What is Geelong Lambswool? (2024)

FAQs

What is Geelong lambswool? ›

Traditionally produced from a large species of Merino sheep in Geelong, Australia, only a small percentage of all Merino lambswool can be classified as Geelong. This makes Geelong Lambswool an exclusive product in todays luxury market.

This type of yarn has a shorter staple length than that Merino, but with a comparative small diameter. Unlike Merino, Geelong is carded and spun in such a way to create a loftier, bulkier yarn, while retaining a luxurious softness similar to cashmere.

Geelong Lambswool | Celtic & Co.

Lambswool is ideal for shawls, sweaters, and other accessories as it is a versatile, high-quality material. Its naturally-crimped fibres give it a fluffy texture and warmth while remaining lightweight and durable.

Comparable to cashmere for its warmth and soft handle, Superfine Geelong Lambswool is an elegant, comfortable and practical yarn.

Lambswool is wool taken from the first shearing of the sheep, usually around seven months after its first coat has come in. It has to be no longer than 50mm. It is fine and soft, and requires minimal processing.

Although Lambswool may be warmer, Merino wool breathes better which allows for more effective core temperature regulation. It's used to make a wider variety of knitwear, you can also layer Merino wool so you're better equipped for variations in weather conditions.

Merino, Rambouillet, Blue Faced Leicester, and Corriedale breeds are among the best-known wool sheep.

1. Merino. The Merino sheep is the cream of the crop when it comes to wool production. It is estimated that this fine-wooled breed makes up more than 50 percent of the world's sheep population!

Much like measuring warmth and expense, it matters exactly what type of wool you're comparing to cashmere. In a straight comparison of lambswool vs cashmere, it makes sense to find that cashmere has more durability due to being shorn from mature animals rather than young ones.

What is the most expensive sheep wool? ›

Vicuna Wool is the most expensive wool as it comes from Vicuna, which is a wild camelid that lives in the high Andes mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. This fine wool costs from $400 to $600 per kilo of unprocessed fibre.

Cashmere is the warmest wool out of the two. It can be seven to eight times warmer than merino wool. However, don't let this put you off merino wool if you spend a lot of time in the outdoors. They will both keep you warm during extreme conditions if worn correctly, making them great for sports like skiing.

The fibres of lambswool are smoother, stronger and hold more elasticity than other wool. Softer and lighter than New Wool, it also has good insulation properties and is a good choice for anyone with a sensitive skin.

Lambswool is typically less itchy than wool made from most adult sheep, but depending on the specific breed of sheep (and how sensitive your skin is), it may still feel itchy and irritate your skin. Merino wool, however, doesn't do this. .

Lambswool is generally warmer than merino and the softness of the fibres allow for spinning a beautiful and incredibly high-quality yarn. The fibre also has a lot more elasticity than older sheep wool, enabling it to keep its shape better.

Although fineness largely determines softness, lambswool of the same micron as adult merino will still be softer. And cashmere is softer because it has fewer scales in the fibre structure. Another is length: one issue with cashmere is that although it's fine and soft, it's shorter than most merino.

Merino wool is the highest quality wool, sourced from a breed of sheep called Merino. These sheep produce finer wool than other breeds, which means that the vast majority of Australian wool is suited to the manufacturing of the world's highest quality apparel and high-end fashion garments.

On the other hand, to compare two sweaters of equal weight/thickness, but one of lambswool and the other from an adult Merino sheep, is a more valid question. In this situation, lambswool might have a slight edge. But, both wool from the adult animal and the lamb have a very high warmth to weight ratio.