Using merino wool. Merino wool, how is it different from regular wool? Variety of products and baby underwear

Often on the labels of children's things or bed linen you can see the inscription that the composition merino wool. What kind of material is this, artificial or natural, what qualities does it have? Little is really known about this, so we decided to investigate the issue.

Origin story

Merino is a breed of sheep whose wool consists of very thin but strong fibers. This is what distinguishes them from other animals that are bred not only for the collection of skins, but also because of the meat. After all, Merino sheep are much smaller than meat breeds in size, but they are densely covered with a unique wool pile.

There are, however, African and american breed that combine all qualities.

Merino first appeared in Spain in the 12th century. The Spaniards were monopolists in this direction. The country took this matter so seriously that it was provided the death penalty those who tried to take the sheep out of the country. This was considered a terrible crime and betrayal. But in the 18th century, this regime fell, and merino came to Sweden, Saxony, and then to Australia.

Today, sheep are bred almost everywhere: in England, Italy, Turkey, Russia. Merino clothes have gained immense popularity, and the assortment offered by stores is constantly expanding. And this is understandable, because the material is unique and extremely useful for humans.

Useful properties of the material

We all know for a long time that natural sheep's pile is not only warm, but also saves from various ailments, and is generally useful to wear. Such clothes and underwear:

Stimulates blood circulation.
Favorably affects the joints.
It has an anti-inflammatory effect. Useful for osteochondrosis, rheumatic diseases.
Does not cause allergic reactions even when it is on other types of natural pile.
Improves sleep.
Warms with colds.
Excellent moisture wicking. You will not be blown out if you come out of a hot room into cold air.

In addition, merino wool retains its good quality for a long time. appearance. It is three times softer than silk and four times more elastic than cotton. Things turn out soft, elastic and the main thing - strong. Therefore, the material is often used when sewing clothes for children and bedding for babies. It does not irritate delicate baby skin, warms and improves sleep.

Also, older people like to wear merino wool. After all, most people aged have problems with the joints and the lumbar back.

What is sewn from merino?

Of course, such useful and practical things are popular. Therefore, manufacturers produce all kinds of products based on merino. You can choose for yourself:

Blankets and blankets. They will be warm, soft and give comfort to the interior.
Children's tights, overalls and hats.
Warm clothes for adults: sweaters, pullovers, turtlenecks.
Thermal underwear for athletes and everyday wear. It wicks sweat away while keeping you warm.
Shoe insoles and slippers.
Outerwear.
Special cases for car seats.

This is the only type of wool that cannot be made artificial variant because it is unique in its qualities and composition. Therefore, the price is always high. If they try to sell you things at a surprisingly low cost, claiming that this is pure merino, do not believe it.

How to care?

Merino clothing or underwear is classified as delicate items and requires appropriate care.

Cannot be stored in a plastic bag. Only box or paper wrap. So the thing will "breathe" and retain its shape longer.
It is better not to fold at all, putting it away for storage. But if there is no other option, then you need to straighten the jacket by hanging it on a hanger for a while. It will return to its original form.
Wash only by hand, at a low temperature. Or take it to the dry cleaners.
Wet clothes should be dried on a towel. Change the towel as it dries.
If pellets have formed, they cannot be torn off by hand. Can be trimmed neatly with scissors. This does not mean that the item is of poor quality. This is a natural process.
You can iron, but only through the fabric and on low heat.

Care will determine how long your blanket will be warm, and the sweater will be comfortable and beautiful. it very soft material and without good care he won't last long.

Merino wool: price

Merino wool products can be sorted by price depending on the manufacturer, weight and composition:

Manufacturer	Product	Compound	Price
Italy, Spain, England



Switzerland

We indicated the yarn, in which only merino wool. There are many options for combining it with additives: Angora rabbit down, polyester, dralon, etc. The cost also depends on this. But if you look at our table, it becomes clear that the most cheap material produced in Peru, Turkey and Russia. However, the quality is better than the one made in Italy, Spain or England.

But if you really want a merino scarf, but there is not much money and inexpensive option. It will turn out no worse: it will warm and cure a cough. The only drawback is that things made from cheaper wool are not worn for so long. But you can knit a new scarf for each season.

So now you understand what in question if you see a label that says merino wool. What is it and how to care, we told you in detail. These things must be protected and then they will protect your health.

Merino wool video

In this video, technologist Roman Stasov will tell you about the properties of merino wool and its use in thermal underwear:

Reading time: 6 minutes

Merino wool, what is it: a type of wool sheared from fine-fleeced sheep. Merino wool is soft, warm and cozy. It is expensive, but you can find cheaper options with the addition of synthetic fibers.

Merino and its wool

Who is merino: this is a fine-fleeced breed of sheep. They are smaller than meat breeds, the emphasis is on the quality of wool. Until the 18th century, they were not taken out of Spain, this was punishable by law.

What is merino wool: a thin pile that is sheared from these sheep. It is thinner than the hair of other sheep breeds. Now 80% of the material is exported from Australia.

Varieties

Merino wool comes in several varieties. This is determined by the thickness of the hair:

The first option is the most common and thickest wool with a thickness of 22.6 microns. Most wear resistant, mixable with acrylic or polyester fibers. It is used to make cheap woolen knitwear, upholstery for car seats. Designers use it for wall covering indoors.
Medium merino wool has a diameter of 20.6-22.5 microns. Knitted materials are made from it, light suits are sewn.

Fine medium merino wool is the most common. The pile size is 19.6-20.5 microns. Soft and strong, durable. It is used for the manufacture of medium and heavy knitwear, outerwear.
Fine fiber has a diameter of 18.6 to 19.5 microns.
The size of superfine hair varies from 17.6 to 18.5.
Ultra-thin version - ultrafine. Its diameter is from 16.1 to 17.5.
Extrafine - these are fibers up to 16 microns. If desired, manufacturers receive hair with a diameter of 13.5 or even less. Merino extrafine from 12.5 microns is often used for mixing with other elite types of fibers: cashmere and silk. Get rare and expensive material for the manufacture of women's and men's clothing.

Characteristics

From one animal receive up to 15 kg of pile per year. From this amount, a fiber with a length of 8000 kilometers will be obtained. The natural color of this wool is white. Other properties of this material:

soft, pleasant to the body, does not scratch or irritate the skin;
does not cause allergies;
passes air;
hygroscopicity - absorbs moisture up to 30% of its own weight;
when sweat is absorbed, merino wool items remain comfortable and dry to the touch;
warms better than other materials;
maintains body temperature in any weather;
durable, fire-resistant, wear-resistant;
not electrified;
elastic, elastic, stretches well;
antibacterial properties;
dirt repellent and self-cleaning.

Products made from merino wool warm better than other wool, because the fibers are thin, they have more small spaces between them. This provides a delay warm air. The thinner the wool, the warmer the thing.

Merino wool - a mark that can be on products or yarn made from 100% merino wool.

Various merino wool

The material is different, depending on the habitat and age of the animal.

From Australia

Australian merino wool is different from European. This was facilitated by a different climate. Outer hairs shine, protected from moisture. They are hard and long. The inner hairs are soft, cozy, tender. They have good thermal insulation.

The Australian Merino is considered a separate breed. exported from this country large quantity this material. Now there are about 150 million animals in Australia. Several different types to create materials of different quality.

Excellent wool is obtained from sheep grown in ecologically clean meadows with good vegetation. It is hypoallergenic due to the content of lanolin.

New Zealand

New Zealand merino gives smooth, soft and rather thin fibers from 16 microns. The material is not cheap, but this does not affect its popularity. Queues line up behind him, large manufacturers of yarn and fabrics buy almost everything at once. Sheep breeders simply do not keep up with the desires of buyers.

In this country, they do not practice the terrible mulching operation to prevent blowflies. But since 1930 it has been allowed in Australia.

Virginia material

There are two definitions:

The one sheared from a 4-6 month old lamb. Its fibers are no more than 20 microns. The fibers are collected by hand, from one animal no more than 140 g is obtained.
Virginia wool - used for the first time. It has not been used anywhere, not recycled. It is sheared from both adult rams and lambs. This is the most common variant of the name of this species.

Virginia can only be called the material that is collected from a living and completely healthy animal.

Merino wool products of this type are suitable for everyday wear. They almost do not crumple, do not form pellets and are resistant to water. They absorb steam well: a crumpled thing can be hung in a room with high humidity and after a while there will be no creases.

Fur

How fur differs from wool: it remains on the dressed skin after shearing the hair itself. The skin is treated with a formalin solution to give shine and softness.

The product is usually dyed, in natural color the fur looks unattractive. Apply different shades of dyes, the most popular - brown or black. Such fur is called a muton.

Interesting:

The material is made only in Russia. Abroad, production with formalin is considered very harmful.

Care rules

How to wash this material:

Use water no more than 30-35 degrees. Requires liquid detergent marked "for wool" or shampoo.
A thick foam is whipped from a mixture of water and the product. You need to lower the product into it for a few minutes.
The thing is wrinkled with neat movements, do not twist or pull. Then gently rinse a couple of times. The detergent needs to be completely washed out.

Squeeze out some of the water, but do not twist. Lay on a cotton cloth to absorb the main moisture.
Spread out on a towel, leave in desired form. Comb if necessary while item is damp.

Before washing in the machine, you need to make sure that it can be done. If the inscription on the tag allows, select the delicate mode or the wool program. Water temperature up to 30 degrees, delicate detergent and no spin are required.

What is merino wool? What properties do products made from it have? What do you prefer - pure merino, blended or fully synthetic materials?

When choosing clothes or underwear for use in the city or outside it, you can increasingly come across an offer to buy a product frommerino woolor with the additionmerino wool.What do these almost magical phrases promise the consumer, in addition to a noticeable relief of the wallet?

Merino wool - the wool of a special breed of sheep

No matter how beautiful the name sounds, merino wool is just a very fine fine wool. It is sheared from merino breeds of specially bred sheep with especially fine wool.

It is generally accepted that Merino sheep were first bred in Central Asia, from where they came to the Mediterranean region, and then spread throughout the world. To date, the largest part of the population is concentrated in Australia.

Features of merino wool

In the article, we talked in detail about how heaters reduce heat transfer between the human body and the environment.

The main task warm clothes- retention of motionless heated air near the human body. Air is the best of all heat insulators available to man, as it has a low thermal conductivity. Therefore, the warmest things are those that hold the largest amount of air per unit volume.

It is important to understand that the heated air must be kept exactly - not to move and not to mix with the cold. Therefore, to retain heat, not one large inflated pocket is required, but many microscopic, isolated from each other air cavities. The more of them, the warmer the clothes. Such closed air spaces are formed as a result of the interweaving of numerous thin threads - down or wool - and the thinner these threads, the more air is held between them.

One of the most important consumer characteristics of wool is fineness- the thickness of the woolen hair. Great importance also has tortuosity, that is, the linear unevenness of the hair. The smaller the diameter of the hair, the more microscopic air cavities they create, which means they hold more air.

Therefore, the thinner the woolen hair, the warmer the product. Of all kinds sheep wool most thin hair It has merino wool. Accordingly, things made of merino wool can be considered the warmest.

The smaller the layer of wool required for effective heat conservation, the thinner the product can be. If we also consider that thin, slightly crimped hair allows the production of yarn with a smooth surface that does not irritate human skin, it becomes clear why merino wool is especially in demand in the manufacture of thin, heat-saving garments - winter underwear, socks and light sweaters.

Merino wool outdoors - wool intelligence

The key features of the basic and medium are high thermal properties with low weight and the ability, without getting wet, to effectively remove fumes from the body into environment.

Developers synthetic materials they resort to various technological methods to make clothes wick away moisture, breathe and warm at the same time. When they succeed, they call the material smart, not without reason. But are synthetics really that smarter than wool? Let's try to figure it out.

Wool is very light, it warms and breathes well, but perhaps its main drawback is hydrophilicity - the ability to intensively absorb moisture. More precisely, the disadvantage is that it does not part well with this moisture - it dries slowly.

Indeed, few people want to be in a soaked through wool sweater in a cold wind, no matter how thick this sweater is. And if it's not a thick sweater, but thin woolen underwear? It looks like it's even worse...

But wool has a number unique properties which make the situation less clear. The point is not even that wool can absorb moisture up to 30% of its own weight, but that, by absorbing moisture, wool until a certain point remains dry to the touch. In other words, if a person in woolen underwear moves with moderate activity, then even when he starts to sweat, he will not feel discomfort.

Imagine that your thermal underwear not only absorbs sweat, but imperceptibly hides it in its structure so that subjectively both you and your clothes remain dry. And then gradually evaporates the accumulated moisture into the environment. Moreover, the thinner the linen, the less noticeable for a person can be small differences in its humidity. How then not to call such underwear “smart”?

Cotton underwear gets wet quickly and for a long time. Synthetic thermal underwear perfectly transports moisture to the outside, if the layers of clothing located above do not interfere with this. With a decrease in activity, synthetics dry quickly and return a feeling of comfort. If transportation is difficult, synthetic thermal underwear also gets wet quickly, and when it is restored, it begins to evaporate moisture so intensely that it creates a cooling effect on the skin surface.

And only wool can accumulate some of the moisture in its structure, while maintaining low thermal conductivity and a feeling of dry warmth.

An additional advantage of wool underwear is its ability to resist bacteria that cause the smell of sweat, and some therapeutic effect.

Wool and synthetics: friends or foes?

In many cases, it is impossible to achieve the required characteristics of the material using only wool or synthetics. But nothing prevents them from “crossing”, thus obtaining a “breed” of material more suitable for certain tasks. What might these tasks be?

Improved moisture management

In those items of clothing where moisture is a frequent visitor - for example, socks - manufacturers often use blended materials in which wool is used together with synthetic fibers. These fibers do not accumulate moisture, but immediately transport it to the outside, which helps the wool stay dry and warm longer.

Improved wear resistance and strength

It is known that the weak point of wool is its insufficient strength and relative fragility. To increase the service life of wool products, synthetic fibers are added to the yarn. This makes it possible to obtain such mixed materials that simultaneously have good heat retention and sufficient strength and abrasion resistance.

Modern trends

Until relatively recently, it seemed that practical and functional synthetics forever replaced capricious natural materials from tourist equipment. However, current trends in the design and construction of outdoor clothing show a return to natural materials, and in particular to wool, where it is justified. Of course, we cannot talk about a large-scale replacement of synthetics with natural materials, but the use of wool at a new technological level is quite capable of organizing the second coming of wool in the outdoor industry.

When is it better to use wool underwear, and when synthetic?

If the activity is low and the person sweats only lightly and briefly, then a great way to keep yourself comfortable and warm is to use woolen underwear, if you are not allergic to it. Wool will also prolong the feeling of cleanliness and freshness.

If exercise stress is intense and prolonged or operation is associated with serious mechanical stress (tearing, abrasion), it is better to use more unpretentious synthetics. Especially if thermal underwear is part of a three-layer system, where the effectiveness of each layer depends not only on its own characteristics, but also on the competent combination of all layers.

Summary

Merino wool is the wool of specially bred breeds of sheep.

Merino wool breeds are characterized by a special thinness of the hair. The small thickness (thinness) of merino wool makes things from it warm and light.

Merino wool is an excellent material for making base and middle layers in outdoor clothing: wool gives a feeling of dry warmth, has bactericidal properties.

Wool materials become stronger when combined with synthetic fibers.

Modern trends suggest the widespread use of merino wool in outdoor clothing - in underwear, insulating layers, socks.

Merino wool is unique. It has all the properties of expensive synthetic fabrics, but it is absolutely natural and environmentally friendly. So what is it?

Merinos are small, in comparison with their relatives, sheep, which are bred solely for the sake of high-quality wool. Merino wool has a pleasant light beige color and consists of fine and soft fibers, which gives the yarn or fabric an incredible softness.

In contact with

Merino wool properties

In its structure, the merino six resembles a membrane. Empty spaces are formed between the thinnest fibers, creating an air gap that will maintain body temperature. The fact is that Merino lives in a harsh climate, where winters are cold and summers are hot. Nature has taken care so that the sheep does not freeze and does not get heat stroke.

Pros and cons of merino wool

improves blood circulation;
beneficial effect on muscles and joints;
help to cope with edema;
hypoallergenic;
maintains body temperature;
wicks away moisture while retaining heat.

Merino wool has many advantages, but only one disadvantage. Natural merino wool without impurities is very expensive.

Using merino wool

Due to the unique properties of wool merino wool is increasingly used in light industry. Unlike any other wool, it is very soft, which makes the products popular among children and adults. What products are made from merino wool?

Hair care

Regardless of the type of product Merino wool requires careful handling. In order for the product to serve for a long time and not lose its properties, you need to follow simple rules:

Merino hand knitting yarn

Merino yarn is popular among needlewomen. Therefore, it can be found in any specialized store. Despite the same composition: 100% merino wool, quality may vary. The threads may consist of short or long fibers. It depends on how quickly pellets begin to appear on the product. Although merino wool is prone to matting, this is worth considering.

Hand-knitted merino

From merino yarn you can knit anything. It is perfect for children's clothing. Even a newborn can wear socks and suits made of this wool without fear. One of the most popular items in a baby's wardrobe is panties for natural swaddling. They are used by parents, refusing disposable diapers in favor of natural and environmentally friendly materials. Most often these pants knitted from fine merino six, because of its wonderful properties.

Merino Product Reviews

Merino wool

I knit to order. Before I offer this or that yarn to the customer, I definitely test it. Merino came into my hands. The thread is very thick, for 12 mm knitting needles. The hat can be knitted in two hours. The yarn appears to be a little tangled and stiff. But after washing it becomes soft as a cloud. Unfortunately, these threads cost as much as an airplane, and the product is even more.

Marta (knit to order)

Merino pants

My wife gave me merino pants. I work on the street both in winter and summer, I collect houses from a bar. I always wore fleece thermal underwear to work and never complained. As for the merino underpants, they did not seem to inspire confidence in me. Thin, tight fitting.

In fact, they turned out to be quite suitable.

The high waist protects my lower back from the cold wind. I constantly raise my hands and bend down. Usually half the winter I suffered with back pain. Incredibly, but true, after putting on these pants, the back hurts less often.

I thought that the legs would itch, the underpants are very similar to women's tights, they fit tightly. But the material is very soft, thin and not felt under clothing.

Of course, underpants alone will not warm in cold weather, but it is pleasant to wear them.

Merino wool blanket

Blankets have their pros and cons. There are more benefits, of course. But first things first.

The duvet is warm and light. You almost don't feel it. This is a definite plus. For a year and a half of operation, it has not changed at all. It did not stray into a lump and did not heat up less.

The downside is the smell of wool. I may have a keen sense of smell, but I can still smell the sheep. It's not offensive, but it's palpable. The husband claims that he does not feel anything. Well, the biggest downside is the price.

Conclusion: I really like the blanket. The high price, of course, repels, but it is worth the money.

Natalya K.

Merino thermal underwear

I have twin girls. They were born prematurely in mid-January. Naturally, the question arose about insulation. My choice fell on children's merino thermal underwear. These pink jumpsuits fully met my requirements:

Natural composition: 100% wool.
Soft and does not irritate children's skin.

Of the minuses, I can note the following:

After a few washes in the machine, the jumpsuit has stretched a bit.
Spools appear quite quickly in just a week.
High price. Especially for two.

Despite the shortcomings, thermal underwear did an excellent job. Will definitely buy a larger size for next winter.

I hope my review was helpful to you.

A warm, cozy blanket made of merino wool will not only warm you on long, cold evenings, but will also give comfort and pleasant sensations. A merino blanket is a profitable purchase for a family of any income. A blanket with high-quality Australian sheep wool will serve all family members for a long time, and will also become the subject of bedroom decor.

Merino blanket – a good option for a gift to relatives and friends.

Peculiarities

Merino sheep wool is unique in its characteristics, which is why this species wool is widely used not only in blankets and plaids, but also in the production of thermal underwear. Merino wool is one of the most expensive on the market, as it is sheared from an elite breed of sheep. This breed originated in Spain in the 12th century, but now the largest number of sheep is in Australia. It is on this mainland best conditions for breeding Australian merino.

Australian Merino - a small breed of sheep, which is bred only for the sake of obtaining fine wool. Despite the thinnest pile, the wool is very soft and warm, wear-resistant and durable. Due to the curly structure of the pile, the blankets retain their volume and softness for many years, provided proper care and storage.

Wool top quality can be obtained during shearing from the withers of the animal in the spring.

Australian merino wool contains lanolin, a natural substance that, when heated from body temperature, penetrates the human body and gives a healing effect.

Lanolin is widely used in pharmaceutical industry. This substance has a beneficial effect on the joints, circulatory system, skin condition, and helps reduce swelling. Lanolin fights against osteochondrosis, arthrosis, maintains a constant comfortable body temperature during sleep, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Thanks to its medicinal properties, merino sheep's wool, in contact with the skin, fights against the manifestations of cellulite, gives a rejuvenating effect.

Types and sizes

Merino wool is unique in its characteristics, therefore it is used in the production of various products for sleeping: blankets, quilts, blankets with open wool, bedspreads.

Blankets with open wool are especially popular. A blanket without a cover is better in contact with the body, which means that the healing effect of merino wool is better. These blankets are made using a weaving process in which the wool is subjected to a minimum amount of processing and retains its medicinal properties. The duvet opening is light and thin, but at the same time warm.

There are varieties of such products:

with open hair on both sides;
with a sewn cover on one side.

Such products help to improve blood microcirculation, improve metabolism, and protect against electromagnetic effects. Moreover, the absence of a cover provides self-ventilation and ventilation of the product, which allows to increase its service life.

Blanket sizes:

80x100 cm - for newborns;
110x140 cm - for children;
150x200 cm - for a single bed;
180x210 cm - double;
200x220 cm - "euro" size;
240x260 cm - king size, maximum king size blanket.

The unique composition and properties of Australian merino wool led to the use of this raw material in the production of blankets, blankets, bedspreads for all age categories.

Advantages

Finished goods Merino wool has the following advantages:

natural ingredients are hypoallergenic;
during sleep, the body remains dry at a constantly maintained temperature, due to the increased properties of hygroscopicity. Wool is able to absorb up to 1/3 of its own volume of moisture, while the fibers remain dry;
natural material self-ventilating and allows the skin to breathe;
the properties of thermoregulation of the product are achieved due to the twisted structure of the fibers, which create air gaps in the product;

natural material does not absorb unpleasant odors, and the porous structure prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt;
antiseptic properties and therapeutic effect (for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, colds, to stimulate metabolism) are provided due to the content of natural lanolin in the fibers;
the use of raw materials of the highest quality from the withers of Australian merino sheep;
long service life of the product due to the elasticity of the fibers, which, after deformation, return to their original shape.

These unique characteristics of products made from merino sheep's wool determine the high cost.

How to choose?

There are a number of things to consider when choosing a quality Australian Merino wool blanket:

the price of a quality product is not cheap. The starting price is 2100 rubles and grows depending on the size of the product and the brand of the manufacturer;
when buying a blanket for adults, the dimensions of the bed sets and bed;
when choosing a baby blanket, pay attention to the durability of the product, so it is much more profitable to take a larger baby blanket;
in the store, a new product must be smelled and felt. Quality product does not have a pungent odor, smells like natural pile, soft and pleasant to the touch, after pressing and squeezing in the hand, it should quickly restore its original appearance;
when choosing a manufacturer, give preference to the company that offers the largest number of additional options(warranty return period, optional removable cover, storage bag, etc.);
study the annotation and tags of the product.

How to care and store?

Merino wool blankets are unpretentious in care, but it is the correct handling of them that will extend the service life and preserve the original appearance of the product:

Merino wool blankets do not need frequent washing - 1 time in 2-3 years.
Very often, manufacturers allow processing only in dry cleaning.
Washing the product at home is acceptable if there is a sewn-in tag, which indicates the type of washing and temperature regime. As a rule, it is delicate or handwash at low temperatures (30 degrees). When washing at home, you must use liquid detergents for delicate fabrics.
If there is a non-removable cover on the blanket, it is not necessary to wash the entire product. It is enough to wash the spots that have appeared on the cover and dry the blanket well in the fresh air.
Stains and dirt on a blanket with open wool do not have to be washed out, sometimes it is enough to use a special brush for woolen products.