What does 18.5 micron merino wool mean?

The micron is essentially the diameter of the fiber. The lower the micron, the softer the wool. Minus33 uses Superfine 18.5 micron Merino Wool for our Midweight and Expedition products, and Ultrafine 17.5 micron for our Lightweight and Micro products.

How many microns should merino wool be?

Merino sheep produce wool that is less than 24 microns in diameter. Most wool between 11.5 and 24 microns in fiber diameter are made into clothing. The remainder is used for other textiles like blankets, insulation and furnishings. The finer or lower the number of microns, the softer and more expensive the merino wool.

What is 18.5 micron merino wool?

Superfine Merino Wool fiber (15 to 18.5 micron) is soft against the skin and has even been shown to reduce eczema symptoms. Coarse wool (greater than 30 micron) has been known to prickle and itch when the fiber ends press against the skin and trigger nerve endings know as nociceptors.

What does micron mean in merino wool?

A micron is the measurement of the diameter of a wool fibre.

A lower micron number means a finer fibre. Merino wool is the finest and usually measures anything from 15 to 25 microns but can still be finer. Other wool varies in micron and this depends on the breed of the sheep, the health and age of the sheep.

What is a good micron count in wool?

A micron is a unit of measurement used for the diameter, and therefore fineness, of a fiber — the lower the micron count, the finer the fiber; the higher the micron count, the hardier or “coarser” the fiber. For a finewool, commercial wool yarn manufacturers aim for an average micron range of 19–21.5 microns.

What Is A Micron When It Comes To Wool? + 6.8 Pounds of Merino

What is 19.5 micron merino wool?

A Micron is the measurement used to describe the diameter of a wool fiber. The smaller the Micron measurement, the finer and softer the wool. The finest gauge wool comes from Merino sheep, all Merino wool is considered Very Fine, meaning the fibers are smaller than 24 Microns in diameter.

What is 17 micron wool?

White Gum Wool averages 17 microns in diameter, in the middle of the “superfine” range—16 to 18 microns.

What is the finest merino wool?

Ultrafine Merino

Ultrafine wool is the finest wool in the world, and it has a micron range of 16.1 to 17.5. This Merino wool yarn produces silky soft and a very light fabric you can wear on your skin. This wool is perfect for very light-weight underwear, knitwear, and other premium-suiting fabrics.

Which wools are the softest?

Merino wool is the finest and softest sheep's wool in the world. Merino wool makes up just 1% of the world's fibre for apparel – true luxury.

What is the micron width of itchy wool?

Any clothing that touches your skin will feel itchy if it has a fiber diameter above 28 microns, such as traditional wool. This is known as the "comfort factor" or "itch factor."

Is extra fine merino wool warm?

One of the reasons that merino wool is so popular is its warmth relative to weight. The fabric has a natural loft that traps heat very efficiently between the fibers, making it warmer than a synthetic of the same weight. But it's also good in the heat as merino regulates your body temperature really well.

How is merino wool rated?

Most merino wool garments are categorized by fabric density. You'll often see it classified as a number such as 150 or 250; it refers to the number of grams of merino wool in every square meter of fabric. These densities are then used to classify the clothing as lightweight, midweight, or heavyweight.

What is superfine Merino wool?

Superfine Merino, made from fine Australian wool is a soft, elegant yarn. It has traditional uses in creating garments of the highest quality. It is a truly luxurious yarn. This yarn will felt when agitated in lukewarm water: this makes it ideal for uses in deflected double weave structures!

Is extra fine merino wool itchy?

They don't irritate or itch, and they naturally resist odors and wick away sweat. Whether you're after a base layer for winter warmth, underwear for home or travel or socks for everyday wear or hitting the trail, merino feels soft and works in harmony with your skin.

Is cashmere better than merino wool?

In summary then, cashmere is seven to eight times warmer than Merino wool. Cashmere is softer too. Merino wool wins in the durability department, and it will last longer under similar care and use. Merino wool, due to its greater durability, is easier to wash too.

Is lambswool better than Merino wool?

Uses for Lambswool vs Merino Wool

Generally speaking lambswool is warmer than Merino wool and the soft fibres allow for the spinning of incredibly high quality yarn.

Which is softer Merino or alpaca?

When compared to merino wool, alpaca is softer, stronger, warmer, and retains less water.

Which wool is not itchy?

These yarn qualities typically don't itch

Bamboo Yarn. Milk Yarn. Silk Yarn. Viscous yarn.

How many microns is superfine Merino?

Superfine wool has a fibre diameter of 17.6-18.5 microns.

What is the softest Merino yarn?

Is all Merino wool the same?

Not all merino is created equal, however. If football is a game of inches, merino is a game of microns, specifically the diameter of the follicle (they have microscopes). The smaller the number, the softer and more expensive the wool.

How is wool measured in microns?

All about microns

There are many ways to measure wool samples, including Optical Fibre Diameter Analysis tools, or mobile devices called Fleecescan. Once collected, the samples are then sent to fleece-testing laboratories for measurement. The test results then determine the best use and value for wools.

What is merino wool?

Merino wool is a natural fiber grown by Merino sheep. It's thinner and softer than regular wool—making it easy to wear next to skin. And when you wear wool next to skin, a lot of benefits come with it.

What micron is Shetland wool?

Generally, Shetland wool has a thickness of 23-25 microns, but is can be even finer or thicker depending upon where it is gathered from the sheep. Wool between 10-20 microns can be gathered from the neck and shoulders, while wool between 25-30 microns can be gathered from the britches.

What are the grades of wool?

Grading Systems

Three systems that describe wool grades in the United States are blood, numerical count and micron. The blood system divides all wool, from finest to coarsest, into six market grades: fine 1/2 blood, 3/8s blood, 1/4 blood, low 1/4 blood, common and braid.