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Which Wool?

Exploring the benefits of yarn.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the yarns we use every day in the workshop and explore each of their benefits! We currently use four different varieties in our knitted accessories – lets find out more about them!

Cashmilon acrylic.

Cashmilon acrylic is a synthetic yarn. Unlike natural fibres which are spun, the acrylic polymer is twisted into long lengths of thread which make up the yarn. It is lightweight and durable and although it feels similar to wool, it is non-fibrous.

Acrylic yarns take dyes more easily making for a vibrant, rich colour! Unlike most wool, it is machine washable without losing it shape, shrinking or shedding! As it is a man-made fibre, it’s hypoallergenic – perfect for those with wool allergies and suitable for people who don’t wear wool.

Shetland wool.

Shetland wool is produced from a breed of sheep residing in the Shetland Isles in Scotland. These small but hardy sheep survive the harsh conditions all the while producing a very fine, silky fleece. In its natural form the fleece can be white, moorit (reddish brown), shaela (steel grey), and black.

The pure wool is typically used for traditional Fair Isle knitting and the coarser wool is used for Tweed suits. Our neighbours from Hawick, Lovat Mill, are a weaving mill renowned for their use of wool in their Tweed textiles. As Shetland wool is so warm and durable, it’s perfect for our knitted hats, you can find it in some of our limited edition range. However, as Shetland wool is limited in supply and colour, we knit our batch production hats with a similar grade of wool from Knoll Yarns in Yorkshire called supersoft.

Merino Lambswool.

Merino Lambswool is produced from the very first shearing of a lamb when it is around seven months old. As the fibres are short and fine, the fleece requires minimal processing, therefore is less likely to cause that familiar itch that comes with wearing harder wool products. This makes for an elastic and lightweight yarn.

As well as being breathable and naturally hypoallergenic, it is also water repellent – what more could you want?

Merino wool.

Produced by the merino sheep of New Zealand is of course, merino wool! During a trip to New Zealand, Alison and Graham visited a merino sheep farm, experiencing first-hand how the sheep live and how the wool is produced. They also got to meet Barbie the farm pet!

This breed grows a much finer fleece compared to other sheep which gives it it’s incredibly luxurious feel. It wicks away moisture making for great temperature regulation and also has natural anti-bacterial properties. As the sheep produces a new fleece every year, merino is a great source of sustainable yarn. As with all wool, it is bio-degradable making it a kinder for the earth – what a wonderful fibre!

To wrap it up.

At Wonky Woolies, we love working with different types of fibres. We enjoy what each of these yarns bring to all of our knitted accessories. As they are so different, we couldn’t pick a favourite but can you?

We’re always keen to get valuable feedback from customers. Let us know what you think of your Wonky products, it helps us continue to develop our range! Use the hashtags #wonkywoolies and #hatsforallreasons on your posts and we’ll feature you on our social media!

Thank you, Georgia

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