10 Questions You Should Ask Before Knitting with Merino Wool Yarn
Knitting with Merino Wool
If you haven’t knitted with Merino wool yarn before, you are in for a treat!
Merino yarn is smooth, soft, and delightfully springy.
You may be wondering, why is merino wool so highly regarded, what makes it different from regular wool, and how do you care for this yarn?
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Merino Wool yarn.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for more information.
#1. What is Merino Yarn?
Merino wool comes from the the Merino sheep.
These delightful creatures produce the finest quality wool available.
What makes Merino wool so special for knitting yarns, is that it provides a fiber long smooth fiber that is very warm though it’s light.
It provides even warmth even when wet, may be worn close to the skin, doesn’t pill (unless it’s loosely spun), and isn’t itchy.
#2. What are the benefits of merino wool?
Merino wool provides warmth without being hot, and it has moisture wicking properties that keeps garments try to the touch.
It's great for knitting garments that are close to the body such as socks, hats, and mittens.
Don’t just use it for small projects, though!
Merino wool is also ideal for knitting sweaters, scarves, shawls, and even baby garments.
#3. Is Merino Wool Yarn Itchy?
Merino Wool is much softer than other wool yarns because it is a finer wool.
Strands of Merino wool are longer than other types of wool making it feel smooth against the skin.
In addition, Merino Superwash means the scales on the fiber have been removed creating an even smoother yarn that feels great against the skin.
One of our favorite non-itchy yarns? Ewe Ewe Merino Superwash Yarns
#4. Why is Merino Yarn So Expensive?
Merino wool is more expensive than other wool yarns because it is a finer grade wool.
Take, for example, cuts of meat. Some cuts are less expensive because they are not as tender as other cuts. Flank steak or chuck roast will be much cheaper than the finest cut of beef, filet mignon.
Merino wool is the yarn equivalent to filet mignon.
Just as filet mignon is more tender than other cuts of meat, Merino wool is softer, smoother, and more durable than other wools.
How Much Does Merino Wool Yarn Cost?
They can range anywhere from $10/ball to $40/ball on average. Hand dyed or hand painted Merino wool is more expensive than solid mill dyed yarns due to the labor involved in hand dyeing.
In addition, if you are purchasing Merino Superwash yarn, there is another layer to the process of creating the yarn which can drive the cost up even higher.
How Many Microns is Merino Wool Yarn?
To qualify as Merino wool, the fiber must be 24 microns in diameter or less. The smaller the diameter, the finer the yarn.
Superfine Merino wool is anything smaller than 18.5 microns or less.
#5. Is Merino wool cashmere?
Merino wool is not cashmere. It comes from the Merino sheep while cashmere comes from the cashmere goat.
However, superfine Merino wool is just as fine as cashmere.
#6. Can you wash merino wool yarn?
It is OK to wash Merino wool.
In fact, in most cases, it is better to wash this wool rather than dry clean because it restores moisture to the fabric and softens it, while dry cleaning makes the wool stiffer.
There are some important tips you need to know before washing Merino wool.
Heat and agitation will cause the wool to felt.
How to Wash Merino Wool Yarn
Washing Machine - You may machine wash Merino wool. However, be sure to ALWAYS use cool water and set on the gentle cycle. You can also use a mesh sweater bag to protect your knitwear in the washer. Do not put in the dryer. Lay flat to dry.
Hand Washing - In a basin, wash in cool water using a product such as Kookaburra Wool Wash or Soak Wash. Roll in a towel to remove excess water and lay flat to dry.
Can You Steam Merino Wool?
If your Merino wool garment get wrinkled, steaming it will freshen up the fibers, remove any wrinkles or creases, and add bounce to it.
Can I Iron Merino Wool?
Ironing Merino wool is a bit trickier and not recommended because not only can it scald the fabric, it can also flatten the fiber.
If you do decide to use an iron, always use the wool setting and be sure to spritz the yarn with water and use a dry pressing cloth between the iron and the garment.
#7. Does Merino wool shrink
There are two major enemies of Merino wool. They are warm/hot water and agitation. Both of these things will cause your garment to felt and shrink.
Years ago, I put a women’s Merino wool sweater in the washer and dryer and it came out felted and small enough to fit a baby (seriously!).
Unless it is a superwash Merino, this yarn will shrink!
#8. Does Merino Wool Yarn Pill?
Because of its long strands, Merino Wool yarn does not pill. It is less likely to pill than synthetic fibers and regular wool.
One side note, if you purchase a Merino wool yarn that is a roving or lightly spun, it may pill because of the way it was spun not because of the fiber itself.
#9. What to Knit with Merino Wool Yarn?
Merino wool yarn is a fabulous choice for so many hand knitted items.
Use it to knit hats, headbands, neck warmers, scarves, shawls, ponchos, capelets, pullovers, cardigans, mittens, gloves, leg warmers, socks, home accessories, and children’s garments.
#10. Where to Buy Merino Wool Yarn?
Check your local yarn store for Merino Wools yarns.
They are a yarn store favorite, and you’ll find many options including Superwash, natural colors, and hand dyes.
In addition, here are some of my favorite Merino Wool yarns you can purchase online.
Knit Picks Muse Hand Painted Aran weight yarn
Ewe Ewe Yarns Merino Superwash Wool in 4 weights
Merino Wool Big Chunky Yarn for Blankets and Rugs
Knit Picks Stroll Gradient Fingering Weight Yarn
Schoppel Zauberball Yarn - great for shawls and socks
Manos del Uruguay Serpentina hand dyed yarn
Why buy Merino Superwash Wool?
You may have noticed, I mentioned Merino Superwash wool several times in this post.
Let’s talk about what it is and how it’s different from regular Merino wool.
Merino Superwash wool has been treated in a bath that removes the outside scales from the fiber and provides a very smooth washable yarn that won't felt.
It's ideal for knitting socks and other garments that need to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.
Our favorites include Ewe Ewe Yarns line of washable Merino Wool yarns (available in Fluffy Fingering, Ewe So Sporty, Wooly Worsted, and Baa Baa Bulky weights), Schoppel Ambiente (a Fair Isle self-striping yarn), and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Superwash yarn.
