Italian Merino yarn is a very soft and thin thread obtained from the wool of fine-wool Merino sheep, which are bred in Australia and New Zealand.
Main characteristics and features of merino yarn
This yarn has gained its popularity due to its many advantages. You can knit both openwork and voluminous patterns from it. It is even suitable for making children's things. When knitting, the thread is folded into 2–8 layers, depending on the required thickness. Suitable for hand and machine knitting. What is so good about this wool thread?
Advantages of Merino yarn:
- very soft, does not prick;
- hypoallergenic;
- environmentally friendly;
- has medicinal properties;
- holds its shape well;
- wear-resistant;
- retains heat well.
Varieties of Merino wool. How to choose the right yarn
This type of merino is subjected to a specific treatment (SUPERWASH), which makes knitting and caring for the finished product easier. Therefore, not only hand washing, but even machine washing of such items at 30 degrees is allowed.They do not lose their appearance for a long time, do not shrink when washed, and do not fall off. This type of yarn, twisted into several threads, is excellent for knitting smooth and openwork patterns, as well as voluminous braids. And although the cost of such wool is quite high, it produces very warm and high-quality products.
They are easy to care for and do not lose their appearance when worn for many years. Such woolen items are suitable even for small children; they do not cause allergies and are very soft to the touch.
Important! Merino wool is processed in various ways during the production process, resulting in one of the many varieties of this yarn. This must be taken into account when choosing the appropriate threads for your project.
Reference! Merino Extrafine is the finest wool from Australian merino sheep. “EXTRAFINE” translated from English means “very thin” (up to 15 microns), cut from the withers of lambs. It is considered the standard of quality. This exclusive wool is snow-white and shiny, it is very soft and durable.
Other types of merino wool:
Virgin or Virginia (Virgin) – sheep or goat wool of young animals (up to one year old), which has not undergone pre-treatment. Its fibers are soft and quite thin.
Geelong and Super Geelong (Geelong, Super geelong) - wool from lambs no more than 5–7 months old, raised in the Australian city of Geelong. Recognized as one of the highest quality in the world. It is soft, has no shine, shrinks a little after washing, and if you rub it too hard, it falls off.
Luster – yarn, which after special treatment becomes smoother and less prickly, does not fall off when worn.
CashWool – shiny, smooth, elastic thread, does not prick, its pile begins to open only after a couple of washes.
Useful tips for knitting and buying wool
If you see the designation Pura lana merino on the yarn, this means that its composition is 100% (pure) merino wool. Merino fine is a yarn made from fine merino fibers. We hope this article will help you choose the perfect thread for your needlework. A sweater, hat or dress knitted from high-quality yarn will look like new after many years and continue to delight you with its appearance.
Attention! Before you start knitting any item, it is recommended to first make a sample, especially in the case of hand knitting. You need to wash it at 30 degrees using a special detergent for wool. The result of washing will allow you to estimate how much the finished product will decrease in length and width during washing and take this into account when knitting.
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