The founder of large-knit merino wool products is the company "Modern Wool". Items made from this elite yarn are incredibly soft and durable. The origin of the sheep breed itself is shrouded in legends.
What is merino wool
These are natural fibers obtained after shearing a unique breed of sheep. Soft wool, devoid of hard awn, is selected for the production of the most elite thread. The content of lanolin, which has an antiseptic effect, repels dust mites and other parasites.
Long fibers of the wool cover make the thread elastic, and the finished product retains heat. People prone to allergies will like any item made of merino wool.
For your information! The origin of the Merino, like the blankets, is linked to several historically confirmed data, with different roots. According to some sources, the breed of sheep was bred in Ireland, while others refer to the French Rambouillet Merino, obtained by crossing Spanish and English long-wool fine-wool breeds.
The resulting specimens were exported to the USA and Austria. They came to Russia from their American colleagues to Soviet zootechnicians. The Irish origin of the fine-wool sheep, which was prohibited from being exported for almost six centuries, gives rise to the story of the invention of knitted blankets in Northern Scotland.
Please note! Attempts to export valuable yarn outside the historical homeland were punishable by death. The distribution of woolen products was also prohibited to owners of sheepfolds. There was no talk of selling the valuable breed for many centuries.
A blanket made from merino wool, obtained from a special breed of sheep, has amazing properties, and products of such quality could only be owned by people of noble origin.
Times are different now. Merino wool has become widespread in recent years. The rise in popularity of merino wool products is only gaining momentum. Along with blankets, customers are offered hats, sweaters and snoods. Yarn for making your own products has only recently become available for sale.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
The special qualities of merino wool are its amazing softness and silkiness. The finest fibers are called fine-wool. They have the following advantages:
- wool's properties of allowing air to pass through, retaining heat, remaining light without being subject to deformation;
- the yarn does not roll in the product, does not cause irritation, absorbs moisture well and releases it during drying, without retaining odors;
- the healing properties of natural fiber can relieve back pain and relieve fatigue. For example, grandmothers use natural furs to treat osteochondrosis and radiculitis. Merino wool is superior in its healing effect to any natural fur;
- A merino blanket serves not only an aesthetic purpose, being present in the room on a sofa or bed. The product provides comfort and warmth not only to adults, but also to a newborn.
Please note! The only drawback of the blanket is its price.
But this fact can be argued. You can knit a merino wool blanket yourself. All products sold are handmade. You can buy or order yarn for knitting in a specialized store at reasonable prices. You can knit a blanket on special knitting needles or directly by hand.
What are the benefits of merino yarn?
Wool is unique in its ability to maintain body temperature, preventing freezing in winter and overheating in summer. Soft fleece, like silk, pleasant to the touch, has a positive effect on a person's well-being:
- normalizes blood pressure;
- reduces headaches, back pain and joint pain;
- relieves muscle spasms and relaxes the nervous system;
- improves blood flow, facilitating the work of the cardiovascular system;
- relieves stress, giving joy and peace.
Is it machine washable?
Careful handling of the product implies delicate hand washing with conditioner. Careful drying in a straightened form and light ironing with a warm iron are required.
If a triangle is drawn on the product label, then machine washing is allowed, but it is worth considering a delicate mode and a water temperature of no more than 30 °C. A lot depends on the composition of the raw materials from which the blanket is made.
Please note! It is possible to add fibers of sheep wool of other breeds, which makes the fleece more resistant to washing.
The manufacturer depicts a basin of water on the label if hand washing of the product is allowed. In this case, it is possible to use gentle products that exclude the presence of chlorine for bleaching.
The absence of the corresponding signs indicates that you should limit yourself to dry cleaning the blanket, without using water. Increased attention to an expensive product that competes with alpaca products will extend its service life.
How to properly wash a merino wool blanket
It is not always possible to remove dirt by dry cleaning alone. Shaking and periodic drying with ventilation in the fresh air will eliminate the need to wash the blanket.
It should be noted that if washing cannot be avoided, then the correct actions will preserve the fibers in their original form. Using smooth movements without strong friction, wash the bedspread in warm comfortable water with the addition of conditioner.
Please note! Long soaking and washing in hot water can cause shrinkage of the product, and not always symmetrically. A large knit merino blanket requires a special approach to cleaning from dirt.
Frequent washing is not recommended by the manufacturer. This is justified by the fact that knitted wool is even more delicate than sheep's down, which does not require periodic washing and cleaning. Stains can be removed with ordinary white laundry soap, rinsing off the remains with warm water.
Can I wring it out and how do I dry it?
The product should not be wrung out, like most knitted woolen items. Wringing out the blanket can damage the fiber structure, so it is recommended to leave the product on a special rack or place it on the bottom of a basin so that the water can drain naturally. When the excess moisture has drained, you need to lay out the blanket, leveling it over the entire area.
Proper drying of the blanket in a horizontal position will ensure that it retains its shape. Excess moisture can be collected with a terry towel. Using a hair dryer or heaters is prohibited. Drying in the sun is not recommended. There is no need to iron the blanket.
Sizes and prices
The appearance of the Dollywool company on the market in 2015 marked the beginning of sales of merino blankets in the Russian markets. The hand-made production of bedspreads, starting from children's sizes of 70x70 cm to double bedspreads of 200x210 cm, brought rapid success.
Prices are determined by the thread consumption and the volume of work and range from 2,900 to 12,900 rubles.* Large knit blankets are made to order. Finished products of non-standard sizes can cost up to 141 thousand rubles.
The main companies that manufacture blankets in Europe are OHHIO, DollyWool, and ModernWool.
| OHHIO | DollyWool | ModernWool | |
| Blanket sizes | from 40×60 cm to 152×203 cm | from 70x70 cm to 200x210 cm | from 90×120 cm to 230×260 cm |
| Number of colors | 14 | 14 | 5 |
| Prices | from 12,594 to 40,500 RUB | from 2900 to 12 900 rub. | from 31,000 to 141,000 rubles. |
You can purchase a blanket:
- as an expensive gift for a wedding or anniversary;
- for home use:
- for relaxing in a car or on a picnic;
- as a shawl on the shoulders for work;
- as a healing blanket;
- to decorate the living room or bedroom.
Expensive natural material is capricious in care, but gives a lot of pleasant sensations to the owner. The wonderful qualities of a blanket made of the finest pile are preserved for several decades with careful treatment of the product.
*Prices are valid as of June 2019.
