Sheep wool merino. What is merino wool - properties, application in the production of things, blankets, blankets and thermal underwear

The material from which our clothes are made can be not only comfortable and beautiful, the hero of our article, for example, knows how to heal. Merino is a unique wool of sheep of the same breed, no raw material in the world has similar properties.

Story

Merino wool - what is it? The material has a rich and very interesting history. The Merino sheep breed was bred in Spain back in the 13th century, and the Spaniards for five centuries did not allow the breeding of such sheep in other places, and this rule was so strict that its violation was punishable by death.

But, unfortunately for the Spaniards and fortunately for the rest of the world, after this country lost the war to Britain in the 18th century, several animals nevertheless managed to be taken out. The British began to massively breed merino in Australia and New Zealand (these countries then had the status of British colonies).

However, even now it is New Zealand and Australia that are the main suppliers of merino wool in the world. The material is considered elite and many people know the answer to the question “100% merino is the wool of which animal?”

Read more, pro is the fiber of another animal.

Description

Merino wool - what is it, and why is it so good? Sheep of this breed are distinguished by an incredibly thin fleece. For comparison, a human hair is several times thicker. The result is a material that is incredibly thin, delicate and smooth. It is several times softer than natural silk and five times more elastic than cotton.

You can see what it is - merino - in our selection of photos.

Specifications

It is unlikely that you will find negative qualities in this natural sheep wool, but it has a lot of advantages.

Kinds

Depending on the place on the animal from which the fleece was removed, on the age of the sheep and other important factors, several types of material are distinguished:

• Extrafine
• Virginia
• Geelong and Super Geelong
• Luster
• cashwool

Merino Extrafine, what it is, as well as a description of other species:

Extrafine (Extrafine) merino wool, what is it? In this case, we are talking about premium material, by no means cheap, but very high quality. The fleece for this fabric is sheared only from Australian sheep, but this is far from the most important condition. Wool is sheared only from the withers of lambs, which is why it is so tender, soft and snow-white. In addition, wool yarn undergoes additional processing "SUPERWASH", and this facilitates knitting and subsequent care of the finished product.

What is merino "extrafine" in translation? The name, if translated into Russian, sounds like "very thin." And this is so, because the thickness of the fleece for this type of matter cannot exceed 15 microns.

Geelong

This variety got its name, since this fleece is sheared only from lambs raised in the Australian city of Geelong. A distinctive feature of this fiber is its softness and lack of sheen.

Luster

A fiber that undergoes a special treatment, as a result of which it does not prick or fall off when worn

Healthy sleep – guarantee of quality rest, cheerful awakening and excellent health throughout the day. But in order for a person to sleep well, several factors must “converge”: the comfort of the mattress, the most comfortable height and softness of the pillow, and, of course, a well-chosen blanket that warms in the cold and refreshes in the heat. Do you think that the combination of these properties in one product is impossible? However, there are such universal blankets. They are made from merino wool.

Who are the "merinos"?

Merino is a very special, elite breed of sheep. It is believed that it was bred in Spain in the 12th century, however, after they were brought to Australia in the 18th century, sheep began to be bred almost exclusively there. The reason was the special Australian climate, favorable for these animals. Merino sheep differ from ordinary sheep in their small size, they are not kept for the sake of eating. The main trump card of these cute creatures - chic wool, from which delightful things are obtained in their qualities.

This is due to the fact that merino wool fibers are very light, weightless, thin, but at the same time they are strong and have a high density.

Features and benefits of products

Merino wool contains a unique component - lanolin. When the blanket is heated under the influence of body temperature, microscopic particles of this substance penetrate the skin, and then into the human blood and contribute to the healing of the body. That is why blankets made of such material are recommended for people suffering from joint diseases, prone to edema, problems with the circulatory system. They are also good for athletes, as they help to cope with excessive muscle tension and relieve pain. One of the wonderful properties of such a blanket that women will love is the fight against “orange peel” and skin rejuvenation.

However, merino wool is famous not only for its medicinal qualities. Blankets made from it have a number of advantages:

• Temperature stabilization. Due to the fact that wool fibers perfectly pass air and do not interfere with its circulation, exactly the temperature that is required at a given time is created under the blanket: comfortable coolness in summer and warmth in winter.
• Merino wool is a very hygroscopic material. A blanket made of it is able to absorb and evaporate moisture (up to 30% of its own weight), while remaining dry and comfortable.
• These products "breathe". Air circulates easily among the fibers. This property, as well as the ability of lanolin to neutralize harmful substances, allows the woolen blanket to retain its original freshness and not absorb extraneous odors.
• Fire safety. The fact is that wool fibers store a small amount of moisture inside. In addition, each hair has an outer stratum corneum. Therefore, to ignite a product made of such a material, a higher temperature is needed than for other natural fibers.
• Merino wool products are not subject to static electricity and are not "dust collectors", do not cause allergic reactions, which is why they are recommended even for newborn babies.
• Ability to self-clean. Free circulation of oxygen helps such blankets to be always clean. Dead particles of the epidermis and other "pollutants" do not settle on them.

Varieties

Merino wool blankets are divided into two categories:

• According to the mass and density of the plexus of fibers they are divided into lungs, in which this very density does not exceed 150 grams per m2 - they are intended for use in the warm season; lightweight, with a weaving density of up to 300 grams per m2, recommended for all seasons and warming especially well in ventilated rooms with high air humidity; and, finally, to standard ones, which have the densest knitting (up to 400 grams per m2) and perfectly warm in the most severe cold.
• By appearance woolen blankets are divided into filled blankets, when the wool is inside a cover made of cotton or satin fabric - this is the most common variety, they fit perfectly into any interior solutions, last a long time and have a relatively low cost; products with one open woolen side, when the other can be satin or synthetic; and completely woolen, the most expensive, beautiful and comfortable.

How to choose?

A merino wool blanket is an expensive pleasure. Therefore, his choice must be approached responsibly, with knowledge of the matter. What factors should be considered when buying it:

• Fluctuations in the background temperature in the room depending on the season and weather.
• Features of your own body: whether you are "frost" or like it when it's cooler.
• Whether you like thick or thin duvets.
• Sleep alone or together.
• Do you prefer the product in a case or not.

You should also pay attention to the following features of the product:

• How the blanket is made. There are 3 types of sewing: quilted in parallel, stitched with "squares" or the so-called karostep - patterned stitching. It is preferable to choose the 2nd or 3rd type.
• What is the cover made from?(if any). It is recommended to opt for a coarse calico, satin or jacquard fabric. They are natural, pass air well, are quite durable, last a very long time, and are pleasant to the body.
• Information on the label. The following must be indicated: the manufacturer, in which country it was produced, recommendations for care, materials for the manufacture of the cover and filler. All-natural "filling" is accompanied by the NOMITE mark.
• Presence or absence of odor. It is worth paying attention to whether there is an admixture of "chemistry" in the aroma. She shouldn't be.
• Manufacturing quality. Good manufacturing companies carefully monitor the performance of their products and exclude defective goods with protruding threads and crooked stitching.
• Intelligence located on all labels and labels of the product must be completely identical.

How to care?

So, you have chosen the right merino wool blanket. However, like all products made from natural materials, it needs special care. Let's take a look at the basic rules:

• How best to deal with pollution: wash or clean. In principle, merino wool blankets can be washed unless otherwise indicated on the information label. The presence or absence of a cover does not matter. There are a number of manufacturing companies that do not allow the possibility of washing their products. If you purchased a blanket with a no-wash label, take it to the dry cleaners and be sure to notify the staff that it contains natural merino wool.

If the stain is small, try removing it yourself. Wet it slightly with soap and water, rub it gently, remove any detergent residue and dry it well in a straightened form. Shake the blanket a few times.

Washing woolen blankets is allowed only by hand, in water with a temperature of up to 30 degrees Celsius. Washing powder, use a special one designed for wool products. The blanket is rinsed in the same water, neither cold nor hot. You can't twist or squeeze.

• How to dry. Merino blankets should be dried on a flat surface. It is carefully straightened and placed on a cotton fabric, for example, on a large towel or sheet. When you dry the blanket, turn it over from time to time, shake it. Do not place it near heating elements or in direct sunlight.

Any blankets and plaids made of wool, not only sheep, should be hung out a couple of times a year for ventilation. The best option is to take the product outside, hang it in a shady place and shake it a little, for the best fluffing of the fibers and saturating them with oxygen.

• How to properly store. Merino wool blankets should be stored by folding them into a canvas or cotton bag and then putting them away in a closet or linen box. It is recommended to put a moth repellent near the product.

When the blanket is taken out again for use, it needs to be straightened, spread out and left for a day or two so that it straightens out, fluffs up and pleases you with comfortable warmth again. Creases can be ironed through a slightly damp gauze.

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 of warm clothing is to keep 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. It is also of great importance 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. Merino wool is the thinnest of all wool types. 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 to the environment.

Developers of synthetic materials 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 of unique properties that make the situation not so clear cut. 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 intensively 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 guest - 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 wool underwear, if you are not allergic to it. Wool will also prolong the feeling of cleanliness and freshness.

If physical activity is intense and prolonged or operation is associated with serious mechanical stress (tearing, abrasion), then 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 mid-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.

Since a healthy lifestyle has become a guideline for many people, we carefully read the information on the label - whether it's a package of cheese or a winter sweater designed to warm in bad weather. In pursuit of the best, we are faced with new terms and names. One of them is the inscription "Merino - 100%" proudly emblazoned on the label. What kind of wool is this - merino? And why is she unique?

There are indispensable!

Merino is a special breed of sheep, whose wool is distinguished by the longest and finest fibers. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is a legendary breed. Until 1765, attempts to export this high-quality from Spain were punishable by death, and only noble persons could wear products made from merino wool. And only in the XVIII century, when the Spaniards were defeated by the British, merinos were taken out of the country. However, the British did not manage to master the art of sheep breeding immediately. It took about 200 years before the specialists of the country of fogs and rains were able to achieve significant success in sheep breeding, comparable to the skill of the Spaniards. Ideal conditions for breeding merino turned out to be in Australia, where the widespread use of wool on an industrial scale began. By the way, the country to this day remains one of the world leaders in the production of merino wool. Surely you are already intrigued by what could inspire the Europeans to a fierce struggle for the "Golden Fleece". And there are really many reasons for this.

For any weather and season

The main secret of merino wool is that it maintains an optimal microclimate. The best proof of this is the well-being of sheep, which can withstand low winter and high summer temperatures equally well.

It is not surprising that scientists have not yet been able to create an analogue that could replicate its properties as a thermal stabilizer. Merino clothes are thin to the touch, but surprisingly warm products (sweaters, blouses, vests). In them, the winter cold will be nothing for you. If you get merino bed linen (duvet cover, pillow, blanket), it will serve you equally well both in winter and in summer. Just think: there are millions of air cushions in the fibers that retain heat regardless of temperature changes. And due to the high hygroscopicity, merino wool is able to absorb up to 33 percent of moisture from its volume. Thanks to this property, the body always remains dry.

Warms and heals

To date, the healing properties of merino no one is in doubt.

Firstly, wool has a beneficial effect on the joints and actively stimulates blood circulation.

Secondly, due to the significant amount of animal wax - lanolin - in wool, merino products have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and absorbable effect. Therefore, it is recommended to wear clothes made from this wool for those who suffer from rheumatic and orthopedic diseases, problems with the bronchi, and edema.

Thirdly, due to the ability to maintain the best microclimate for a person in merino clothes, a person gets tired less.

Finally, in the “allergy era”, one cannot but say that this wool is hypoallergenic, so merino wool is the best choice for children, pregnant women, athletes and all those who care about their health and comfort.

Looks great!

The appearance of merino wool will not disappoint you either. These are exceptionally soft, fluffy, elastic and amazingly beautiful products that keep their shape for a long time and well.

At the same time, wool has high strength, it is extremely practical to use.

And no insomnia!

Often, sleep problems can be caused by “wrong” bedding. Merino will also help to make sleep healthier and stronger.

Today, there is a large selection of Merino products on sale, including blankets, duvet covers. You don’t sweat in such a bed - the ventilation is just perfect. At the same time, underwear, like clothes, has an exceptionally beneficial effect on the body during sleep.

As you can see, no other breed of sheep can surpass Merino in its properties. Modern manufacturers offer us not only clothes and bedding, but also car seats, decorative pillows and (the upper part is made of wool). In a year, wool can be obtained from one sheep for the manufacture of about five items of clothing. We wish that at least a few of them ended up in your closet in the form of fashionable blouses and sweaters!

Merino wool yarn, which is rightfully considered one of the best in the world, is very popular among needlewomen. This type of wool is produced by a special breed of high-altitude fine-fleeced sheep Merino, bred in Australia and New Zealand, from which its name Merino comes.

Merino sheep are originally from Spain, but were brought to Australia and New Zealand in the late 18th century. Now Australia has become the main producer of merino six in the world, where the number of merino sheep is about 155 million.

In terms of the amount of wool produced, merinos are real champions - one sheep grows up to 15 kg of wool per year, while sheep of other breeds do not produce more than 6-7 kg. But the most important thing is not even the quantity, but the quality of merino wool, which has a unique thickness of 14-23 microns (for ordinary sheep 25-35), is distinguished by elasticity, lightness and hypoallergenicity.

Depending on the thickness of the hair, merino yarn is divided into four types. The most common type of Merino wool has a pile thickness of 20-22.5 microns. It is used in the manufacture of machine knitted wool and has a relatively low price. The production of merino wool of this type is 80% of its total.

The second type includes merino wool with a hair thickness of 18-20 microns. The yarn from it is called SuperFine, super fine, and its share in world production does not exceed 15%. The third group of Merino wool has a hair thickness of 16-17 microns and is produced under the brand name ExtraFine in the amount of 5-7% of the total.

And finally, the fourth and thinnest type of merino wool is called Summer wool. It is produced in the amount of about 0.1% of the total world production, and for this yarn they take a pile with a thickness of no more than 14-15.5 microns. This yarn is used to make the most expensive fabrics and knitwear, and it can only be bought at an annual special auction. Each season, the best batch of summer merino wool is named Golden Bale. It has the highest price, and its weight, as a rule, does not exceed several hundred kilograms.

The natural color of merino wool is white. Pure yarns are the best, but since merino itself is very expensive, synthetic threads are often added to the yarn to reduce the price. This, of course, impairs the excellent natural qualities of natural merino wool.

But, nevertheless, merino wool is considered one of the best. Things from it are very warm, light and practical, they have excellent antibacterial properties, do not cause irritation and are great for small children. Interestingly, merino wool quickly absorbs moisture, but evaporates it just as quickly, so it retains heat well and is suitable for active physical activity. Caring for things made of myrino wool should be gentle, but at the same time it is no different from the way of caring for things made from other types of wool.

An excellent example of stylish things made from quality merino wool is hand-knitted, which have recently been very popular.