Description

What is merino yarn?

Merino wool yarn is a yarn spun from the fleece of the merino sheep. Merinos are regarded as having the finest and softest wool of any sheep.

The term merino is widely used in the textile industries with varied meanings. Originally it denoted the wool of Merino sheep reared in Spain, but due to the equivalent quality of wool spun from merino in many other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and Peru, the term Merino wool now has broader use. In the dress-goods and knitting trades the term “Merino” means an article containing Merino wool.

Merino wool is finely crimped and soft. Basic Merino types include: strong (broad) wool 23 – 24.5 micron(µm), medium wool is 19.6 – 22.9 µm, fine 18.6 – 19.5 µm, superfine 15 – 18.5 µm and ultra fine 11.5 – 15 µm.[3] Ultra fine wool is suitable for blending with other fibres such as silk and cashmere. Staples are commonly 65 mm (2.5 inches) to 100 mm (4 inches) long. Merino wool is generally less than 24 µm in diameter.