How Wool Is Made

The wool that forms the fleece of sheep and other hairy animals is a natural, renewable fibre. It’s soft, sun-safe and warm.

It’s a biodegradable, recyclable and fully renewable textile that can be used to produce many products from clothes to carpets. It also decomposes in soil in a short time, releasing valuable nutrients back into the environment and reducing the amount of pollution that is produced.

During production, wool is prepared to be spun into yarn and then knitted or woven into fabrics. It’s made using a number of steps, including shearing the animal, washing, drying and spinning the fibers into yarn.

Sheep are bred to produce a special kind of wool. This is a soft, fine and insulating fleece which can be shaped into clothing or other useful objects. It’s obtained by shearing the animals, which usually takes place once a year or every three years.

The sheared sheep’s fleece is then treated to remove dirt, impurities and lanolin (a by-product of the sheep’s skin and greasy residue) that can be used in soaps and cosmetics. This process is known as souring and is generally carried out in a specialized tank that can be filled with water, detergent and a chemical alkali, such as potassium permanganate or sodium carbonates.

After souring, the wool is then carded, a process that makes sure that all of the fibers are elongated and straight. This is often done by hand or with a carding machine that is specially designed to do the job.

This process ensures that the yarn is a consistent color and that all of the fibers are in the same direction, making it easier to spin. After carding, the yarn is then combed to remove any loose fibers or fiber fragments that may cause clumps when it’s spun into yarn.

The yarn is then spun into fabric by hand or a machine called a spinner. Then the fabric is woven or knitted into a product, such as a sweater.

Because it’s a renewable and biodegradable fabric, wool is an excellent choice for next-to-skin garments and athleisure apparel. It’s soft, breathable and sun-safe, as well as being naturally fire resistant.

Despite the fact that wool can be a little stiff at first, it’s highly breathable and tends to have more natural elasticity than other fabrics, which can make it feel more comfortable to wear. This can be particularly important for fine wool, as it can stretch with your body and return to its original shape.

It is also extremely water repellent, as its scales help it to resist moisture and stains. It’s also incredibly easy to clean, as it doesn’t absorb or stick to stains like synthetic fibers do.

While some people believe that wool can be harmful to the environment, it actually is very sustainable and renewable. As long as the animals are raised in a humane way and their environments are not overcrowded, then it’s possible to produce wool sustainably.