What is Merino Wool ?

Merino wool is a type of wool gathered from the coats of Merino sheep.
This breed of sheep is mainly found in Australia or New Zealand, where it deals with different weather conditions, ranging from extreme heat to painful cold.
Merino wool is a natural, renewable fiber - meaning one sheep can grow four to five pounds of wool per year.

White Merino wool

Merino Sheep

History

Merino flocks originated in Southwestern Spain in the twelfth century, and the ewes were bred in the region for many years, contributing to the local economy through the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, as Spain had a monopoly on the trade.
Merino sheep breeds were first brought to Australia in 1797, and selective breeding of merino wool sheep in Australia led to an even finer version of the wool called Australian merino.
Today, most of the world’s merino wool still comes from Australia and New Zealand.

Merino wool is considered a luxurious fiber. It is extremely fine merino wool is one of the softest forms of wool and doesn’t aggravate the skin. This is because of the small diameter of the fine merino fibers, which makes it more flexible and pliable and therefore less itchy.
Odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and breathable nature.
Water-resistant, and insulative
Inexpensive and durable.
Merino wool can be worn for a long time without washing - Merino wool is naturally antibacterial.
Merino wool is UV-resistant.
Remarkable heat retention

The most popular application of merino wool is in sweaters. Since types of merino wool made with fine fibers are just as soft or even softer than cotton, this material is ideal for lightweight sweaters worn directly against the skin.
It’s also possible to find shirts, blouses, and even tank tops made with merino wool. In most cases, rougher forms of wool are used for this purpose, but it’s also possible to use merino wool to make blazers.
Due to its durability, softness, and heat retention, merino wool is ideal for long underwear or base layers.
It’s essentially possible to make any type of insulative clothing using merino wool, but this type of fabric is usually reserved for casual apparel or sportswear and is not commonly used in formal or dressy garments.
Merino wool is commonly used to make blankets. Used as a midlayer between sheets and comforters, merino wool has impressive insulative properties.
Merino wool is also a popular material for throw blankets due to its luxurious softness and remarkable heat retention.

Smells like burning feathers, with a sharp hint of burning sulfur. They also form a tiny firm black ball of ash but you can crush it between your fingers when it has cooled down .

Pre-treat any stains with a spot treatment.
If you’re washing a more structured item like a blazer or outerwear, it’s best to dry clean the item.
Merino wool is machine washable. Place your items inside out in a mesh laundry bag and wash on a delicate cycle in cold water. Make sure to take the item out promptly to avoid creasing.
You can also wash your merino wool items by hand. Soak the item in cold water with a mild, wool-specific detergent.
Rinse and squeeze out any excess water.
Do not wring so the item doesn’t lose its shape.
Lay items flat to dry and re-shape accordingly.
Do not put any merino wool items in the dryer, as they will shrink.
Set the iron on the Wool, Medium or 2-dot heat setting.