Microns
Wool with a 14.5-micron diameter is considered ultrafine, falling within the category of luxury-grade fibres. Sourced from top-grade Merino sheep, is renowned for its exceptional softness, making it ideal for high-end garments and textile projects that prioritise comfort.
Spinning: Produces silky, smooth yarn that is lightweight and suitable for next-to-skin wear, such as scarves and baby clothing.
Felting: The ultrafine fibres create a smooth, dense finish in felted projects, adding a luxurious feel.
Wool with a 16-micron diameter is classified as fine-grade wool, offering a luxurious balance of softness and durability. Sourced from high-quality Merino sheep, it is highly sought after in fiber arts for its versatility and comfort, making it suitable for projects intended for next-to-skin use.
Spinning: Spins into fine, soft yarns that are ideal for lightweight and delicate garments, such as shawls, jumpers, and baby clothes.
Felting: Provides a smooth finish and excellent structure for wet felting, needle felting, and nuno felting projects.
Wool with an 18.3-micron diameter is categorized as superfine wool, offering an excellent combination of softness, strength, and versatility. Widely used in fiber arts due to its comfortable texture and durability, making it a staple for crafting premium garments and textiles.
Spinning: Produces smooth, fine yarn that is soft enough for next-to-skin wear yet strong enough for everyday use in garments like jumpers and scarves.
Felting: Works well for both wet and needle felting, providing a smooth finish and good structural integrity for artistic and functional projects.
Wool with an 18.5-micron diameter is a supperfine Merino wool, highly prized in fiber arts for its combination of softness, strength, and versatility. It is well-suited for crafting projects that balance luxury with durability, making it a favorite among fibre enthusiasts.
This wool is slightly finer than 19-micron wool but more durable than ultrafine options like 16 microns, making it versatile for a variety of fibre art projects.
Spinning: Produces soft, smooth yarn suitable for next-to-skin garments like scarves, baby clothing, and lightweight jumpers.
Felting: Ideal for both wet and needle felting, offering a fine finish with enough structure for artistic and functional creations.
Wool with a 19-micron diameter is considered extra fine wool, offering a balance of softness, strength, and versatility. Soft enough for most next-to-skin applications. This makes it a popular choice in fiber arts for both luxury and everyday projects.
While not as soft as ultrafine wools (e.g., 14.5 or 16 microns), 19-micron wool is durable, versatile, and still gentle on the skin. Its warmth, breathability, and affordability compared to ultrafine grades make it a go-to fibre for a wide range of crafting applications.
Spinning: Produces yarn that is smooth and durable, suitable for garments like jumpers, hats, and socks that need a balance of comfort and resilience.
Spinning: Produces yarn that is smooth and durable, suitable for garments like jumpers, hats, and socks that need a balance of comfort and resilience.
Wool in the 19–23 micron range is classified as fine to medium wool, offering a versatile combination of softness, strength, and affordability. While it is slightly coarser than ultrafine Merino grades, it remains suitable for a wide range of fibre art projects, particularly those that balance comfort and durability.
Wool closer to 19 microns is still soft enough for next-to-skin wear, while fibers near 23 microns are better suited for outer layers or projects requiring greater resilience. This range is a versatile choice for fiber artists who need a balance between softness and strength for both aesthetic and functional creations.
Spinning: Spins into durable yarn suitable for outerwear, everyday garments, and home textiles, such as Jumpers, hats, gloves, and throws.
Felting: Ideal for wet and needle felting, providing good structural integrity for functional items like outerwear, bags, slippers, and decorative pieces.
Wool with a 23-micron diameter is categorized as medium wool, offering a good balance of durability and versatility. While coarser than fine-grade wools, it remains suitable for a wide variety of fibre art projects, especially those that prioritise strength and structure over softness.
While not typically used for next-to-skin wear due to its coarser texture, 23-micron wool is appreciated for its strength and warmth. It is a popular choice for fibre artists crating functional, long lasting items.
Spinning: Produces durable yarn perfect for outerwear, blankets, and other items that require resilience and wear resistance.
Felting: Ideal for wet and needle felting, providing excellent structure and stability for projects like bags, slippers, and sculptural works.
Wool in the 25–30 micron range is categorized as medium to coarse wool, prized for its durability and structural integrity. While coarser than fine-grade wools, it is ideal for projects requiring strength, resilience, and texture. This type of wool is often used in functional and decorative applications rather than next-to-skin garments.
While it lacks the softness of finer wools, this micron range excels in projects requiring structural integrity, making it a favorite for creating long-lasting, functional items. Great choice for beginners or large-scale fibre art projects.
Spinning: Creates robust yarn suitable for outerwear, rugs, and upholstery projects where durability is key.
Felting: Excellent for wet and needle felting, providing a sturdy and firm finish, making it ideal for bags, slippers, hats, and sculptural works.
Wool with a 27-micron diameter is classified as medium-coarse wool, known for its strength, resilience, and versatility in crafting. While not as soft as fine-grade wools, 27-micron wool is well-suited for projects that prioritize durability and structure over next-to-skin softness.
This wool is less suited for delicate or next-to-skin applications due to its coarser texture but is highly valued for its affordability, strength, and versatility in projects that demand durability and longevity. It's particularly favored for creating functional, hard-wearing items in fibre arts.
Spinning: Produces robust yarn perfect for heavy-duty garments, outerwear, and home textiles like rugs and upholstery.
Felting: Excellent for wet and needle felting, providing strong, firm results for functional items such as bags, slippers, hats, and sculptural creations.
Wool in the 27–30 micron range is categorized as medium-coarse wool, valued for its strength, durability, and structural integrity. While not suitable for next-to-skin applications due to its coarser texture, it is highly effective for fiber art projects requiring resilience and firmness.
This wool is prized for its ability to maintain shape and structure, making it a reliable choice for practical and decorative projects.
Spinning: Produces strong, durable yarn ideal for outerwear, rugs, and home textiles that need longevity and toughness.
Felting: Excellent for wet and needle felting, providing a firm, stable finish for functional items such as bags, slippers, hats, and sculptural works.
Wool in the 29–31 micron range is categorized as coarse wool, valued for its strength, resilience, and ability to maintain structure. While it is too coarse for most next-to-skin applications, it is highly effective for functional and decorative fiber art projects that require durability and texture.
Spinning: Creates strong, rugged yarn suitable for heavy-duty uses such as rugs, upholstery, and outerwear designed for durability.
Felting: Ideal for wet and needle felting projects that demand structural integrity, such as bags, slippers, hats, and sculptural works.
Wool in the 30–35 micron range is classified as coarse wool, valued for its strength, durability, and ability to hold structure. While too coarse for next-to-skin garments, it is ideal for heavy-duty, functional, and decorative fibre art projects that require resilience and firmness.
It a preferred material for large-scale or long-lasting projects. Its coarse texture adds a rustic and sturdy feel to designs, making it especially suitable for functional crafts and artistic endeavors requiring strong, shape-retentive fibres.
Spinning: Produces robust, durable yarn suitable for rugs, upholstery, and outerwear that prioritises longevity over softness.
Felting: Ideal for wet and needle felting, offering excellent structural integrity for items like bags, hats, slippers, and large sculptural or decorative works.
Wool with a 33-micron diameter is classified as coarse wool, appreciated for its strength, resilience, and structural integrity. While too coarse for next-to-skin use, it is an excellent choice for fibre art projects that prioritise durability and sturdiness.
Spinning: Produces robust yarn suitable for heavy-duty applications like rugs, upholstery, and outerwear designed for wear and longevity.
Felting: Ideal for wet and needle felting, providing a firm, solid structure for functional items such as bags, hats, slippers, and large-scale sculptures.
Wool in the 33–35 micron range is categorised as coarse wool, known for its exceptional durability, resilience, and structural integrity. While not suited for next-to-skin applications due to its coarser texture, it is highly valued in fibre arts for projects requiring toughness and stability.
This wool is appreciated for its ability to hold its shape and withstand wear, making it an excellent choice for large-scale projects or items requiring structural strength.
Spinning: Produces strong, robust yarns perfect for rugs, upholstery, and outerwear where durability is paramount.
Felting: Excels in wet and needle felting, creating firm, solid results for bags, hats, slippers, and large sculptural or functional pieces.
When the micron count of wool is unknown, its suitability for fibre arts projects depends on its feel, texture, and intended use. Wool with an undetermined micron count can still be evaluated by touch and appearance to determine its potential applications. Generally:
- Soft Wool (likely under 24 microns): Best for next-to-skin garments and accessories such as scarves, baby clothes, and lightweight jumpers.
- Medium Wool (25–30 microns): Suitable for outerwear, felting, and medium-weight textiles like throws or decorative pieces.
- Coarse Wool (above 30 microns): Ideal for durable projects such as rugs, bags, upholstery, and sculptural works requiring structural integrity.
In fiber arts, testing unknown wool for softness, strength, and felting properties can guide its use. Whether for spinning, felting, knitting, or weaving, unknown micron wool remains a versatile material for artists who adapt its characteristics to their creative goals.