If you’ve scanned our collections before, you already know we’re mad for merino - merino wool that is. However, what exactly is merino wool? Why are people so bananas over it? Today, I’m going through the subject to give you all the deets.
What is IT?
Cute, fun fact: “Merino” is actually a breed of sheep, and “merino wool” is the wool that comes from those sheep. This kind of wool is celebrated as the finest and softest wool of any sheep. (“What about cashmere?” That fiber actually comes from goats - also super cute).
Why Do People love MERINO WOOL?
Wool has gotten a bad reputation from the scratchy sweaters of the world. However if you’ve ever worn a sweater that’s felt prickly or itchy, you weren’t wearing merino.
Wool is ranked in grades to measure its quality. Generally speaking, grade is determined by the average diameter or thickness of the fibers. The finer the fiber = the smaller fiber diameter = the higher grade of wool = higher quality and softness. The chart below shows the six grades of wool fibers. Moving left to right, you can see that as the grade gets more coarse, the fibers get bigger and more crimped (that wavy texture). It’s that crimp texture that gives low-grade wool its scratchy, pokey feel.
On the other side of the spectrum, however, you can see that the finest-grade wool (merino wool) doesn’t have that crimp texture. It’s a smoother fiber, which makes it super soft, itch-free and comfortable on sensitive skin. It’s also still durable, strong and (for my maker purposes) knits like butter.
What Makes MERINO WOOL so Pricey?
Two main reasons. The first is it’s a limited resource. Unlike polyester and acrylic, which are made by fossil fuels in a factory, merino wool comes from cute sheep. It takes time for them to grow out their coat and quantity is limited. There are only so many sheep, and after you shear one, it needs a while to regrow it’s coat again.
The second reason for the $$$ price tag is because merino wool is such a fine fiber that you need much more of it to complete a garment. It takes about twice the amount of merino wool to create the same sweater using a low-grade wool.
Is Merino is worth the investment?
Yasss queen! Okay, I’m obvi very biased, but there’s a reason I spring for merino wool for Declarative sweaters. Although it’s more expensive than standard wool, the comfort and cozy you get in return makes it well worth it.
Wool is an incredible fiber because it tramps heat like a boss and does a great job at keeping us warm. All wool, regardless of the grade, can do this wonderfully. However, the itch and prickly feel of a low quality wool can make a sweater unbearable. So what you really pay for when you invest in merino wool is the warmth and performance of wool, with the comfort and super softness that a cheaper option can’t deliver. It’s also significantly cheaper than cashmere. That’s why when I use wool, I only use merino. Only the coziest for you boo.
Have a scratchy sweater? I’m sorry. Although you can’t change the quality of wool used, you can try giving it a condition (literally with hair conditioner) and see if it will soften up a bit. Here’s a step by step.