2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
In the wardrobe of every self-respecting modern person there should be at least one thing, which would include merino wool. Such products look especially elegant. They do not wrinkle and wear well - they do not rub, do not give spools. And merino wool has amazing properties. What? Suffice it to say that it is suitable even for those people with hypersensitive skin who cannot tolerate woolen clothing. Soft fluffy fleece warms in the most severe frosts and cools in the heat. In such a sweater, rain is not terrible. How is this possible? Read this article and learn more about the amazing animals - merino.
Breed selection
People knew about the so-called fine-fleeced sheep in ancient times. But purposefully breeding them, selectively working to improve the quality of the breed, began in Spain. So, in the XII century, los merinos were born - fine-fleeced merino sheep. Animals of this breed were smaller than ordinary lambs, therefore, they gave lessmeat and milk. But their wool was beyond praise. It is twice as thin as that of an ordinary sheep, and much stronger. In addition, a fleece sheared from one merino in a year weighed about 15 kilograms. And meat and dairy breeds gave only 6-7 kg of wool. Historians admit that the power of the Spanish kingdom in the Middle Ages rested solely on the monopoly in the sale of the precious fleece. Merino was valued so highly that the export of a living representative of this breed outside the country was punishable by death.
Monopoly violation
Quite a few people know that we owe the spread of merino around the planet, and consequently, the reduction in the price of their wool, to the battle called the death of the Invincible Armada. In this naval battle, Spain was defeated, its monopoly on the export of wool was broken. Merinos were first brought to the British Isles. But the climate there, with mild winters and cool rainy summers, was fundamentally different from that which reigns in the highlands of Castile and León. Merino wool is poorly formed in such conditions. In the XVIII century, it was decided to bring thoroughbred sheep to the newly discovered continent - Australia. The first 70 heads of cattle arrived there in 1788. The climate of the Green Continent, as well as New Zealand, turned out to be the most suitable. Photo Merino, along with the "aboriginal" kangaroo, has become a hallmark of Australia. After all, now in these two countries there are 155 million sheep of this breed.
What is merino wool
So why did the Spaniards give upincreasing the live weight of the breed in their painstaking selection work? Small graceful lambs carry a huge, but light fleece. And its quantity - 15 kg per year - is not the main indicator. The main advantage is quality. Merino wool consists of thin, soft and long (15-20 cm) fibers. For comparison: the thickness of a normal sheep's hair is 25-35 microns. And for Merinos, this figure averages only 16 microns. This means that the five flowing strands are the thickness of a human hair! Therefore, such wool does not cause allergies. Merinos have a flowing fleece with curls. These invisible curls fluff up the yarn and create an amazing thermal insulation effect. Products made of merino wool do not heat - they protect the body from the effects of the external environment. It is said that a freshly boiled egg wrapped in yarn stays hot even when placed in the freezer. Likewise, ice does not melt when exposed to the sun. Therefore, Australian felt boots "for all seasons" have been very popular lately. They keep your feet warm in winter and do not float in summer.
Hygroscopicity and self-cleaning effect
Nature has endowed the Merino with another feature. Their fleece is able to absorb moisture in an amount of about 30% of its own volume. At the same time, clothes do not cool, but, on the contrary, warm. This is due to the special molecular structure of the pile. Merino wool also wicks excess moisture out. We all remember how uncomfortable a sweat-drenched blanket brings us on hot nights or when we are sick. The hygroscopic effect of merino yarn avoids these unpleasant sensations. Also, the fleece, thanks to the lanolin contained in its composition, is able to self-clean. Products made from merino yarn should not be washed frequently, it is enough to shake them well and air them. Also, this wool gives a durable material, because the length of one thread is much longer than that of ordinary sheep. Wash the products in the delicate wash mode with gentle water temperature.
Merino yarn
The best among specialists is the so-called "summer" wool. She is sheared only from the withers of a sheep. The Golden Bale auctions are held annually, where at a starting price ($450,000 per centner) they sell wool with a pile thickness of 14.5-15 microns. A step below is the Extra Fine fleece (especially thin). Its width is already 16-17 microns. Superfine is also highly valued - 18 microns. Clothes and blankets made of merino wool are light, comfortable, solid. Suits and dresses made of elite Extrafine yarn look especially elegant. They do not crumple and seem to "flow" through the body. The finest wool with a breathable and hygroscopic effect is used for sportswear.
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