Merino wool - what is it? This is the finest natural wool of a certain type of sheep, merino. In addition to the fineness of the fibers, it is quite durable in quality. Garments knitted from this wool do not lose their marketable appearance for a long time and at the same time retain heat well.
History of occurrence
This kind of sheep, like merino, was first bred in Spain. Initially, it was an elite type of material worn exclusively by monarchs. For an ordinary commoner, wearing items made from merino wool was strictly prohibited. And if someone tried to take merino out of the country, he was severely punished. All this continued until the XVIII century. But already at the time of the conquest by the British, they accidentally grabbed a couple of representatives of this type of sheep with them on board and delivered to Australia. And it was here that the climate was ideal for their breeding. Today, Australia is the main exporter of merino wool worldwide.
Merino wool: what is it and what are its properties
Due to the difficult climatic conditions of survival, merino wool also acquired the following properties. Indeed, Australia has very harsh winters and incredibly hot summers. And thanks to the properties of thermoregulation of merino wool, the animals managed to adapt to the harsh climate. The fibers are very thin - 5 of them can be equated in thickness to one human hair. This is precisely the secret of thermal insulation of this type of wool. And at the same time, you can wear merino wool products for several days and not even a drop of sweat smell will appear. If you try to use any other wool for this, the clothes will need to be washed every day.
It is no secret that any sheep’s wool can not only warm, but also heal. After all, wool is a natural product that easily absorbs all the toxic that is released with sweat during wear. But the merino wool, in addition to absorbing toxic substances, perfectly absorbs moisture and warms. The fiber structure has a springy shape, which allows dirt and dust not to stick to it. In order to clean a thing, you just need to shake it intensively. Perfect in the cold season as a heating pad, and on a hot summer day. Therefore, it is very convenient to fill blankets with such fiber at different times of the year. This wool fights bad odors well, and therefore it is very often used in the textile industry.
An added bonus is serving as an excellent sedative. After all, it’s so cozy after a hard day to turn into a blanket of soft wool.
Absolutely environmentally friendly product. Parasites will never start in the merino wool.
What is made of merino wool?
So, merino wool - what is it and what is made of it? The most common type of item made from the wool of this type is the items of children's clothing. Indeed, at a young age, children do not always complain to their parents whether it is hot or cold. And in clothes made of this material, they are never hot or chilly - they will not sweat and not freeze. Very popular children's thermal underwear made of merino wool. But do not forget that this is just a layer of underwear worn by a child in the cold season.
How to choose baby thermal underwear?
When choosing children's thermal underwear from merino wool, you need to pay attention to the composition of the material. The main argument for parents is its practicality, useful qualities and price. The thickness of the fabric is not so important as its ability to absorb sweat and not let the cold pass.
Merino Wool Blankets
Very popular products in the form of rugs and blankets, which give people only comfort and peace. Interestingly, the fame of wool blankets of this type of sheep first arose long before the advent of the textile industry.
Bedding is mass produced from this type of wool because of its hypoallergenicity.
Products from merino wool are erased like any other wool. Be sure to look at the care tips on the label. The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees, and the thing can not be wrung out after washing.
Main advantages
We continue to consider merino wool. What is it, we learned. Now we will analyze its advantages:
- Wool is hydroscopic.
- Excellent thermal insulation due to the unusual structure of the fibers.
- Wool breathes well.
- It will never cause an allergy.
- Elastic enough.
- No special care required.
But the most important thing: a blanket made of merino wool is a daily micromassage of the whole body. Thanks to dry heat and lanolin fat on the surface of the fibers, it is an excellent tool for treating diseases such as arthritis, radiculitis, back pain, and helps with colds. This is the only coat of all that is harmless and safe even for infants and people with bronchial asthma.
So it is safe to say that merino wool is truly elite wool!