Merino

Merino is a fine wool, warm for its weight, breathable and comfortable against the skin. This hub holds every pure merino garment the store carries, from Women's Merino Jumpers and Men's Merino Jumpers through to scarves, socks, hats and ponchos. Merino and cashmere blend pieces are excluded and sit in their own hub. House-brand merino knitwear is usually superfine 18.5 micron Australian merino.

165 pieces in this rangeFrom $59 to $399 AUDFree AU shipping over $150

Choosing a merino weight

The choice inside this hub is between a light layer you can wear next to the skin and a heavier merino knit that holds more warmth. Fine merino disappears under a jacket. A denser gauge wears more like a mid layer and drapes with a bit more substance.

About the fibre
Pure Merino Wool Half Zip Pullover

About the fibre

Merino wool comes from merino sheep, and the fibre is fine enough that it bends when it touches skin rather than pricking. House-brand knitwear uses superfine 18.5 micron Australian merino. A lower micron count means a finer fibre and less scratch. Merino is also warm for how little it weighs, and it breathes, which is what makes it wearable indoors all day.

Women's Merino Jumpers
Caring for merino
Pure Merino Wool Half Zip Pullover

Caring for merino

Merino does not need washing after every wear, and an airing between wears is often enough. When it does need a wash, the care label on the garment is the instruction that counts, because the right method varies with the knit. Heat and agitation are what shrink knitwear, so the machine setting matters more than the fibre does.

How to wash a wool or merino jumper

Common questions

What are the downsides of merino wool?
Merino is softer than a coarse wool, but a merino garment will pill with wear, particularly where arms rub the body. It is also lighter than a chunky lambswool, so a fine merino jumper is not a heavy winter garment on its own. Moths eat merino the same as any wool, and it wants gentler washing than a synthetic.
Can you knit with merino wool?
Merino yarn is a common choice for hand knitting. It runs smoothly on needles and gives a finished fabric with good drape and next-to-skin softness. The store sells merino knitting yarn, plus needles and crochet hooks, on the yarn page. A piece knitted at home wants the same gentle washing as one bought ready made.
What is better than merino?
Better depends on what a person wants from a garment. Cashmere is softer and lighter for the warmth it gives, which puts it above merino on the price ladder, but it pills sooner and snags more easily. A merino and cashmere blend splits the difference. Merino itself is the all rounder that costs less to buy and takes less looking after.

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