Is a wool sweater itchy? Many people think that all wool is itchy. Wool comes in many different qualities. It can be used to make carpets, mattresses, and upholstery fabrics—but also the finest baby clothes, tailored suits, and dresses. How is this possible? And is all wool really itchy?
There are as many types of sheep as there are types of wool. Sheep easily adapt to their living conditions. The thickness and quality of the wool depend on the climate. Sheep breeds accustomed to cold and rain (Scotland, Iceland) have a thicker and coarser coat than those in warm countries (Australia and South America).
Kriebel Wool
The thicker the wool fiber, the stiffer it feels. The prickly sensation of wool is caused by the scaly outer layer of the wool fiber. The wool fiber consists of barbs. These barbs are also what make it possible to felt wool. However, a stiff, thick wool fiber also has thicker barbs, and these cause a tickling and itching sensation.
Wool from Merino sheep is the finest wool of all
Merino sheep are native to Spain, though they are now also found in Australia and New Zealand. These sheep live in a warm climate and therefore have thinner wool fibers. In addition, merino sheep wool consists of very long fibers, which makes it possible to use it for very fine weaving.
The fiber diameter of wool—an important measure of softness—is measured in “microns.” Merino Wool starts at 10 microns. By comparison, wool from Shetland sheep is 40 microns thick! The cutoff is 19 microns; beyond that, wool becomes truly itchy and is no longer comfortable to wear.
To make wool feel even softer, the yarns are often blended with other fine types of wool, such as cashmere, angora, and mohair.
Wool allergy?
A wool allergy is rare. Wool contains lanolin, a natural wax coating that protects sheep from the rain. This lanolin can cause allergic reactions. People with asthma or hay fever may also have trouble with wool. However, the itchiness that wool can cause is rarely an allergic reaction.
Merino wool
Some popular merino yarns include Lana Grossa Cool Wool, Lana Grossa Merino Superfein, and Katia Big Merino. Curious about our merino selection? View our entire merino wool collection here.
