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Published: 06/23/2021
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In ancient times, sheep's wool was considered a gift from the gods. It was one of the first natural materials that protected humans from cold and disease. Today it has many synthetic and artificial analogues with a long series of positive qualities. But they all only imitate a product created by nature. It contains no toxins, because sheep, by their biology, ignore unnatural food and do not drink contaminated water. This is why wool is so valued as a raw material for clothing and bedding.
- 1 Extraction of raw materials and production
- 2 Classification of sheep wool and the best breeds
- 3 Material characteristics 3.1 Advantages
- 3.2 Disadvantages
Merinos, Dorpers and others
Scientists count dozens of sheep breeds. Some of them are intended for meat production, others are for wool.
How much wool does a sheep produce? Depending on the variety. For example, from a texel you can get up to 5 and a half kg for each clip, merino gives its owners up to 7 kilograms.
Very often you can hear such a name as “fleece”. Indeed, it is used as a characteristic of sheep wool. Fleece is a single layer when the fibers have not disintegrated.
What is another name for sheep's wool? Merino. This name comes from one of the wool breeds of such animals.
Fleece of different breeds will differ in type. There are braids - loose structure and staple - smooth, homogeneous. Why are they different in structure? Much depends on the germination of villi and their bonding, as well as density.
Semi-fine fleece
Such raw materials are obtained from sheep raised in mild, humid climates. These include:
- Tsigai breed;
- new Russian breeds;
- Romney-Marsh, Lincoln breeds from England.
This includes crosses between some fine-wool and coarse-wool breeds. Fiber thickness – from 26 to 40 microns.
Semi-coarse-haired
The fiber thickness of semi-coarse-haired breeds ranges from 41 to 60 microns. Raw materials with these parameters will be obtained from sheep raised in mountain conditions. These are rough-haired and some varieties of long-haired breeds. The fiber of these sheep is coarser than merino, but is durable and of sufficient length (20-25 microns). It is convenient to spin. Products made from such raw materials have a silky shine.
Rough-haired
The habitat of coarse-wool sheep breeds is deserts and semi-deserts. Coarse fiber is also obtained from meat and meat and dairy animals. The fiber thickness reaches 61 microns. The raw materials are used for the manufacture of outerwear, felt and carpets, which are durable.
How to determine fineness (degree of fineness)
Pieces are plucked from the fleece in different areas. Then the scraps are stretched until a mesh appears. Experts very carefully examine all sections of the staples and give opinions on the quality of the raw materials.
If you need to determine very precisely, you can contact a specialized laboratory. To determine their diameter, villi are examined and measured using a microscope.
Treatment
In production, sheep wool is processed using specialized devices and machines. The types of units depend on the types of raw materials.
If wool needs to be processed manually, there are several steps to go through:
- Smooth the raw material using a specialized comb to remove impurities and dirt.
- Dry the wool. This is done not only to remove moisture and grease, but also to eliminate odor. It is recommended to use special dryers.
- Wash and dry, it is also recommended to do this using special units.
The final stage is combing and leveling the structure. It is also advisable to beat the fleece with wooden rods to give it softness. Then you can use spinning machines to produce yarn.
Production process
The wool taken from sheep is called fleece. The shearer shaves the sheep. The wool is removed carefully so as not to damage the fiber structure. Rolled and dirty sheepskin must be removed immediately, otherwise the fabric will turn out to be of poor quality. All cut fiber is sorted by length, color, thickness and waviness. If the most similar hairs get into the fabric, the fabric will last a long time.
Additional Information . The sheepskin that is sheared in the spring is considered to be the highest quality and most beautiful.
After the haircut, the cleaning phase begins. Fleece is washed by specially trained people, since it is necessary not to damage the fiber structure and lanolin (natural animal wax that coats sheep hairs).
Shearing
After washing, the fiber is placed in a special machine where it is combed. Each hair is separated separately, and then, with the help of air in one of the chambers of the machine, it is brought back together again. The fibers are then treated with special oils that are designed to fix the lanolin.
The next stage involves thoroughly combing the fur with special brushes. The resulting fabric is divided into even strips and put into a machine, which converts the yarn into thin threads called roving. It is loaded into a spinning machine, where several threads are combined into one.
Sheep wool processing process
Using another loom, threads are woven into woolen fabrics, which are intended for making warm and comfortable things.
Implementation
At the initial stages of activity, many breeders are interested in the question: where to donate sheep wool.
The products are transported to textile industry enterprises engaged in processing and creating interior items or clothing.
Since such industries are always short of raw materials, wool is bought quite willingly, especially if it is of high quality.
Another important question: how much does a kg of sheep’s wool cost? Depending on the breed of animals and the quality of the raw materials, as well as the correct haircut, enterprises accept raw materials at a price of 30 to 200 rubles per kilo.
One of the students of the FF course on knitwear that we conducted asked us to tell us EVERYTHING ABOUT WOOL. Well, is it really possible to tell everything about wool in one lecture?.. This is such a global topic! In order not to leave the girl unattended, we decided to try to collect in this article all the most basic and useful things we know about wool; moreover, we will constantly update it and add new and interesting facts that we come across.
To begin with, it is worth noting that wool
is the hair of animals (sheep, goats, camels, etc.) collected for processing. It consists of outer hair and undercoat. The undercoat (down hair) is shorter, finer, usually wavy, curved hair that serves to more effectively retain heat in the coat. The bulk of wool processed in industry is sheep.
General definition of yarn
states that it is a thread twisted from longitudinally and sequentially arranged natural (wool, cotton, silk...) or chemical (viscose, polyamide...) fibers.
But since our main topic is wool, by the concept of yarn in this article we will mean wool yarn.
WHAT IS WOOL YARN GOOD?
Natural
- Wool is a natural fiber, grown for about a year by a huge number of sheep in different areas under clear sun, clean air and fresh grass.
Biodegradable
- Unlike most man-made fibers, wool naturally breaks down in the ground over several years. It is also used as a soil fertilizer because it is a slow-release source of nitrogen.
Renewable
- After shearing, the animals grow new hair within a year, making it a completely renewable source of fiber.
HOW IS WOOL MARINED AND YARN PRODUCED?
Wool from animals is usually obtained by shearing, less often by combing. Wool is collected without slaughter, which makes it possible to obtain valuable material throughout the life of the animal. Adult sheep with patchy wool are shorn once a year in the spring. Coarse-wool and semi-coarse-wool sheep are shorn twice a year, in spring and autumn. Lambs can be sheared in late summer in the year they are born.
The amount of wool sheared is called clipping
. It varies in weight and volume for different breeds of animals. The average shearing from a Merino sheep is 7 kg, from an Edilbaevsky ram - 3.5 kg, from an Edilbaevsky sheep - 2.5 kg, from Texel sheep - 5.5 kg, from rams - 7 kg, from Altai rams - 15 kg,
After shearing, the resulting wool has many different impurities: plant fibers, sand, dirt, a mixture of sweat - fats - urine, etc., therefore, after collection, it is cleaned and combed using industrial equipment, as a result, the yield of pure fiber is about 45 - 50% of originally collected wool.
The combed fibers are then carefully twisted into rovings, which are subsequently dyed, spun into yarn and wound onto cones or bobbins. The photo below shows the production processes of the Accademia & Industria Italiana Filati factory.
Wool quality
determined by its fiber diameter, waviness, color and strength.
Fiber diameter is the most important characteristic of wool,
determining its quality and price.
The smaller the fiber size, the softer the wool, while longer, coarser fibers are stronger and less prone to pilling
.
WHOSE WOOL IS USED IN THE YARN?
| SHEEP'S WOOL | Due to its origin, sheep yarn retains heat well, is elastic, has high hygroscopicity and wear resistance. To serious shortcomings Wool yarn can be attributed to its low heat resistance, weldability and the formation of pellets on it during friction. Moreover, the weaker the yarn is twisted, the more pronounced the last two shortcomings are. In order to get rid of them, as well as to give the yarn other positive characteristics, such as strength and dimensional stability, artificial or plant fiber is added to wool yarn. Merino sheep's wool is considered the best wool. , its fiber length is about 7 - 13 cm, and its thickness is from 12 to 24 microns. Yarn made from such wool is thin, light, durable, highly hygroscopic and elastic, which gives the product dimensional stability. This yarn is quite expensive and has several gradations in quality, depending on the fiber diameter: less than 15.5 microns - 1. World wool production is about 2 million tons per year, of which 60% is clothing. Wool accounts for about 3% of the global textile market. Australia is a leading producer of wool, which mainly consists of Merino sheep. New Zealand is the fourth largest producer of wool and the largest producer of mixed breed wool. There are large commercial sheep farms in the United States, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, which primarily raise Rambouillet (or French Merino). Australia: 25% of world wool production (475 million kg) China: 18% United States: 17% New Zealand: 11% Argentina: 3% |
| ALPACA WOOL | Alpacas live in the Andes mountains of southern Peru, western Bolivia, Ecuador and northern Chile at an altitude of 3.5 to 5 thousand m. above sea level. Alpaca wool - thin, soft, glossy - shiny and silky. Alpaca fiber is used to make premium knitted and knitted products. There are The process of shearing, cleaning, combing and spinning is very similar to the process used for sheep's wool. Alpacas are usually sheared once a year in the spring. Each Alpaca produces about 2.2 - 4.5 kg of fiber. An adult Alpaca can produce between 1.42 – 2.55 kg. first quality fibers, as well as from 1.42 - 2.84 kg. second and third quality. There are more than 22 natural shades in the color range of Alpaca wool - ranging from black, gray, brown and burgundy, to pink, cream and white. The yarn has several gradations in quality, depending on the fiber diameter: up to 20 microns - Storage Feature Alpaca wool is that only natural ones can be used as anti-moth agents - tobacco, cedar or lavender, and in no case - naphthalene. Alpaca becomes very soft after the first wash with any wool softener. |
| CASHMERE GOAT WOOL | Cashmere - very fine down of the undercoat of Tibetan goats. The term “Cashmere” comes from the name of the region of Kashmir in the north-west of the Hindustan Peninsula, located in the highlands of the front Himalayas. Cashmere of the best quality produced by goats raised in the climatic conditions of Mongolia (very cold winters, with strong winds, hot summers, with air temperatures above 40 degrees). They try to breed goats that provide fluff for making Cashmere in other regions of the world: Iran, Central Asia, Scotland, Australia, but in weather conditions different from the climate of Central Asia, the undercoat of a goat becomes coarse and real Cashmere cannot be made from it. Fiber length Cashmere ranges from 28 to 42 mm. Yarns and products from Cashmere pleasant to the touch, they are thinner, stronger, lighter, softer and have three times the insulating properties of sheep's wool. Products made from it are elegant and emphasize the high status of the owner. To reduce the cost of products, manufacturers use Cashmere in mixtures with wool, silk or synthetic fiber. And even if there is only 10% Cashmere in this blend, it “stretches” the entire bouquet of fibers to the premium class level. Cashmere he is very sensitive to odors, so the best remedy is an anti-moth for him - a sachet with rosemary, lavender, orange peels. Cashmere requires delicacy in the production of products. After untying, mandatory washing with a softening agent is required. At the same time, the washing time (from 2 to 7 minutes) affects the tactile sensations and appearance of the products. It is better to wash Cashmere products by hand, in cold water, and lay them out to dry on a horizontal surface. |
| ANGORA GOAT WOOL | Mohair - wool from Angora goats (mohair should not be confused with the fur of the Angora rabbit, which is called Angora), one of the warmest natural materials. The homeland of Angora goats is considered Turkish province of Angora, where they got their name from. That's why mohair is sometimes called Angora. Mohair fibers are about 25 - 45 microns in diameter. Haircuts are done twice a year, in spring and autumn. One goat gives about 5 - 8 kg. mohair per year. South Africa is the world's largest producer of mohair - 50% of the world's total production. Mohair wool also has gradations in quality: The most important feature – the yarn composition cannot contain more than 80% mohair, otherwise the yarn or product made from it will disintegrate into fibers. Therefore, it is used exclusively in mixed yarns: when mixed with wool, it gives the yarn additional fluffiness, elasticity and lightness; when mixed with synthetic fibers, it becomes more durable and shiny. Mohair is distinguished by its strength, elasticity and beautiful shine, which is why it is sometimes called “Diamond Fiber”. Mohair lends itself exceptionally well to dyeing. Mohair fabric is very warm in winter, as it has excellent insulating properties, and Mohair requires gentle washing in water at room temperature, using gentle detergents. Products made from terry-containing yarns are very light. If a product made from regular yarn weighs on average 400 g, then a product made from mohair weighs 100 g. Thus, the price of mohair can be divided by approximately 3 or 4, and only then compared with other yarns. Mohair has a very long pile of about 12 - 15 and even 30 cm, therefore, they are usually |
| ANGORA RABBIT WOOL | Angora - very fluffy, soft and warm wool from the down of Angora rabbits, which was so named for its long hair by analogy with the goat of the same name. In its pure form it is practically not used due to its high cost and excessive softness, and is found mainly in blended yarns, which are perfect for winter clothes, light, warm and fluffy. There are many different breeds among which there are four main types of Angora: English, French, Satin and Giant. In 2013, several retail clothing brands stopped producing products containing Angora wool after videos were posted online of rabbits being furred alive. These brands include: Gap Inc. , Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M and Esprit. Two main disadvantages: firstly, due to the softness of Angora wool, items containing Angora “shed”, and secondly, for the same reason, products from Angora are washed very delicately, by hand, with special detergents and dried on a horizontal surface. |
| CAMEL'S WOOL | Camel wool It is of high quality and is valued higher than sheep. It consists of coarse outer hair (25 - 100 microns) and an inner layer of soft, warm fluff (17 - 21 microns) - up to 85%. Camels are sheared in the spring. The wool shearing is 5 - 10 kg from a Bactrian (Bactrian camel) and 2 - 4 kg from a Dromedary (Bactrian camel). By international standards, Mongolian Bactrian fluff is considered to be of the highest quality. Interesting detail: all camels under the age of one year are white. During this period, their down (“baby camel”) - the most delicate, thin (17 - 18 microns!) and soft - is especially valuable. It is combed from the chests of babies. As the outer hair grows, not only the quality of the coat changes, but also its shade. By the way, camel down is practically not dyeable. . There are only 14 colors that nature has given camels: cream, white, baked milk, reddish brown, yellowish beige, dark brown and so on. Camel down is not only extremely warm, but also wise - it is an excellent insulator that maintains a constant body temperature. It is not surprising that a camel feels quite comfortable on a hot afternoon: the fur on its back is heated to 80 degrees Celsius, and the skin underneath is only 40! It also knows how to absorb moisture and quickly evaporate it, leaving the body almost dry. This wonderful down has many advantages. It is warmer, stronger and, with the same volume, 2 times lighter than sheep's wool. In addition, it does not cause allergies and relieves static tension from its owners. Can be used in yarn both in pure form and in blends. |
As already written above, fiber diameter is the most important characteristic of wool,
determining its quality and price. To visualize the thickness of animal wool fibers, look at the picture below. The Vicuna and Angora rabbit have the thinnest hair, note how much thinner they are than human hair.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CARDED AND COMBED YARN
There are two main methods of spinning yarn: carded and combed; below are the main characteristics of both methods. It is worth noting that when comparing yarns obtained by carding or combing, it is impossible to say which yarn is better and which is worse. They're just different. You should choose yarn for products depending on what kind of product you want: smoother (combed yarn) or fluffier (carded yarn).
| This is a yarn that is obtained using a card spinning system. It is not combed, but is made from short fibers mixed with an adhesive composition. Carded yarn has an uneven surface; it is fluffier, fleecy and looser than combed yarn. Products made from it are hygroscopic, perfectly breathable, they are soft to the touch and have a matte finish. A product made from carded yarn is subjected to professional washing to wash out the glue, under the influence of which it shrinks 13 - 25%. At the same time, the yarn opens up and becomes light and fluffy. The product can then be washed in a regular washing machine. | wool, cotton or synthetic yarn produced by combed spinning. It is made from long-fiber raw materials and has a dense, smooth and uniform thread twisted into spiral turns. During the processing process, the yarn is passed through a combing machine, where the fibers are combed with a comb and short fibers - tow - are removed. Combed yarns with bulk acrylic or Alpaca resemble carded yarns in appearance. |
| On the reel it is rigid and not tensile strength | The bobbin is more durable and smooth |
| Needs professional washing | No need for professional washing |
| Softer, fluffier and airier after washing | After rinsing it is softer, but not as fluffy and light as carded |
| With a high percentage of natural ingredients - relatively inexpensive | With a high percentage of natural ingredients - quite expensive |
| Retains heat better, even a thin sweater made from this yarn will keep you warm | To achieve the same effect of warmth as in carded yarns, you need a thicker, and therefore heavier, sweater |
| Lightweight | More severe |
| Peels into fluff that can be easily removed by hand | Peels with pellets, which need to be removed with a special machine. |
Over our many years of experience working with yarns, we have accumulated a huge library of various knowledge on the topic of yarn and working with it, so if necessary, we can provide you with instructions for washing carded yarns and help with advice when choosing and purchasing washing equipment.
WHAT IS A YARN METRIC NUMBER?
Nm – metric number.
A parameter indicating the thickness of the yarn. Direct measurement of thread thickness is difficult due to its deformability. Therefore, a parameter has been introduced: the metric number of yarn, which characterizes the length of the thread (m), the weight of which is 1 gram, and also shows the number of single threads from which this yarn is twisted.
For example, for yarn: Nm 32/4: 32 is the length in meters of a single thread whose weight is 1 g. 4 is the number of single threads of the same thickness twisted together. those. it turns out that 1 gram of single thread has a length of 32 meters, but since... the yarn is twisted from four threads, it turns out 8 m per 1 g. Accordingly, the thread after twisting became 4 times thicker. That is, the total thickness of the thread became 32:4 = 8 (the thicker the thread, the smaller the number).
Sometimes Nm 15000 is indicated - this is the length (in meters) of a thread weighing 1 kg, i.e. = Nm 15 (length of 1 gram of single thread).
Each yarn needs to be knitted on machines appropriate to the thickness of the yarn, just as there are knitting needles of different thicknesses for hand knitting, there are machine needles for different gauge yarns.
Machine classes common in Russia are 14, 12, 7, 5, 3. Correspondence between machine classes and yarn thickness:
| Vehicle class | Total thickness | Approximate options |
| 14th grade | Nm 14 - 18 | Nm 2/36, 2/32, 2/30, 2/28, 1/16, 1/15, 1/14, 3/50 |
| 12th grade | Nm 13 - 16 | Nm 2/28, 2/30, 2/32, 1/16, 1/15, 1/14, 1/13, 3/40 |
| Grade 10 | Nm 8 - 12 | Nm 2/28, 1/15, 1/12, 2/20, 2/32 in 2 ends, etc. (32:2:2=8) |
| 8th grade | Nm 7 - 10 | Nm 7, 10, 2/20, 1/14 in 2 threads, etc. |
| 7th grade | Nm 6 - 8 | Nm 7, 6, 2/15, 2/14, 1/14 in 2 threads, etc. |
| 5th grade | Nm 3.5 – 5.5 | Nm 3500, 4500, 5500, 4000, 2/14 in 2 threads, 7000 in 2 threads |
| 3rd grade | Nm 1 – 3 | Nm 3000, 2000, 1000, 5500 in 2 threads, 7000 in 3 threads, etc. |
Those. Before you start choosing yarn, you should decide on what class of machines you plan to knit products on.
CARE OF YOUR WOOL CLOTHES
Below, based on data from the Woolmark Company, we have collected several tips that will help make caring for woolen items easier. You can wash, dry and iron your wool clothes at home with the confidence that Woolmark products are tested and approved for caring for wool clothes.
Care labels
. There are 4 main washing options:
| 1. DRY CLEAN ONLY | 2. HAND WASH | 3. MACHINE WASHABLE | 4. MACHINE WASH + SPIN AND DRY |
| Garments bearing this marking require professional dry cleaning and should be dry cleaned. | Garments with this marking can be hand washed at water temperatures up to 40 °C | Items of clothing with this marking require particularly gentle washing in the washing machine at water temperatures up to 40 °C. It is better to use the “wool” or “delicate” mode. | These garments are machine washable and can be tumble dried on low heat. |
WOOLMARK CARE - Quality care for quality wool!
Washing machines and dryers
- The Woolmark Company tests and validates wool machine washing and tumble drying programs.
Programs that bear the Woolmark Apparel Care logo have been tested and approved by the company as the most effective for washing wool without causing shrinkage or stretching.
Washing machine programs that bear the Woolmark logo can be safely used to wash clothing items that are marked “machine washable”.
laundry dryer
- Tumble dryer programs with the same logo safely dry garments that are labeled “total easy care” or “tumble dry”.
Irons
- The Woolmark Company also tests the ironing programs on its irons. They are tested for ironing performance, crease removal efficiency, ability to create trouser pleats and pleats on pleated garments, and that they do not cause discoloration on wool items.
Detergents
- The Woolmark Company tests and approves laundry products that can be used at home. By choosing laundry products with the Woolmark Apparel Care logo, consumers can be confident in the quality of the product.
GENERAL CARE ADVICE
Regardless of the methods and products you use for washing, we recommend turning items inside out so they will stay “like new” longer. And do not forget to separate light and dark items when washing, otherwise they may become stained.
| EMPTY POCKETS Before you start washing, check that the pockets of your clothes are empty, remove all possible accessories that can be unfastened. Close the zippers. |
| BRUSHING For knitted wool items, use a soft brush to remove pellets, dust and dirt before washing. |
| VENTILATION To remove cigarette or any other odor, leave wool clothes on a flat surface in the fresh air for several hours. |
| WOVEN - ON A HANGER, KNITTED - ON A SHELF Woven woolen items should hang on special soft hangers. Knitted woolen items should be neatly folded and stacked on shelves. |
| REST Before rewearing a woolen item, allow it to rest for about 24 hours. This will return the product to its natural elasticity and give it time to return to its original shape. |
| FRESHNESS New woolen items can be refreshed by hanging them in a damp bath, the steam will remove wrinkles and unevenness. |
| KEEP AWAY FROM THE SUN AND HEATERS If woolen items are wet, dry them on a horizontal surface at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heaters. |
| IRONING Most wool products do not require ironing. But sometimes very smooth items can be ironed to get rid of small wrinkles; set the iron to the wool ironing program and always use steam, try not to overdry the item. |
| VERY FINE WOOL Lighter woolen items should be ironed with a damp cloth or using a steam generator. |
| LONG-TERM STORAGE The odors of food and body oils that remain on woolen clothes attract moths, so before storing them for long-term storage, they should be cleaned. Ideally, you need to use special, natural moth repellents. |
STAIN REMOVING
If you decide to tackle stain removal yourself, here is a quick guide on how to do it at home, and remember to follow the recommendations on the labels of the chemicals you use. It is important to remove stains completely before ironing because the heat from the iron can cause the stain to remain permanently.
| ALCOHOL DRINKS Very carefully and gently apply an absorbent non-woven material with absorbent to the stain and remove as much excess moisture as possible. Then, using a sponge, carefully treat the stained area with a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and warm water. |
| BLACK COFFEE Mix equal parts alcohol and white vinegar, dip an absorbent non-woven material into this mixture and gently treat the stain with light, non-pressing movements. |
| BLOOD Immediately remove excess blood with a damp sponge, then gently soak the affected area with a mixture of white vinegar and water. |
| OIL / FAT / SAUCES First you need to remove excess fatty foods from the product with a spoon or knife. Then dip the non-woven material in a degreaser or white spirit and treat the dirty area. |
| CHOCOLATE / TEA Carefully place a non-woven material soaked in white spirit around the stain, treat the stain itself with alcohol and white vinegar mixed in equal parts. |
| EGGS/MILK Spray the stain with a non-woven cloth soaked in mineral spirits, then repeat with diluted white vinegar. |
| FRUIT / FRUIT JUICE / RED WINE Immediately soak the stain with a 3:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. |
| GRASS Very carefully treat the stain with mild soap or a non-woven cloth moistened with medical alcohol. |
| INK/BALLPOINT PEN Treat the stain with a non-woven cloth soaked in mineral spirits, then repeat with only diluted white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. |
| LIPSTICK / MAKEUP / Shoe polish Treat the stained area with a non-woven cloth soaked in turpentine or a special cleaning spray. Then rinse the product in moderately soapy water. |
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Where is sheep wool used?
From various raw materials obtained after shearing, the following is made:
- Yarn.
- Things.
- Carpets.
- Pillows, blankets.
- Blankets, capes, bedspreads.
- Means used for medicinal purposes. For example, belts against radiculitis.
- Woolen fabrics.
- Shoes.
- Decorative elements.
For example, felt made from sheep wool is an excellent material that is used everywhere, both in the production of clothing and footwear, and in mechanical engineering and other production areas.
Important Features
There is almost never an allergy to sheep wool. Such products are not contraindicated even for asthmatics.
Hats, mittens, socks, blankets, and sweaters made of sheep wool have proven themselves very well in the conditions of Siberia and the Urals, where severe frosts are observed in winter.
Scientists note that when wearing items made from sheep wool, friction creates an electrostatic field. Due to its influence, therapeutic massage is carried out.
Scientists have calculated that people invented felt more than 8 thousand years ago. In addition, the fleece is quite fire resistant.
In addition, they discovered another important property: sheep’s wool periodically cleans itself, neutralizes unpleasant odors and even poisons.
The quality of wool largely depends on care. If the sheep are not looked after, the animals are not vaccinated, they are abandoned to their fate, and their wool quickly falls off.
When livestock is kept in proper conditions, cleanliness and care, the animals do not get sick, are healthy, clean, and the wool is of fairly high quality.
How to make your own sheep wool blanket?
They make blankets from wool with their own hands. The process is simple, but labor-intensive. It consists of several stages:
- Purchase of material. Both clean and unwashed wool can be found on the market. Washed material is more expensive and will require 2 times more. A blanket for an adult will need 2.5 kg.
- Fiber interruption. For this work you need to prepare a long stick. The wool needs to be spread out, lightly sprinkled with water and beaten on it, turning it over regularly. The amount of material should visually increase by 2 times.
- Preparing the cover. It is made from chintz or calico. One side is left open. The product is turned inside out.
- Laying wool. The material is laid out on spread gauze. The fiber should be smoothed out with your hands and rolled at both ends. After this, you need to grab the unstitched edge of the cover and pull it onto the roll. Then turn the cover back. The wool will be inside. Having carefully smoothed it out, the blanket is completely sewn up.
- Quilting a blanket. For this work you will need a thick cotton thread and a large needle. You need to step back 10 cm from the corners. The blanket needs to be pressed to the ground so that it lies motionless. Stitches are made at a distance of 10 cm. As the thread is completed, it is increased.
