What is merino wool and merino wool yarn?

What is Merino and where does it come from?

Merino wool fibers come from merino sheep, most of which are farmed in Australia, with New Zealand and South Africa also having significant numbers.

Merino wool is a natural fiber grown by Merino sheep, and it is finer and softer than regular wool, that makes it easy to wear next to skin. Merino wool is a renewable fiber, one adult sheep can grow four to five pounds of wool each year. This fiber has evolved over the years to keep sheep comfortable and warm in harsh environments. These animals hang out in temperatures that range from 5 - 95 degrees with no problem. Merino wool yarn is made from merino wool. Merino wool yarn is normally finer and softer, there are several grades of merino wool, based on the thickness of the fiber:

• <17.5 microns:         Ultrafine Merino Wool
• 17.7 – 18.5 microns: Superfine Merino Wool
• 18.5 - 19.5 microns:  Fine/Extra Fine Merino Wool
• 19.6 – 20.5 microns: Fine medium Merino Wool
• 20.6 – 22.5 microns: Medium Merino Wool
• 22.6 - <24 microns:   Strong Merino Wool

Micron is a unit to measure the merino wool fineness. When we think that, on average, a human hair is about 40 – 50 microns thick, we get some idea of how fine merino wool is.

What are the scales of wool?

If we observe the merino fiber under a microscope, we will see many bumps on its surface overlap like tiles on a roof and it is crimped (the natural wave of wool fibre). Scales are formed of the protein 'keratin', and they have a waxy coating chemically bound to the surface. This stops water penetrating the fiber but allows absorption of water vapour. This makes wool water-repellent and resistant to water-based stains.  

The scales will be crossed over tightly to make the merino wool projects become felted by washing merino wool crafts in warm or hot water. If felting is not your choice, please consider the superwash merino wool that can be machine washed and easy care.

What is Superwash treatment?

Superwash treatment is the most common surface treatment for merino wool to achieve fiber shrink resistance. The treatment process is done to round the sharp ends of the scales of   the merino wool fiber and impart shrink-resist properties.  It modifies and improves the natural characteristics of wool, and makes smoother, machine washable fibers with luster.

• The combination of chemicals including Sodium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid or chlorine gas is immediately reacting with the surface of the fiber and remove parts of cuticle and scales.
• The chlorination increases the energy and takes about 10 seconds. The water bath has to be cooled controlled to a temperature less than 10 degree to keep the process under control.
• A neutralization bath stops the reaction and a following rinsing removes the remaining chemicals.
• At the end of the process the fibers are sealed with a resin and a softening agent is applied.

There are some other treatments available to improve the shrink-resist properties such as Basolan treatment, Total Easy Care treatment, and mercerized and luster treatment.  Superwash treatment is a softer treatment compare to the last two.

Our Company. is proud to be a leading wool spinner for years. Quality is our soul, we produce and export premium quality superwash merino wool yarn, extra fine merino wool yarns to Europe and North America. We make RWS merino wool yarns as well to be more enviormental cautious. You are welcome to explore our yarn types wolle faerben Item# 252), Baby Merino (Item#226), Softee Baby (Item# 214) and more. 

                                                                                                      Suerwash Treatment Before & After