Knitting and all seasons favourite merino wool

We use 100% merino wool for knitting. The term wool refers to a fiber produced from the hide of an animal and the most common sources of wool are goats, alpacas, and sheep. Merino wool is named after the animal this particular kind of wool is harvested from – Merino sheep. Merino wool has Spanish origins and is one of the world’s most popular fabric materials. With good reason.

What is merino wool?

Merino wool is an environmentally friendly renewable resource. An animal can be sheared and the ‘wool’ grows back therefore it’s a sustainable fabric and the manufacturing process causes little to no harm to the environment. Merino wool is a material for all seasons  as it cools in summer and warms in winter. It is resistant to unpleasant odors and absorbs moisture perfectly. It is also antiseptic, does not stain and is famous for its exceptional durability.

Depending on how it’s made, merino wool fabric can also be luxuriously soft, countering the scratchiness that is commonly associated with wool. Because it has thinner, finer fibres, it won’t irritate even the most sensitive skin. Merino wool comes in a variety of different grades, and ultra-fine merino wool is suitable for blending with silk or cashmere. There are several types of merino wool, like broad merino wool, medium merino wool, fine merino wool (this is the one that we use), superfine and ultrafine merino wool. 

Where does merino wool come from?

Merino sheep appeared in the southern parts of Spain sometime during the 12th or 13th century. While some scholars indicate that this breed of sheep was imported from Morocco, others contend that Merino sheep originated as a result of selective breeding between Spanish sheep and Moroccan rams. Regardless of the precise origins of Merino sheep, it was responsible for making Spain a direct competitor of England within the European wool market by the end of the 15th century. Merino wool also contributed to Spain becoming an export force. Just prior to the rise of Napoleon, Merino spread throughout some of the most recent British colonies, including South Africa and, of course, Australia. Today, Australia is home to more than 71 million sheep, and approximately 53 million of them are Merino. The vast majority of the world’s Merino wool originates in Australia, and the wool trade still makes up a significant portion of Australia’s export economy. We buy fine merino wool from several trusted suppliers from across Europe and we chose them based on the type of wool they offer, the colour pallet they have available and an interest in long-term and stable collaboration.

How do we use merino wool?

While knitting a large dimensional merino wool blanket takes an entire day, we absolutely love the final products as they are extremely comfortable and cosy. The merino wool blankets are known for their luxurious softness and remarkable heat retention. At the beginning we were using it only to make blankets, but because of its popularity with our customers we added merino pillows to our shop as well. There are several colours available, from dramatic black to cream white and vivid raspberry and we are always open to suggestions about adding more options to our shop. Most merino wool products are made to order but few pieces are always available for that last minute gift or a little something to pamper oneself.

All our blankets and pillows are completely handmade by us. We try our hardest that each loop is knitted to the highest possible perfection. We use soft, organic cotton Cup of Tea labels to ensure maximum comfort of each blanket and pillow. Merino wool cannot be machine washed, but it is extremely durable and a very low maintenance material. We advise to ventilate wool products several times a year and shake them well, which should be enough to make sure the larger particles fall out. In case of a small stain, you should carefully wash that part of the product with cold water at home. For a complete once in a year cleanse, we advise dry cleaning.