What is the difference between Merino wool and Superwash Merino wool? Yarn Spinning Blog
Picture this: You’re standing in your favorite yarn shop, surrounded by Skeins of Possibility (sounds like a great band name, doesn't it?), and there it is—Merino wool. It's like the universe handing you a fluffy cloud with a "Knit Me" tag. But wait, the plot thickens. There are two types: Superwash and Non-Superwash Merino Wool.
Superwash Merino Wool: This is your go-to knight in shining armor when you love knitting but maybe love your Netflix binges a tad more (because who has the time to hand-wash everything?). Superwash wool has been treated to resist felting. Translation: You can toss it in the washing machine, and it won't shrink into a garment fit for your future pet hamster. It’s perfect for those of us juggling our side hustles, main gigs, and that elusive thing called self-care. Superwash is like that reliable friend who says, "I got you," lets you live your life, and still keeps you cozy at the end of a long day.
Non-Superwash Merino Wool: Now, here’s the soulful, earthy cousin who thrives on a little extra TLC. Non-Superwash wool is all-natural, untampered-with glory. It’s like hugging a sheep—ethically, of course—every time you wear it. This kind of wool begs to be hand-washed and dried flat, whispering sweet nothings about preservation and care. Choosing Non-Superwash is like choosing the scenic path on your journey; it’s for when you savor the process, finding as much joy in the care as in the creation itself. This wool connects you to the earth, to the sheep, to the very hands that sheared it. It’s for the dreamer who finds beauty in the rituals and isn't afraid to slow down and breathe.
So, the choice between Superwash and Non-Superwash Merino Wool isn’t just about practicality; it's about reflecting on what fits best with your lifestyle and values. Do you need that low-maintenance, hustle-friendly option that lets you create, wear, and go? Or are you in a season of life where the rhythm of hand-washing and laying flat to dry fits perfectly with your mindfulness mantras?
Remember, each skein of yarn, like every dream or goal, comes with its own care instructions—literal or metaphorical. The key is to choose what aligns with your life chapters, understanding the beauty in both the easy-care and the requires-extra-love varieties.
So here's to making choices that resonate with our hearts and our dreams, to picking the perfect Merino wool that matches our current life playlist. Because, in the end, we’re not just knitting—we’re crafting the lives we love, stitch by beautiful stitch.
I decided to record and document my expirance spinning yarn in the same semi woolen single strand style with the only difference being a super wash merino braid vs a regular merino wool braid. I was hoping to answer the question What is the difference between Merino wool and Superwash Merino wool? Click below to see the video or read the description.
What is the difference between Merino wool and Superwash Merino wool? Yarn Spinning Blog
I wanted to show the difference between spinning a regular Merino braid and a super-wash Marino braid. I've got them laying here next to each other, and you can see that they have physical differences. The superwash Merino is more kind of heavy and drapey. Whereas the regular Merino is fluffier. They both are beautiful braids and I enjoyed spinning them. You can see the difference here, un-braided the superwash.
The super wash Merino has much more of a shine to it from where the scales on the wool were chemically altered and removed. And then this is the regular Merino is very soft with a nice matte finish and a bit fluffier.
You can see it has a heavier drape to it. It's very smooth. It's very easy to pull apart and it's got a heavier drape. The regular Marino also drafts beautifully and will make a lovely yarn, but it's a little stiffer and it's not going to have the drape that the superwash does, but it's also not chemically altered in any way. So there's the superwash and there are the regulars. So you can see there is a movement difference in just how the wool handles.
With spinning the superwash Merino, which is very smooth, makes for a very smooth spin and a nice even yarn and the final product you could wash and not worry about it, felting or shrinking. And that is due to the chemical altering of the actual wool. Some people are against superwash Merino.
I try to not have things in my life that are too overly altered, but I also live in yoga pants and we have many things in our life that are chemically made. So I probably can't shun it too hard. This is the regular Merino. You can see it also makes a beautiful, consistent braid. It's also easy to draft, but it wasn't quite as smooth as the other. The final yarn from the superwash Merino is very drapey, super soft makes a nice even yarn. The regular merino yarn I got more yardage out of but it is also a next to skin soft yarn with even consistantcy but it's not as " silky" as the superwash.
This image was found online and not taken by me. I though it did a good job of showing the difference after the chemical processing.
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