August 07, 2012

Wool Facts...


Did you know?



- Wool is still able to keep you warm even when it gets damp. This is exactly why we have included wool in so many of our baby products. 

- Wool is fire resistant.  Nothing is more important to us than your safety. Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton and some synthetic fibers. It has lower rate of flame spread, low heat release, low heat of combustion, and does not melt or drip; it forms a char which is insulating and self-extinguishing, and contributes less to toxic gases and smoke than other flooring products, when used in carpets.Wool carpets are specified for high safety environments, such as trains and aircraft. Wool is usually specified for garments for firefighters, soldiers, and others in occupations where they are exposed to the likelihood of fire.

-  Wool is wrinkle resistant.

- Wool has also been traditionally used to cover cloth nappies. No more wetness for baby when they are sleeping on a Naturalmat waterproof mattress protector.

- Wool can be extended to up to 70% of its natural length and when the tension is released, it returns to its natural length. Now you know how durable our mattresses really are.

- Wool fibers are hydrophilic, meaning they readily absorb moisture, but are not hollow. Wool can absorb moisture almost one-third of its own weight. Wool absorbs sound like many other fabrics. It is generally a creamy white color, although some breeds of sheep produce natural colors, such as black, brown, silver, and random mixes.

- Wool is resistant to static electricity, as the moisture retained within the fabric conducts electricity, so wool garments are much less likely to spark or cling to the body. The use of wool car seat covers or carpets reduces the risk of a shock when a person touches a grounded object. Wool is considered by the medical profession to be hypoallergenic.

- Global wool production is approximately 1.3 million tonnes per year, of which 60% goes into apparel. Australia is the leading producer of wool which is mostly from Merino sheep.New Zealand is the second-largest producer of wool, and the largest producer of crossbred wool. China is the third-largest producer of wool.
Tibetan man spinning wool

Types of wool yarn:

Virgin wool is wool spun for the first time. 

Shoddy or recycled wool is made by cutting or tearing apart existing wool fabric and respinning the resulting fibers.As this process makes the wool fibers shorter, the remanufactured fabric is inferior to the original. The recycled wool may be mixed with raw wool, wool noil, or another fiber such as cotton to increase the average fiber length. Suchyarns are typically used asweft yarns with a cotton wrap. 


Ragg is a sturdy wool fiber made into yarn and used in many rugged applications such as gloves.


Worsted is a strong, long- straple, combed wool yarn with a hard surface.


Woolen is a soft, short-straple, carded wool yarn typically used for knitting. In traditional weaving, woolen weft yarn (for softness and warmth) is frequently combined with a worsted warp yarn for strength on the loom.