Thursday, February 5, 2015

Animal: Merino Wool

We really love merino wool in this store.

It's soft, even soft enough for a lot of people who have skin sensitivity to wool. It's warm. It blends well with other fibers and it comes in beautiful colors.

Merino wool comes from merino sheep - see sometimes things do make sense. Originally from Castille, Spain, they baa with Spanish accents. Okay they don't. At least not the ones that are raised in Australia. Those ones have Australian accents.

Features of Merino wool are:

  • Provides warmth and wicks away sweat
  • Stays warm even when wet
  • Contains lanolin
  • Considered the softest wool around

Merino's are raised specifically for their wool and must be shorn at least once a year otherwise they get too hot and the wool gets so long it makes their face disappear and they suffocate. Alright, I don't know the suffocation part for sure, just a natural supposition based on the fact that they're wool doesn't stop growing. Apparently they do go blind though so it's actually a nice thing to strip them naked at least once a year.

Before the 18th century the merino sheep was so prized that if you were caught exporting it from Spain you could be put to death. Who knew that peaceful little shepherds lived a dangerous life?

1905 Merino Sheep Champion

Looking at the picture to the left, Lori said, "Can you imagine cuddling with it?"

I guess shepherds wouldn't need a blanket. Or maybe they knit straight from the sheep. 

We have several different yarns in different weights that feature this amazing fiber. 



To find out more about  merino wool you can read about it here. 


Just some of the yarns that we carry that contain merino wool. We don't carry the sheep.

Berroco Abode
Berroco Cirrus
Berroco Pure Merino
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK and Aran
Diamond Luxury Fine Merino Superwash Lace
Diamond Luxury Footloose
Diamond Luxury Merino Bamboo
Harmony Pure NZ Merino
Malabrigo Cereza
Malabrigo Roanoke
Malabrigo Sock
Manos Artesanas Camino Color Dip Dyed Sock Yarn
Manos Silk Blend
Rowan Fine Art Premium  Hand Painted Sock Yarn
Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine Color 120 and 85
SMC Select Merino Cotton

Posted by Anna Maria Junus (happy employee who loves merino wool in spite of an allergy that has disappeared somewhat since working here)



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