An amazing breed of Australian merino sheep with fine wool gave the name to the production of the world famous yarn of the same name. Merino - a unique yarn. The article is dedicated to her. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of merino yarn, marketed today by various manufacturers.
The breed of these sheep, originally bred in Spain, today is more common on the Australian continent. The merino thread is characterized by the excellent quality of worsted wool, which is the basis of the thread. For its manufacture, wool is taken that grows only in certain parts of the body of the sheep - on the stomach and withers. It does not exceed 25 microns in the hair section and has an enviable elasticity due to the direction of growth.
Merino yarn: hair thickness classification
Manufacturers of merino yarn have conventionally divided fiber into four categories:
• 1st - Merino, which occupies more than three quarters of all production. The hair thickness of this subgroup is 20-22.5 microns. Merino, the yarn of this class, is the most democratic, moderate in price and is intended mainly for machine knitting. Yarn for hand knitting is also made from the wool of this subgroup, its cost is slightly higher than that intended for the machine.
• 2nd - "Superthin" fiber with a thickness of 18-20 microns. Wool of this class accounts for 15% of global production.
• 3rd - “Extra-fine” fleece - even thinner, its thickness is 16-17 microns, and the volume of production is 5-7%.
• the 4th subgroup of the thinnest wool (14-15.5 μR) includes the so-called summer wool. Merino, the yarn of the summer subgroup, is produced in small quantities - only 0.1%. This is a very expensive thread that goes into the manufacture of high-quality expensive knitwear and fabrics.
Wool, the thickness of which exceeds the parameters necessary for the listed subgroups, is processed into yarn for hand and machine knitting, the cost of which is lower, and the quality is excellent. For example, thick merino yarn for knitting is appreciated by masters no less than elite categories.
Advantages
One of the most important advantages of merino yarn is its natural hair color - bright white.
A gentle long fiber does not irritate human skin, even the most sensitive. That is why merino yarn is an excellent raw material for the manufacture of children's clothing. It does not cause discomfort when wearing knitwear in people with allergic manifestations or very sensitive skin.
Merino is a yarn that combines high thermostatic properties and elasticity.
Products made from merino fiber hold their shape perfectly, do not stretch or shrink, and with proper care do not lose consumer and commercial qualities for many years.
Due to its structure, merino wool is breathable: air bubbles lingering in the fibers create a kind of thermal layer and provide constant air exchange, neutralizing the greenhouse effect. Merino yarn is able to quickly absorb and evaporate moisture from the surface of the product, preserving its heat-insulating qualities during physical exertion and preventing the possibility of hypothermia.
Both thin and thick merino yarn are perfect in knitting; it does not require any warp or constituent fibers.
disadvantages
Merino wool has virtually no flaws. Only a rather high price for yarn and knitwear from one hundred percent merino fiber can be considered a minus. It was the reason that many manufacturers seek to reduce the cost of yarn by adding synthetic fibers. Blended yarns, for example, merino with acrylic, are produced in large quantities, and there is always a demand for them. However, not a single mixed fiber can compete with natural wool - as a rule, the presence of synthetics in the yarn reduces both cost and quality.
Features of caring for merino products
Caring for products made from merino is no different from caring for clothes made from any type of wool yarn.
Gentle hand washing with soft or special detergents and flattened drying on a horizontal surface is the key to a long service life of products made from fibers such as merino yarn. The reviews of recognized knitting masters and ordinary consumers agree that excellent merino items need careful care.