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Last modified on
May 20, 2013

 

100% Sheep Wool: Baby Merino, Lambswool, Merino, Peruvian Highland, Norwegian, Superwash, Stretch, and Blends


Herd of Sheep, Ivan Shishkin's Painting, the detail
Herd of Sheep (a detail) © Ivan Shishkin (1832-1898).

There are two main types of wool yarn: worsted and woolen (woollen). They are determined by the type of wool used to spin them, the preparation of the wool, and the way the wool is spun. • Worsted yarns are spun from long fibers of similar length lying parallel to each other. Worsted yarns are smooth, firm, and strong, and have a characteristic sheen, especially when spun from a lustrous fleece. • Woolen yarns are spun from rolags. The wool fiber for woolens is usually shorter than one used for worsted preparation.

There are three main groups of wool: Fine Wools, Longwools, and Down Wools. The quality of wool is determined by the following factors: fiber fineness, length, scale structure, color, cleanliness, and freedom from damage. Long Wools are valued for their luster and strength, the Down Wools - for being bulky but without weight, having maximum elasticity and resilience. Fine Wools are the softest, with more elasticity and loft, and slightly lustrous.

The finest wool yarns are made from the fleece of the following sheep breeds: Merino, Wensleydale, Bluefaced Leicester, Rambouillet, Debouillet, then Cormo, Comeback, CVM (California Variegated Mutant), Dormer, Polwarth, Falkland, Patagonia Sheep, Romeldale, Targhee, Zenith, Corriedale, Columbia, NZ Halfbred, and others. Each breed grows fleece with a characteristic crimp pattern - the natural waviness or curl of the wool fibers. - Reference: In Sheep's Clothing, N. and J. Fournier.

The most popular breed in the US is Cormo. This is an Australian sheep breed developed by crossing large-framed Merino rams with a British longwood breed. Cormo sheep have a fine, soft, heavy fleece, and are used for woollen and worsted fabrics, handknitting yarns, and felts.

Global wool production is approximately 1.3 million tones per annum, 60% of which goes into apparel. Australia, China and New Zealand are leading commercial producers of wool. Most Australian wool comes from the merino breed. Breeds such as Lincoln and Romney produce coarser fibres, and the wool of these sheep is usually used for making carpets.
Take a step-by-step wool processing virtual tour in one of the biggest and oldest Canadian producers of sheep's wool: Briggs & Little Mills ».
In Sheep's Clothing », a comprehensive guide to wool - hundred of breeds of sheep are described, with special attention to their fleeced characteristics, methods of preparation and spinning, and best end use.
Did you know? Researchers have found that nine months is all it takes for Merino wool garments to biodegrade.
 
Briggs and Little wool mills
 
In Sheep Clothing

Sweater Stones
Enlarge
  Sweater Stones, made in United States, enlarge. An effective and environmental way to remove pilling and balling from knits and fabrics. A natural, pumice like stone pulls and removes irritating pills from knitwear, upholstery, shirts, towels, and bedding. Each stone is wrapped in a plastic cover, instructions are provided on a box. Notions »
Price: $11.95 /each
Quantity:


Alpaca Superlight, Lang
Angora, Lang
Aquarella, Malabrigo
Arequipa, Estelle
Aurora, Orkney
Aurora Paints, Orkney Angora
Cadenza , Estelle
Cashmere Tweed, Lang
Cashmerino Worsted, Lotus
Cloud 9, Cascade
Cool Wool, Lana Grossa
Cool Wool Seta, Lana Grossa
Dancing con Lurex, Manos Artesanas
Dancing Queen, Manos Artesanas
EcoDuo, Cascade
Evita Merino, Katia
  Falk, Dale of Norway
Gobi, Lang
Jawoll Bambus, Lang
Jewel, Cascade
Lambgora, Orkney Angora
Lanalux, Lang
Langamay, Orkney Angoranew item
Magnum, Cascade
Merino 2000, Lana Grossa
Merinogold 8, Grignasco new item
Merino Soy, Makalu
Merino Worsted, Malabrigo
Mulberry Merino, Diamond
Nadeshiko, Noro
Pashmina, Lana Grossa
Pastaza, Cascade
  Rialto Lace, Debbie Bliss
Rios, Malabrigo
Rivoli, Lang
Roma, Katia
Runo Mira, Peace Fleece
Schafwolle, Schoeller+Stahl
Shiro, Noro new item
Silk Dream, Lang
Silk Road Aran, Jo Sharp
Snuggle, Alpaca Yarn Co.
Titus, Baa Ram Ewe new item
Tosca Jaspé, Lang
Woolly Merino, Sublime
Yak, Lang
Yuzen, Noro

Artisanal, Handspun, Artisan-Style:
Dancing con LurexDancing QueenEvita MerinoRuno MiraSilky Merino HandspunYuzen

Silky Merino:
Cadenza PaintCool Wool SetaMulberry MerinoSilk DreamSilk Road AranSilky Merino Handspun

Yorkshire Sheep Wool (Wensleydale, Bluefaced Leicester): Titus new item
SOCK Wool »

Final Sale, Clearance »
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Lambswool, Lambgora

CASHMERINO WORSTED [80% Lambswool, 10% Angora, 10% Cashmere]
  CASHMERINO WORSTED by Lotus
FIBRE: 80% Lambswool, 10% Angora, 10% Cashmere
YARN WEIGHT: Worsted
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 22 sts/ 28 rows
NEEDLES: 4 - 4.5 mm (US No.6-7)
LENGTH: 270 m / 295.3 yrd
HANK WEIGHT: 100g
* hand wash | made in China natural

Orkney LANGAMAY, 70% Lambswool 30% Cashmere
  New item
LANGAMAY by Orkney Angora
FIBRE: 70% Lambswool, 30% Cashmere
YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 25 sts / 32 rows
NEEDLES: 4 mm (US No. 6)
LENGTH: approx. 125 m / 137 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* hand wash | made in China natural

50% Lambswool, 50% Angora
  LAMBGORA by Orkney Angora
FIBRE: 50% Lambswool, 50% Angora
YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 20 sts / 24 rows
NEEDLES: recommended 3.75 mm (US No.5)
LENGTH: approx. 200 m / 223 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* hand wash | made in Scotland natural

70% Angora, 30% Lambswool
  AURORA by Orkney Angora
FIBRE: 30% Lambswool, 70% Angora
YARN WEIGHT: Fingering
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 28 sts / 36 rows
NEEDLES: 3.5 - 3.75 mm (US No. 5-6)
LENGTH: approx. 200 m / 225 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 25g
* hand wash | made in Scotland natural


Yorkshire Sheep Wool

Yorkshire Sheep Wool
  New item
TITUS by Baa Ram Ewe
FIBRE: 50% Wensleydale, 20% Bluefaced Leicester, 30% UK Alpaca
YARN WEIGHT: Sport 4 ply
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): n/a
NEEDLES: 3.25 - 3.5 mm (US No. 3-4)
LENGTH: 320m / 350yds
HANK WEIGHT: 100g
* hand wash | made in UK natural

Baby Merino, Merino

Malabrigo Aquarella
  AQUARELLA by Malabrigo
FIBRE: 100% Hand Dyed Pure Merino Wool
YARN WEIGHT: Super Chunky
TENSION: 1" = 2.25 sts
NEEDLES: 7 - 9 mm (US No. 10-13)
LENGTH: approx. 60 m / 65 yards
HANK WEIGHT: 100 g
* hand wash | made in Uruguay natural

Lana Grossa Cool Wool, 100% Merino extra fine
  COOL WOOL MERINO 2000 by Lana Grossa
FIBRE: 100% Virgin Merino extra fine
YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 24 sts / 34 rows
NEEDLES: 3.5 - 4 mm (US No.5-6)
LENGTH: approx. 160 m / 178 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* hand or machine wash | made in Italy natural

Malabrigo Merino Worsted
  MERINO WORSTED by Malabrigo
FIBRE: 100% Kettle Dyed Pure Merino Wool
YARN WEIGHT: Heavy Worsted / Aran
TENSION: 1" = 4.5 sts
NEEDLES: 4.5 - 5 mm (US No.7-8)
LENGTH: approx. 201 m / 210 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 100g
* hand wash | made in Uruguay natural

Debbie Bliss RialtoLace, 100% Extra Fine Merino Wool Superwash
  RIALTO LACE by Debbie Bliss
FIBRE: 100% Extra Fine Merino Wool Superwash
YARN WEIGHT: Lace
TENSION: 10x10 (4"): 33 sts / 50 rows
NEEDLES: 2.75 mm (US No. 2)
LENGTH: approx. 390 m / 410 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* machine wash | made in Italy natural

Malabrigo Rios, 100% Hand Dyed Merino Superwash
  RÍOS by Malabrigo
FIBRE: 100% Hand Dyed Pure Merino Superwash
YARN WEIGHT: Heavy Worsted
TENSION: 1" = 4.5 sts
NEEDLES: 4.25 - 5 mm (US No.6-8)
LENGTH: approx. 200 m / 210 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 100g
* machine wash | made in Uruguay natural

Natural Merino Blends

Lana Grossa Cool Wool Seta
  COOL WOOL SETA by Lana Grossa
FIBRE: 70% Merino extra fine, 30% Silk
YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 22 sts / 28 rows
NEEDLES: 3.5 - 4 mm (US No. 5-6)
LENGTH: approx. 140 m / 162 yds
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* hand wash | made in Italy

Estelle Cadenza
  CADENZA Paint by Estelle
FIBRE: 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Tussah Silk
YARN WEIGHT: Sport
TENSION: 10x10 (4"): 30 sts / 36 rows
NEEDLES: 2.5 - 3.5 mm (US No.0-1)
LENGTH: approx. 350 m / 409 yards
BALL WEIGHT: 100g
* machine wash | made in Peru natural

Lana Grossa Pashmina
  PASHMINA by Linea Rossa
FIBRE: 78% Merino extrafine, 22% Cashmere
YARN WEIGHT: Worsted
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 20 sts/ 24 rows
NEEDLES: 4.25 - 4.5 mm (US No.6-7)
LENGTH: approx. 125 m / 139 yds
BALL WEIGHT: 50g
* hand wash | made in Italy natural

Katia Evita Merino
  EVITA MERINO by Katia
FIBRE: 70% Virgin Merino Wool, 30% Synthetic Fur
YARN WEIGHT: Bulky or Fancy
TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): n/a
NEEDLES: 8 mm (US No. 12-13)
LENGTH: 60 m / 68 yards
SKEIN WEIGHT: 100 gr
* hand wash | made in Spain

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