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Benefits & Attributes of Wool

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Carbonization of Wool:

Many of the major processors of wool use a process called carbonization. Wool is put through a chemical bath of hydrochloric acid and other chemicals to clean the wool. This is different and in addition to a normal scouring of soap. Sulfuric Acid is also used in to carbonize wool specifically to remove dyes from recycled wool.
See Sulfuric Acid Fact Sheet

This type of scouring has many downfalls. The chemicals alone are very harmful and we can only assume that residues are leftover in the finished wool product. This process also strips away all of the natural lanolin which keeps the wool soft and supple. The other major con to this process is that it makes wool itchy. Haven’t you ever tried on a wool sweater that was so incredibly itchy scratchy you could not wait to take it off? This is due to carbonization, which rips off the tiny hair follicles on a strand of wool and makes them brittle and ragged causing the wool to be itchy.

Some breeds of sheep have naturally itchy, rough, thick wool. These fleeces are used for making rugs and carpets instead of garments. In fact, each breed of sheep have different types of fleeces in terms of quality, length, thickness, softness…For example, a high-grade breed is Merino. This type of wool is very fine, long and soft and is mostly made into roving and used for spinning wool into yarn. In contrast, Katadin sheep have a very short, thick and burly fiber that has been traditionally used for rug making. What is particularly interesting about this breed is that they are self-shearing and shed their coast much like a dog or cat does during the hot summer months. This is unlike all other breeds of sheep which must have their coats sheared each year.

Holy Lamb Organics uses a mixture of the Black Faced Sheep breeds such as Suffolk. This wool has a medium length or staple. It is soft, lofty, has good bounce and resilience and therefore makes wonderful batting.

Benefits & Attributes of Wool