Balls of merino wool and pure wool for knitting

Q: Does merino wool itch?

No, it is barely itchy. Its fibres are much finer than those of a traditional wool, so they bend when they touch the skin rather than prick it. This is why it feels so comfortable in jumpers, scarves and garments worn directly against the body, even if you have sensitive skin. If you also check the information on each product page and choose a yarn with certification for sensitive skin, you will be making the right choice if you are looking for a soft wool to wear next to the skin.

Q: What is superwash merino wool and when should you choose it?

The superwash finish is a treatment that allows wool to be machine washed without shrinking or felting. Choose superwash merino wool for everyday garments, socks or clothes that you will wash often.Each blend and composition behaves differently when washed. Check the information on each product page; there you will find the washing instructions for each composition. If you prefer a more natural, rustic fibre, choose untreated pure wool, which should be hand washed.

Q: What price is merino wool to buy online?

The price depends on the brand, composition and weight: an extra-fine merino or a blend with alpaca will usually cost more than a blend with acrylic. In this collection, you can see the price of each ball on its product page and sort the listing by whatever best suits you. You can use the collection filters to narrow down by weight, composition, needle size, brand and even available colour.

Q: How many balls of merino wool do I need to buy?

It depends on the meterage of each ball and the size of the garment. As a guide, an adult jumper usually needs between 1,000 and 1,500 metres of yarn, and a scarf between 200 and 400 metres. Always check the metres per ball on the product page and the pattern tension to adjust the quantity. You can use our ball calculator on each yarn product page. Under the colour selector, you will find a button to open the calculator and get information based on your project, size, technique and selected yarn.

At Garmon Yarns, we bring together a selection of merino wool and pure wool from European brands such as DROPS, Scheepjes, BC Garn and Erika Knight, alongside Turkish fibres imported directly. You will find extra-fine merino, untreated natural wool and blends with alpaca, mohair or organic cotton, in weights from the finest to the bulkiest. Many have Oeko-Tex, EN71-3 or GOTS certification, ideal for knitting soft, warm garments that are comfortable even when worn directly against the skin.

DROPS Flora: Soft Wool and Superfine Alpaca Fingering 50 g

2,60 €

+ 19

DROPS - Air (blown yarn in baby alpaca, merino and polyamide) 50 g

5,30 €

+ 19

Alaska Mix (04) Gris | Imagen de un ovillos de lana virgen sin tratar de la marca Drop Design en primera plano, de color Gris

DROPS - Alaska (natural untreated virgin wool) 50 g

2,15 €

+ 14

BC GARN - Bio Shetland GOTS - Madejas azules junto a una prenda tejida y varias agujas en una encimera de cemento

Organic

BC Garn Bio Shetland GOTS: organic wool, Light Fingering, 50 g

6,85 €

+ 30

Merino Extra Fine uni colour 28, mar del norte

DROPS Merino Extra Fine (100% extra-fine merino DK) 50 g

3,75 €

+ 10

Socks

Gründl Hot Socks Color: self-striping sock yarn, 50 g

3,45 €

+ 5

DROPS Nord: Soft Superfine Alpaca, Wool and Polyamide Fingering, 50 g

3,00 €

+ 8

-7%

Performance Merino Passion: 100% superwash merino wool, Aran, 50g

4,60 €

~~4,95 €~~

+ 7

Socks

Gründl Hot Socks uni 50: superwash sock yarn, 50 g

3,25 €

+ 17

BC GARN - Bio Balance GOTS - Imágen Detalle 3 madejas - 1

Organic

BC Garn Bio Balance GOTS: organic wool and cotton blend, 50 g

6,85 €

+ 16

Baby Merino Mix (39) - Orquídea Lila | Vista de un donut de lana merino de la marca Drops

DROPS Baby Merino: 100% soft and warm baby wool, Sport weight, 50 g

3,75 €

+ 16

-8%

Gazzal Super Kid Mohair: deluxe kid mohair and merino lace yarn, 25g

5,70 €

~~6,20 €~~

+ 11

Erika Knight - British Blue Wool 25g - Imágen principal

Erika Knight British Blue Wool 25 g: Bluefaced Leicester DK wool

3,90 €

+ 5

-23%

Sensy Roving: warm wool and acrylic Bulky yarn, 100 g

5,50 €

~~7,16 €~~

+ 12

DROPS Fiesta: Superwash Sock Wool 50 g

2,70 €

+ 4

Performance Sockwool Prime Multi (17523)

-8%

Socks

Performance Sockwool Prime Multi: multicoloured sock yarn, 50g

3,00 €

~~3,25 €~~

+ 2

-23%

Sensy Wool Ease: fluffy wool and acrylic Super Bulky yarn, 100 g

5,50 €

~~7,16 €~~

+ 8

-13%

PACK

Scheepjes Metropolis Colour Pack: 80 colours in 10g mini balls

99,95 €

~~115,50 €~~

Scheepjes Merino Soft: extra-fine superwash merino wool and acrylic, 50g

5,95 €

+ 16

Erika Knight - British Blue Wool Fingering Imágen Principal

Erika Knight British Blue Wool Fingering: Bluefaced Leicester sheep, 100g

7,90 €

+ 6

Ovillos de hilo de algodón para tejer a crochet y punto

Cotton yarn

43 Products

Lana de Alpaca para tejer: Suave, ligera y cálida

Alpaca Wool for Knitting: Soft, Light and Warm

4 Products

Hilo de poliéster para tejer: Suave, ligero y resistente

Polyester Yarn for Knitting: Soft, Lightweight and Strong

15 Products

Hilo reciclado y lana reciclada: Ovillos y madejas para tejer

Recycled Fibres

4 Products

Lana Mohair para tejer prendas ligeras y con diseño elegante

Mohair yarn for knitting lightweight garments with an elegant design

2 Products

Lana acrílica para tejer: Suave, ligera, resistente y antipilling

Acrylic Yarns

23 Products

What is the difference between merino wool and pure wool?

Merino wool comes from merino sheep and stands out for the fineness of its fibres. It is softer, more elastic and more pleasant against the skin than many standard wools, which is why it is widely used for children’s garments, jumpers, snoods, hats and projects that need warmth without itchiness.

Pure wool does not define a specific breed, but rather the state of the fibre: it means the wool comes directly from the animal’s fleece and has not been recycled or reused from previous fabrics. It can come from different sheep breeds, so its softness, thickness and behaviour will depend on its specific origin.

In short, “merino” refers to the type of sheep and the fine quality of the fibre, while “pure” indicates that the wool is new and not recycled, as with the pure sheep wool from BC Garn or Erika Knight. A wool can be both merino and pure at the same time if it comes from merino sheep and has not been reclaimed from other textile products.

In this collection, you will find natural, untreated pure wool, alongside options in extra-fine pure merino wool. If you are looking for the most delicate feel, merino is your fibre; if you prefer a wool with body and a rustic look for jumpers and blankets, pure wool is perfect.

How to choose your merino wool: weight, superwash and composition

To choose the right merino wool, look at three things: weight, treatment and blend. The weight defines the garment and the needle size; the superwash finish means the wool can be machine washed; and the composition (100% merino or a blend) determines the feel and final durability of the fabric.

In fine weights such as fingering (a fine yarn, ideal for socks and lightweight garments), you have superwash merino wool from brands such as Gründl or Performance, which can be machine washed and works very well as a long-lasting sock yarn.

In DK weight (an intermediate weight and the most versatile), you will find extra-fine merino wool and dk merino wool blended with alpaca wool from DROPS, with a soft feel and good drape for jumpers and cardigans.

And if you prefer a more sustainable option, part of the collection is GOTS-certified organic wool from BC Garn, as well as a recycled wool of German origin.

Merino wool: softness and warmth for hand knitting

Merino wool is the softest option in the collection and is barely itchy, so it is wonderful for garments worn close to the body, such as jumpers, scarves or hats. It is warm yet breathable, regulates body temperature well and feels very pleasant to wear throughout the winter, even on sensitive skin.

If you are looking for merino wool for hand knitting, you will find skeins and balls in different weights, from the finest yarns to haloed, fluffy wools such as blends with mohair yarn from Gazzal. They are easy to work with, with good stitch definition and a beautiful finish in both knitting and crochet.

Merino wool balls for knitting and crochet

Our merino wool balls are just as suitable for knitting as they are for crochet, and you will find them in a wide variety of colours and formats, from large skeins to small 25-gram balls. This variety makes it easier to combine shades within the same project and calculate exactly the amount you need, without having too much or too little left over.

Here you can buy merino wool from European and Turkish brands: DROPS, Scheepjes, BC Garn, Erika Knight, Kremke Soul Wool, Gründl, Performance and Gazzal. Whether you need a single ball of merino wool for a swatch or several for a complete garment, you will find more than twenty options.

If you choose skeins, make sure you have the equipment you need to wind the pure wool before knitting more comfortably. At Garmon Yarns, we have a very useful collection of ball winders and swifts for this process.