What Is Virgin Wool ?

With the arrival of winter cold weather, closets are replenished with various sweaters, hats, scarves, and mittens made of natural wool. One of the best materials is sheep's wool. Wool is the only type of material, to recreate an artificial analog of which has yet to succeed. Things made of it are wear-resistant, warm, breathable, and can retain their original appearance for a long time with proper care. There is an opinion that they can even fight high blood pressure, insomnia, and nervous system disorders.

Since ancient times, people have used animal hair to make clothes. Raw materials for textile materials have several differences. The method of collection and processing depends on the final cost of the cloth. as it has the best characteristics for preserving warmth, "breathing" of the body, and lightness. However, it is important to pay attention also to the type of wool from which the thing is made. So, experts advise choosing sweaters made of yarn with the mark virgin wool. Someone calls such a material wool virgin sheep wool, and someone - lamb wool. Let's understand what it is, and what properties it has.

In any case, it has a lot of advantages over other types of fiber. Considering the fashion trends of the current season, it is impossible not to pay attention to the abundance of knitted clothes. It is used in their collections by all the world's famous brands. What is virgin wool, and what properties it demonstrates, let's familiarize ourselves further.

Sometimes on the label of a skein of yarn, we can see Virgin wool or Lana Vergine - what does this mean?

Virgin wool is new, untreated, sheared, or combed from sheep. Virginia wool is a group of animal fiber materials united by the high quality of the primary raw material. This means that the fibers obtained from the wool of Merino fine-fleece sheep do not undergo multi-stage processing. During the shedding period, the animals are sheared or combed out. The resulting fibers are used to make textiles and yarn for knitting. If the yarn is made of virgin wool, it means that there are no secondary raw materials in its composition. The cloth from such yarn is soft, light, and very warm.

An alternative variant is recycling (recovered yarn). This yarn is produced from recycled raw materials. Recycling is not inferior to Virgin wool in heat protection. But it demonstrates different properties; it is less wear-resistant and coarser. At the same time, recycled yarn is characterized by affordable cost.

There is another interpretation of the term: virgin sheep's wool. It means baby down, hand-harvested from a lamb that has barely reached the age of 4 to 6 months. If we agree with this statement, then this type of wool product must be incredibly expensive, as no more than 140 grams of wool can be shorn from a newborn lamb.

Compared to other types of wool, such as cashmere or merino wool, virginal wool is of high quality as it has no previous processing. It is soft, fluffy, and comfortable to wear. Plus, it has excellent breathability properties, which means it can maintain an optimal body temperature for the entire time you wear it. In addition, Virgin wool is more durable than regular wool and the longevity of its wearability is much higher. It is also more affordable compared to cashmere, making it a popular choice among buyers.

In the first stage of production, virgin wool is combed out of young healthy lambs during the molting period or the fibers are cut from the scruff. The wool is removed carefully so as not to damage the fiber structure. Rolled and dirty sheepskin must be removed at once, otherwise the fabric will be of poor quality. All sheared fiber is sorted by length, color, thickness, and waviness. If the fabric will get the most similar hairs, then the fabric will last a long time. The best quality and most beautiful sheepskin is considered to be sheared in spring.

As soon as the raw virgin wool fabric is obtained, it is put to work. The fleece is washed by specially trained people, as it is necessary not to damage the fiber structure and lanolin (natural animal wax, with which the ram's hairs are covered). After washing, the fiber is placed in a special machine, where it is combed. Each hair is separated separately, and then with the help of air in one of the chambers of the machine they are put together again. Then the fibers are treated with special oils that are designed to fix the lanolin.

The next stage involves thoroughly combing the wool with special brushes. The resulting cloth is divided into even strips and fed into a machine that converts the yarn into fine threads called roving. It is loaded into a spinning machine where several yarns are combined into one.

Despite the huge number of innovative technologies in the arsenal of textile production, Virginia wool is obtained by the same method that was used as far back as the millennium BC. Virgin wool fabric is somewhat similar to cashmere, but it is more delicate and soft. However, wool and cashmere are often combined to produce a higher-quality fabric. For example, sewing coats often use the so-called Virginia cashmere, which is a material made mostly of Virginia wool with the addition of cashmere, which improves the quality and appearance of the material several times.

Virgin wool is a natural fabric that is made from wool from Merino sheep raised in the Virginia region of Australia. This wool is considered to be one of the highest quality and most expensive.

Advantages of virgin wool:

Naturalness. Virginia wool does not contain artificial additives and chemicals, which makes it environmentally friendly and safe for health;

Temperature regulation. Wool fibers can retain heat in cold weather and cool the body in hot weather, maintaining an optimal temperature;

Antibacterial properties. It has antibacterial properties, which allows wool products to stay fresh and hygienic;

Comfort and comfort. These products are soft, supple and pleasant to the body, providing maximum comfort and freedom of movement;

Wide choice of colors and textures. Virgin wool is available in a variety of shades and textures, allowing you to choose a piece to suit your style and preferences.

Overall, Virginia wool is an excellent choice for making warm and comfortable products such as sweaters, plaids, scarves, and other clothing items and accessories. Its advantages make this fabric attractive to people who value quality and comfort.

Features of virgin wool:

Highly soft and pleasant to the body. Virgin wool has very fine fibers, so it is soft and does not cause skin irritation;

Excellent thermal insulation. Products made of this wool fabric perfectly retain heat and provide comfort in cold weather;

Increased moisture repellency. Wool fibers have the ability to absorb moisture, preventing it from penetrating into the fabric;

Resistance to odors. Virgin wool has the ability to neutralize unpleasant odors, which makes products made of it more hygienic;

Strength and durability. It is characterized by high durability, so products made of it can last a long time.

Virgin wool is a very soft, light, and warm material. The hairs have corresponding corkscrew curls. If you look at them through a magnifying glass, you can see the silkiness and shine. The length of the lint is 6-10 cm. Tissue (a medical system of cells and inter-cellular substance united by common origin, structure, and functions) made of them is non-spiky and pleasant to the touch.

Wool yarns with virgin wool are used mostly for the creation of chic winter clothes:

light and narrow, but at the same time indescribable warm coat;
beautiful sweaters, cardigan;
hats, scarves, snoods, and mittens;
warm plaids and blankets.

Secondly, Virgin wool finds application in the textile industry. It is used to produce a variety of textiles, including blankets, pillows, and bedding. Its softness and comfort make it a popular choice for creating household items.

With careful use and proper care, Virginia wool can last for decades. Products made of it are not easily soiled, so they do not need regular cleaning. If stains appear, they try to remove them point by point. Rules of care:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the label. If the label is cut off and lost, dry cleaning should be preferred (dry cleaners should be used).

Items made of virgin wool should be stored in cellophane bags when folded. The place should be chosen dark, and treated against moths. Storage on hangers is not recommended because of the risk of deformation.

In rare cases, virgin wool can be washed by hand or in a washing machine on a delicate mode without spinning. Before washing, the product is turned inside out. The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. In a wet state, the fabric is easily damaged. Rub it with a brush, twisting it is strictly forbidden. Washing agents are better to use liquid, special for woolen things. After washing, the fabric is soaked with a towel and left to dry in a horizontal position. After drying the product can be steamed with a steam iron through gauze.