insured, with tracking
- Wrapped in tissue by hand and posted in a sturdy box so the fur arrives fluffy
- Care: brush gently, spot clean with a damp cloth, let air-dry away from heat
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Lottie personally replies to every single email – as fast as she possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to say hello to Ambrose, we’re here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (GMT)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (GMT)
Email: info@countycraftco.com
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. We stand behind everything in our shop 100%. If the earmuffs don’t win you over, just send us an email within 90 days and we’ll make it right – no hassle, no headaches.