Merino wool is one of the most popular breeds and well known. The Merino sheep is a medium sized animal with horns or with scurs, these are little numbs were a horn would be. There are 5 types or merino breeds; Booroola, Delaine, Poll, Fonthill, and Peppin. The wool is fine and considered “next to skin” soft meaning it is easy to wear as socks, light weight sweaters and such without making most people itch. But it’s has the draw back of felting easy and pilling so isn’t not as durable for outerwear. Most people are familiar with merino socks being for sale on the web. The fiber has a short staple length, elastic tendency, with a high natural grease (lanolin) weight and is a crimpy wool. Merino is also sold as a Superwash, though not one of my favorite due to the effects the process of making it such has on our environment. That being said _superwash does have it place in modern living. If you love to knit your own socks or make a baby item it can be handy. Superwash Merino has had the scales removed chemically so it can handle a run through the washer. Merino fiber can be slick to spin, superwash is for sure, this can make it tougher for a new spin but a great challenge. It can take a good amount of twist without becoming ropey.
Merino can be spun in both worsted or woolen prep and is lovely as a 2 ply or Navajo plied. When knitted up it makes a warm yet lightweight fabric and can be warm year round in some parts of the world. The luster is not strong but blends well with silk and other luxury fiber well to add a sheen.
Now that all the fun facts of this wool breed is done, it is one of my favorite to spin for soft squishy yarns. My first spins were all merino blended up in batts and I made a large warm simple shawl from them. It’s also the major percent of fiber used in my current Turkish spindle project, which was my first post. Merino sheep are raise all over the world and is fairly easy to get for spinner to work with. The cost can be a bit more depending on the quality and lots of indie dryers work with it for art batts, rolags and puni, along with great dyed braids. Check out Merino products. Being a spinner I say spin away, but most of enjoy it and use your yarn when you are finish spinning.